Two great courses and fantastic failities - what could be better than a Vale Do Lobo Golf holiday

You won’t go far wrong with a Vale do Lobo golf holiday, if you’re looking for great golf courses, a good choice of accommodation and all the facilities you could wish for at hand.

The Algarve’s Vale do Lobo is a five star resort, and probably deserving of it. It is a self-contained complex of villas and townhouses, with superb sporting and leisure facilities, a great beach and plenty of restaurants to tempt your gastronomic taste buds.

Vale do Lobo Golf Holiday

Because it is designed to attract wealthier clientele, it is not a cheap place to stay and the Vale do Lobo green fees are some of the most expensive in the whole of the Algarve. This is particularly true if you are not staying there and want to play golf.

However, if you are booking a Vale do Lobo golf holiday package or renting a townhouse or villa in the resort, then you should be able to benefit from discounted golf green fees.

Your holiday may include either a Resort or a Welcome card. These cards get you discounts on golf, tennis and use of the resort’s other facilities. The resort card will entitle you to 50% off green fees for both golf courses (and free and unlimited use of the tennis courts, gym and facilities at the tennis academy, discounts in the restaurants and fee use of the resort’s circuit bus). The Welcome card is similar, but the discounts are less. For instance 25% discount on green fees and discounted prices at the tennis academy.Which card you get will be determined by the holiday you book. If you don’t get a card then the Welcome card can be purchased from the resort’s reception.

Arranging a Vale do Lobo golf holiday

An easier way is to get a specialist Golf Holiday operator to arrange it for you. A search on the internet will throw up a number of companies who can help and are very professional. One of these is GolfBreaks.com. For me they have two advantages. Firstly you can get a no-obligation quote on line, by filling in the form. Secondly they offer villa accommodation in Vale do Lobo, rather than just the usual hotel (although they offer this also).

For more information on a villa based Vale do Lobo golf holiday, click on the link.

If you prefer to stay in a hotel, then the only one actually in the resort is the Meridien Dona Filipa. Staying here is an advantage if you also want to play the San Lorenzo Golf Course at the nearby Quinta do Lago resort. For a golf break, staying at this hotel, click here. (opens new window in browser).

Vale do Lobo Golf Courses

The facilities are second to none. There is a driving range, a number of putting greens and Spikes bar for that well deserved drink and lunch (good food and excellent value) after your game of golf.

If you are playing on the Royal Course before 10.30am, then you will be required to hire a golf buggy. Factor this into the cost, as it will add around €60.00 to the cost of your round. However, it does come with a satellite navigation device, which is quite fun to play around with.

Make sure you dress correctly for your round if golf and don’t forget your handicap certificate, as they can be quite strict on this.

As with many holiday courses in the sun, slow play can be a problem, so don’t be surprised to see course marshals zipping around in their buggies making sure play continues at a reasonable rate.

The Royal Course is the more difficult of the two, and has hosted the Portuguese Open a couple of times. At about 6800 yards of the white tees, it is a good test of golf and will definitely appeal to the lower handicap player particularly.

Accuracy is at a premium as the undulating fairways are generally quite narrow and often lined with umbrella pines. The greens are well protected by bunkers and there are plenty of water hazards around to catch that errant shot.

Some fairways are lined with whitewashed villas, their swimming pools attracting as many golf balls as the water hazards.You can take a break at the end of the front nine at the ‘half-way house’ and enjoy a cool drink and a highly recommended pasties de nata (egg custard tart).

Vale do Lobo’s Royal course is home to possibly the most famous hole in the Algarve. This is the long par 3, 16th hole. On the cliff top above the beach there are two ravines to hit over to reach the green. There is a ‘bail-out’ area to the right, if you want to play it as a par 4.

The Ocean Course was created by joining up the green and orange courses. The 6,100 yard, par 71 Ocean Course is shorter and somewhat easier than the Royal Course. It is both parkland and links in its nature, having been created from the original green and orange nine hole loops. The course is undulating with its fairways running through pine and eucalyptus trees.

There are some fantastic holes running down to and along the Atlantic, which provided some of the best views you’ll find an any course in the Algarve. The course is suitable and challenging enough for golfers of all standards.

Overall a Vale do Lobo golf holiday gives you two great courses to play, albeit you'll find cheaper elsewhere. But Vale do Lobo is a luxury resort, and has everything you you would want without leaving the confines of the resort.

Vale do Lobo Green Fees

Vale do Lobo Golf Club contact information

Return from Vale do Lobo golf holiday page to Algarve golf holidays page

Return to Your Perfect Algarve Holiday Homepage