Algarve accounts for 12 of 22 Portuguese golf resorts on list
British golf magazine Today’s Golfer has revealed its top-100 list of the ‘Best Golf Resorts in continental Europe’ in 2022, which features 22 Portuguese golf resorts.
The Algarve – recognised as the best golf destination in the world in 2020 by the International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) – accounts for more than half of the national golf resorts on the list with 12.
The region’s luxury resort Quinta do Lago is the highest-placed Portuguese golf resort in 6th, followed by Praia D’el Rey (Óbidos, near Lisbon) in 8th and Vilamoura’s Dom Pedro in 14th.
Three golf resorts from the Lisbon region also made the top-20 – Penha Longa (14th), Oitavos Dunes (15th) and Tróia (20th) – while the Algarve’s Monte Rei and Amendoeira secured a spot in the top-30, placing 24th and 26th, respectively.
The remaining Algarve golf resorts that made the list include Penina (35th), Quinta da Ria (36th), Palmares (39th), Pine Cliffs (50th), Vila Sol (63rd), Vale do Lobo (78th), Salgados (88th) and Morgado (93rd).
The title of best golf resort in Continental Europe went to Costa Navarino in Greece, with France’s Terre Blanche and Italy’s Verdura trailing in second and third.
The magazine ranked the golf courses based on four categories, including the golf courses (which accounted for 40% of the final score), accommodation (20%), setting (20%) and non-golf amenities (20%).
Here’s the ranking of all the Portuguese golf courses that made the list:
93: Morgado (Portimão)
88: Salgados (Albufeira)
78: Vale do Lobo (Loulé)
76: Campo Real (Lisbon)
73: Palheiro (Madeira)
63: Vila Sol (Vilamoura)
50: Pine Cliffs (Albufeira)
39: Palmares (Lagos)
37: Aroeira (Lisbon)
36: Quinta da Ria (Tavira)
35: Penina (Portimão)
34: Quinta da Marinha (Lisbon)
30: Royal Óbidos (Óbidos)
28: Vidago Palace (Porto)
26: Amendoeira (Alcantarilha)
24: Monte Rei (Tavira)
20: Tróia (Lisbon)
15: Oitavos Dunes (Lisbon)
14: Penha Longa (Lisbon)
10: Dom Pedro (Vilamoura)
8: Praia D’el Rey (Óbidos)
6: Quinta do Lago (Almancil)
Quinta do Lago wins Best Golf Course in Europe
Meanwhile, Quinta do Lago’s South Course has once again been crowned as the Best Golf Course in Portugal and Europe by the World Golf Awards (WGA).
Says the resort on its Facebook page, this award comes after an investment of €7 million concluded at the end of the summer of 2019, with the aim of “elevating the gaming experience and improving the resort’s environmental credentials”.
“Winning this award is a testament to the entire golf staff and operations team for providing a fantastic experience for golfers from all over the world,” it adds.
The World Golf Awards were created to “celebrate and reward excellence in golf tourism, world-class courses and golf destinations.” They are part of the World Travel Awards, often described as the ‘Oscars’ of the tourism sector.
