The Algarve has been a favourite destination for UK golfers for many years but, as Ben Firth has found, some of its best facilities have moved up to an even higher level since his last visit seven years ago.
Portugal in general is well known for its beautiful wine, seafood and weather. With its growing popularity over the years, people have started to see the Algarve as the go-to holiday destination, whether it’s for big groups playing golf or looking for a relaxing escape.
Having visited Portugal several times over the years, I was excited to return when invited to experience the newly rebranded Vilamoura resort, seeing first-hand how it has improved since its days under the Dom Pedro ownership. This trip wasn’t just about playing some of the Algarve’s best courses, it was a fantastic opportunity to explore how much the destination has grown, both on and off the fairways.
Day 1: Pinhal – An underrated gem
The first golf course we played was Pinhal, a tree-lined parkland layout that demands accuracy from the start. The opening hole, a challenging par five with substantial elevation changes, was just a taste of what lay ahead. The course kept me thinking on every tee, with narrow fairways framed by pines and plenty of ways to get into trouble. Even when you found the fairway, knowing which side to miss was key – stray too close to the trees and you’d be forced to find a creative route around certain pines. But that was all part of the fun.
The greens were in fantastic condition with not too much sign of overuse, showing very fast surfaces around 11 feet on the stimp and rolling very true. The course itself is guarded by some beautiful homes, in particular an orange painted mansion just right of the third fairway was a standout favourite of mine. The golf course itself does still have a few patchy areas in sight whilst driving around in a buggy, but the pureness of the greens overshadowed any of these imperfections.
After the round we made our way to the Hilton Vilamoura, which was literally a stone’s throw away from the Pinhal clubhouse. We were greeted by Hilton’s operations director Mario Soares for dinner inside the hotel, tasting some of the finest wines and working our way through the tapas choices. The pork and chorizo were a highlight of the evening. The hotel itself was exemplary, with friendly staff offering to help with your bags whilst transferring you to your room. There are 129 members of staff in total with 179 rooms, which goes to show how much investment has been put in since the rebrand.
Mario also mentioned about the changes that the new ownership has made with their economic and environmental changes. For example, any food wastage from the Hilton or four golf courses themselves are part of the re-food programme – where any wastage is packaged away and used to help the homeless. Which I thought was a fantastic initiative. Alongside finding out that the water to protect the golf course was all economically recycled with no pesticides, allowing wildlife to flourish naturally around the area. One area the brand would previously receive regular complaints over was the lack of wildlife with the large amounts of developments, however whilst playing the golf courses I noticed a lot of very beautiful birds keeping the golfers’ company.
Day 2: Millennium and the Marina – Resort golf and sunset vibes
The second day took me to Millennium Golf Course, a more resort-style track that felt a little more forgiving than Pinhal – especially on the back nine. The front nine offered a similar package to Pinhal with plenty of tree-lined holes and lots of difficult approach shots. Whereas the back nine truly leaned into more of a resort feel. There was a much more open and flatter layout to make some more relaxing swings, making it very inviting to golfers who may be down to their final few golf balls following the front half.
A few holes stood out, the second tee shot was a 187 yard par three and one of the best of the trip. The third was a par five with a giant tree smack in the middle of the fairway 100 yards out, making it a very challenging approach to the green. Millenium’s front nine definitely highlighted the course design with its risk and reward – giving you hope to take on aggressive shots whilst punishing you for being slightly offline.
The real surprise of the round came at the halfway house, where we were greeted by a waiter offering prosecco and snacks. It wasn’t your usual pitstop, it felt like a celebration for losing five balls mid-round. Quite ironic as the back nine opened up slightly, though still lined with trees, with a blind second shot on 16 and a dramatic tee shot over water on 17. On the closing hole, I hit a three wood from 255 yards onto the green, rounding off a day that combined challenge, fun and a few memorable swings.
After the round, we made our way to the Vilamoura Marina – an essential stop for anyone visiting. With its buzzing atmosphere, shiny yachts and waterfront restaurants, it’s the perfect spot to unwind after a day on the course. I couldn’t help but think, ‘Are you really a golfer if you haven’t visited the marina at Vilamoura?’ For dinner we visited the popular Akvavit restaurant which was a seafood lover’s dream: perfectly cooked octopus, juicy steak and nautical themed ambience.
Day 3: The Old Course – A timeless classic
The third day was the one I’d been looking forward to most: a round at the legendary Old Course. Known as the ‘Grande Dame’ of Algarve golf, the Old Course felt like a step up in every way. From the moment we arrived, the experience was elevated, with the newly renovated clubhouse which had an understated elegance, blending old-world charm with fresh updates.
We were greeted by staff who took our bags, before heading to their new driving range. Then over to the first tee we were greeted by a photographer capturing team photos, and even a custom brochure with our prints waiting afterwards. Small touches, but that definitely added an extra layer of exclusivity to the day.
The course itself was simply stunning. Every tree seemed perfectly manicured, every green immaculate, I struggled to find a single pitch mark whilst out there other than my own. The opening hole felt like a postcard moment, with the fairway winding through towering pines.
Other highlights included the elevated par-three sixth offering panoramic views, the tight par-five fifth with an enormous tree guarding the green and the seventh, a beautiful dogleg left that demanded a draw to hold the undulating fairway.
Lunch back at the clubhouse was a mixed bag – while the setting was lovely, the food wasn’t quite to my taste (the almond pudding and spinach croquette didn’t hit the mark), but the coffee was strong enough to keep me going.
At €260 a round, it’s a premium experience that might not seem justifiable to most, however the modern range, the exemplary course condition and general aura about the place made it feel special. It’s the kind of course that makes you want to come back, even if just to sit by the clubhouse.
Day 4: Laguna – Water everywhere
Our final round was at Laguna Golf Course, which is in the same location as Millenium, but offers a completely different test. Built on open, links-style terrain, Laguna brought water into play early and often. The opening stretch was fantastic, with standout holes like the dogleg-right third with water lurking followed by a treacherous par three, which off the back tee was 235 yards! The fifth hole was by far the highlight of the round. Another sweeping dog leg, which was only 320 yards to the green but all you could see was an enormous lake with a big carry to the start of the fairway.
As the round progressed, the course started to feel a bit rough around the edges. The greens firmed up, the layout flattened out and the conditioning wasn’t quite on par with the other courses. Still, there were fun quirks, the ninth featured a functioning well sitting right in the heart of the fairway.
The on-course food service was excellent, with food and drinks delivered at the most perfect intervals. My only birdie came on the brutally tough par-five 15th, where I managed to find the green with a well-struck three wood. By the end, I was feeling the effects of four straight days of golf, but a chicken Caesar salad and a Coke Zero at the clubhouse hit the spot.
Beyond the fairways: The Vilamoura resort feel
Throughout the trip, it was clear how much Vilamoura has come on since my previous visit in 2018. From the eco-friendly initiatives at the Hilton – like the re-food programme and sustainable water practices – to the natural birdlife thriving without pesticides, the resort has found a way to balance luxury with responsibility.
I left feeling like Vilamoura offers something for every golfer: whether you want the tight, technical challenge of Pinhal, the half and half accessible fun of Millennium, the refined elegance of the Old Course or the water-filled adventure of Laguna. And with the upcoming Els Club Vilamoura (formerly Victoria) re-opening soon, it’s only going to get better.
For anyone planning a golf trip to Portugal, Vilamoura should be at the top of the list – not just for the golf, but for the complete experience both on and off the course.
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