Vilamoura Golf

Vilamoura Golf is one of the biggest resorts in Europe, and it has pretty much everything you could wish for. Located in a perfect region for golf, with six other resorts on the NCG Top 100s: European Resorts list nearby, in the Vilamoura region of Portugal.

 

The resort is the home to five 18-hole golf courses, making up a total of 90 holes. The Old Course was one of the first courses to be built in the region, and was followed by four more layouts to give the Vilamoura Golf an incredible portfolio.

 

The Victoria Course achieved its championship status in 2007, when it became the host venue for the Portugal Masters on the DP World Tour. The event was hosted on the Victoria Course for 16 years, with Jordan Smith winning the last edition in 2022. Shane Lowry, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Thomas Pieters are among the big names to have won the competition.

 

Along with five golf courses, the Vilamoura Golf Resort is also the home to three world class hotels. The Vilamoura is the biggest of those, and features its own Spa & Wellness Centre. There is also the Portobelo which provides small apartments to stay in, while the Marina is the boutique hotel of the resort.

 

A week’s trip to Vilamoura Golf to play all five courses sounds like our idea of golfing heaven. When you put together 90 holes of golf with world class accommodation and in the location that it is, then Vilamoura Golf is a must visit. 

 

Visit Vilamoura Golf’s website here.

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.

 

You read that right! There are a whopping 90 holes of golf at the Vilamoura Golf Resort across five stunning golf courses. The Old Course was the second golf course designed and built on the Algarve, and was followed up by the Victoria, which was a DP World Tour tournament host for 16 years.

 

As one of the first-established layouts in the region, the Frank Pennink-design is well regarded. The Old Course at Vilamoura Golf winds its way through the pine trees, with many of the fairways seeming narrow.

 

The course has been modernised in recent years, and with an attractive new clubhouse and putting green, the Old Course can rival any of its siblings. The 4th hole is the only time golfers will have to deal with water. The green on this short par-3 is obstructed by the pond and an umbrella pine tree. Get it over those, and a birdie chance awaits…

 

2000 saw the opening of this course, hence the name Millennium. Designer Martin Hawtree took the inward nine from the original 27-hole Laguna Course, spruced it up and then added nine more sublime holes to create the Millennium Course at Vilamoura Golf.

 

It is one of the more open courses at Vilamoura Golf, especially compared to the Old Course Vilamoura with its pine trees. A number of lakes are also in view, and in reach! That water comes very much into play on the last two holes, and if you’ve got a good score going, then those hazards will look much larger than they actually are.

 

The Pinhal Vilamoura is one of the oldest at the resort, having been opened in 1976. Frank Pennink was the man behind the original design of the course, with Robert Trent Jones Sr making a number of changes a decade later.

 

The course measures close to 7,000 yards from the back tees, meaning it is no easy ride. The Par 72 lay-out does not have an abundance of water hazards but it is tree-lined, much like the Old Course. The lay-out runs across undulating parkland and will provide a stern test for golfers of all levels.

 

The Laguna Course at Vilamoura Golf was designed by American golf course architect Joseph Lee, who used the low-lying terrain to his advantage. A number of holes have links characteristics, giving it a more unique feel compared to the other four courses on the resort. 

 

Trees are not the problem on the Laguna Course, water is. It first makes an appearance at the right side of the 3rd green, and then seems to stick around for the majority of the round. A number of changes have been made over the years since the course opened in 1990, and the 15th hole now provides an incredible challenge. The fairway is split into two very separate pieces thanks to the water streaming across the centre. A long par-5 that requires three very good shots to find the green.

 

At the end of 2023, the Victoria Course was closed. A full reconstruction was undertaken on the land, with an exclusive Els Club opening in the summer of 2025. It became the fifth venue in Els' portfolio, and the first to be constructed in Continental Europe.

 

The Els Club Vilamoura occupies the land that used to be the Victoria Course, and the course will play host to the PGA Tour Champions for the first time in 2026.

 

The Vilamoura Golf Academy is the perfect compliment to the resort’s five stunning golf courses. The driving range and short game facilities are second to none, allowing golfers to practise before taking on one of those five courses mentioned above.

 

The Academy aims to help players of all ages and abilities, providing fun and educational programmes to aid that progress. A team of PGA professionals are on site to help coach players, with TrackMan 4 ready to add another layer to that tuition.

 

The Vilamoura Golf Golf Resort is the home to three stunning accommodation options, with hotels and apartments on offer. There is the Vilamoura, which is the biggest hotel in the complex, followed by the Marina and Portobelo. 

 

Set in a prime location close to Vilamoura Marina, and offering comfortable rooms in a relaxed atmosphere, is the stylish Vilamoura Golf Resort. It is the biggest offering of the accommodation at the resort, and allows guests to relax in true comfort.

 

This hotel is a great choice for golf lovers who wish to take advantage of the array of golf in Vilamoura with the Vilamoura Golf Experience, a unique offer of hotel and golf experience in the Algarve.

 

Next to the Vilamoura Marina, the hotel Marina is a 4-star hotel that offers guests the guarantee of true Portuguese hospitality as well as the Algarve's sunshine and unspoiled beaches.

 

A range of rooms and suites are available, from rooms with sea views to one and two-bedroom suites, the latter of which are suited for families. There is also the Presidential Suite, which offers the utmost luxury for a stay at the Marina.

 

The Portobelo is the ideal choice for those seeking the services of a hotel and the flexibility of an aparthotel in Vilamoura, with spacious areas, elegant decor, and incredible views over the beach.

 

The Vilamoura Hotel includes a Spa & Wellness Centre, where you can relax and rejuvenate during your stay on the Algarve. 

 

Spa Aquae is dedicated to providing guests with the perfect place to relax and unwind, with an indoor heated pool, steam room, jacuzzi and a pool with chromotherapy. The centre also has massage and treatment rooms, along with a high-tech gym.

 

Where is Vilamoura Golf located? 
Vilamoura Golf is located on the southern coast of Portugal, in the region of Vilamoura. It is located in somewhat of a golfing paradise, with no fewer than six other resorts on the NCG Top 100s: European Resorts list within just a few miles of Vilamoura Golf. Portimao, Albufeira and Faro are the nearest cities to the resort.

What is the nearest airport to Vilamoura Golf? 
The nearest international airport is Faro, which is just a 30 minute drive from Vilamoura Golf to the east. Faro International Airport operates daily flights to the majority of European countries, including several flights per day to the United Kingdom.

What golf facilities does Vilamoura Golf offer? 
Along with the five incredible golf courses at Vilamoura Golf, there is also the Vilamoura Golf Academy. The Academy is the home to a state of the art driving range, with TrackMan technology there to help aid training. 

Does Vilamoura Golf offer golf lessons? 
Lessons are available at the Vilamoura Golf Academy. The Academy offers tuition for both individuals and for small groups of up to four people. The Academy uses the latest technology to help with any issues and analysis on your game. 

 

The Vilamoura Golf Academy also does lessons for kids and under-21s. There are weekly after-school classes, and at the Academy, they try to keep the game as fun as possible for children.

What are the green fees at Vilamoura Golf? 
The price of a green fee at Vilamoura Golf changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. 

 

For more information on current green fees at Vilamoura Golf, visit their website here. 

What accommodation is on offer at Vilamoura Golf? 
There is some amazing accommodation at Vilamoura Golf, with three stunning hotels. The Vilamoura Hotel is the biggest on the resort, while the Marina and Portobelo offer more boutique accommodation for your stay on the Algarve.

 

What was Vilamoura Golf formerly known as? 
Vilamoura Golf used to be known as the Dom Pedro Resort, with the venue going through the re-branding process in the early part of 2025.

There are several resorts in the region that also make it on to the NCG Top 100 European Golf Resorts list. Vila Sol, Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo, San Lorenzo, Pine Cliffs and Salgados are all in close range of Vilamoura Golf.

 

 

Visit Vilamoura Golf’s website here.

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.