Portugal's Algarve Coast -- a golfers dream come true
By David Brice, Golf International, Inc.
Imagine one of Europe's most stunningly beautiful coastlines; its pristine beaches, constantly washed by the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Add an idyllic, year round climate, where the coolest days of winter rarely fall below the 60's, the hottest days of summer struggle to reach higher than the 80 degree mark and the sun shines brilliantly, practically every day of the year. Throw in a collection of 30 of Europe's most highly regarded golf courses, some used to host important European Tour events, others as a winter base for European professionals, preparing for the season ahead -- Could this be a dream?
Welcome to The Algarve, the southernmost region of one of Europe's most enticing small countries, Portugal. Many agree, it may be the world's most perfect golf paradise -- and this is only the beginning of The Algarve story. If it sounds like a fairytale and perhaps too good to be true, I can assure you it's not - it really does exist. Making a good thing even better, it's easy to reach and only a little further from the east coast of the USA than California, the locals are warm and welcoming with a special affection for Americans and your dollars will buy far more here than any other part of Europe. Portugal is simply Europe's best value for money, even during times when the greenback may not be as strong as it once was.
A vacation is a time to spoil yourself -- you've worked hard all year and this break from the daily grind is when you deserve to splurge and live the good life for a week or two and there is nowhere better than The Algarve. This is a place where you can vacation in style, without breaking the bank. Thoughts of staying in a plush 4 or 5 star hotel might be a costly extravagance in most of Europe, but in The Algarve such luxuries become wonderfully affordable. From palatial resort hotels complete with state of the art health spas and some, their own championship golf courses, to a converted convent or centuries old manor houses, there are choices to suit every taste and in this land of good living, excellent golf is always close by.
The Algarve is truly, a destination to please everyone, whether golf comes into the equation or not. Away from the courses, enticingly pristine beaches and never-ending blue skies, there's a fascinating country to be discovered.
The history reaches back more than 3,000 years and the rich culture, an intriguing mosaic of all who have ever occupied this sun-blessed land. Phoenicians, Romans, more than 500 years under Moorish dominance, then a return to Christian control. From the Golden Age of Discovery during the 16th and 17th centuries when Vasco da Gama, Megellan and other famous Portuguese explorers discovered new continents and trade routes, to 60 years of Spanish occupation, all have left their distinctive marks along this brief, 90-mile stretch of dramatically beautiful, Atlantic coastline. You see it in the architecture, the monuments, the churches and cathedrals, the medieval towns and ancient cobblestone villages, each with a piece of Algarve history to tell and all inviting exploration.
Good living must include good eating and dining in The Algarve is a particular pleasure with an endless selection of dining establishments, probably the most varied in the entire country. Restaurants as sophisticated as can be found in any European capital offer international cuisines from around the globe. But don't resist the regional cooking and some of the very best can be found in far simpler cafes and brasseries where the locals eat. The Algarvean cuisine is a delectable experience, where great dishes are based on fresh local produce - pork, game and especially fish and seafood are featured, all to be quaffed down with a bottle or two of Portuguese wine. When was the last time you saw a restaurant wine list with prices starting at around $10 a bottle?
Fancy a little after dark entertainment? When The Algarve sun goes down, a vibrant nightlife takes over and keeps popping until the wee hours. From lively discos, to establishments offering more romantic music, to enchanting fado clubs, where the often soulful local Portuguese folk music can be experienced -- it's all here. Feel like a flutter with Lady Luck -- there are also casinos, complete with floorshows. From slot machines to blackjack, American and French roulette, take your pick of ay number of ways to check if the Lady is smiling tonight.
But for all of the distractions -- and there are many, it's the golf courses that will impress, if not amaze, every visiting golfer. Few other parts of this world can boast such an outstanding collection of top-of-the line, quality challenges and unique to The Algarve, they are all located conveniently close, one to the other. No need to waste valuable vacation time, checking into and out of different hotels, driving all over the country to get to play the best. Choose one centrally located Algarve hotel and most of the top ranked layouts will be at your doorstep, or at worst, well within a twenty-minute drive.
For the few courses that may be a little more distant (and that will be no further than 40 minutes or so) these are situated close to other important points of interest that must be included in your Algarve trip anyway. It's the perfect opportunity to enjoy a combined day of sightseeing and golf and just another reason why The Algarve is so ideally suited to golf trips that include a non-golfer or two.
So it all comes down to which courses to play and how much time you have to play them. If you want to focus on courses that have hosted European Tour events, you will already have a pretty full dance card. Vilamoura's Oceanico Old Course and Oceanico Victoria Club, Quinta do Lago, Vila Sol, the two layouts at Vale do Lobo, San Lorenzo and Penina have all been honored by The European Tour and are ranked among Europe's very best. But you mustn't miss at least a sampling of the newer arrivals, already destined for golf glory.
Seve Ballesteros is responsible for a stunning new design at the very impressive, Quinta do Vale Golf Resort. Less than a year old, this handsome track is already receiving accolades from the European golfing fraternity and has the words, "Future Star", written all over it. Similar levels of praise are being heaped upon The Atlantic Course, located nearby at the plush, Castro Marim Golf & Country Club, one of The Algarve's most luxurious resorts. This is another contender for important international golf tournaments, but still only the tip of the iceberg as far as prestige development along this golf-blessed coastline is concerned.
This tiny region called The Algarve has become Europe's golfing Mecca, boasting an astounding collection of quality courses that are the envy of entire countries many times its size. It's been more than 40 years in the making and they haven't finished yet. The very carefully thought out golf development continues at it's own pragmatic pace, with the promise that quality and sensitivity to the environment, will continue to be the guideline. It has been since the great Henry Cotton designed the region's very first course at Penina in 1966 and it's not about to change.
The Algarve belongs on the must visit list of any traveling golfer and for those who haven't yet journeyed internationally to play the game, there may be no better nor more affordable place to start. For a few ideas and suggestions on how, click here.
©2008 David Brice / Golf International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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