Old Course Vilamoura Golf
The umbrella pines here are old enough to have watched Frank Pennink stake out the fairways in 1969, and they still define the course — tall, rust-barked, throwing shade across the turf in long morning lines. The Old Course at Vilamoura is the Algarve's original resort layout, and after more than five decades it carries that seniority lightly: measured, pine-framed, with a slope rating of 138 that rewards patience over power.
The one pond on the course appears at the fourth hole, a par 3 played clean over the water. It's a quiet test, typical of a layout that asks you to think rather than swing hard. The clubhouse sits close by, its British-inspired gastropub an odd and somehow comfortable fit for a Portuguese afternoon.
💛 What travellers fall for
Regulars book tee times in October or March, when the greens are in their best condition and the course isn't at capacity. Most come back for hole four — that pond shot lingers. After the round, the gastropub's Portuguese dishes tend to outlast the British staples on the table.
The story behind Old Course Vilamoura Golf
Frank Pennink, the English golfer-turned-architect who shaped several European courses in the postwar decades, designed the Old Course and it opened in 1969 — making it one of the earliest purpose-built resort courses on the Algarve. It hosted the Portuguese Open in 1976, a marker of early prestige.
By the mid-1990s the course needed reinvention. Martin Hawtree, another British golf architect, carried out a substantial remodel and the course reopened in 1997 with a new clubhouse and a revised layout — the fifth and eighteenth holes were swapped, quietly altering the rhythm of a round. Dom Pedro Hotels & Golf Collection took ownership in 2016, and in 2025 the course was named Portugal's Best Golf Course at the World Golf Awards.
Good to know
Twenty minutes from Faro airport. A valid handicap certificate is required: maximum 28 for men, 36 for women. Green fees start at €215 for 18 holes; buggies and club hire are available subject to availability. Operating hours vary by season — check at the clubhouse on arrival.
Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) offer the most reliable conditions: warm without the inland heat spikes that can push July and August above 35°C. Winter rounds are mild and often clear, though December brings the most rain; if you don't mind the occasional grey morning, green fees tend to be lower and the course quieter.
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What travellers say about Old Course Vilamoura Golf
I’ve been lucky enough to play this course more times that I can remember and was back again in May 2026, what an amazing but hard course! From tee to green it is amazing! Heard it could be taken over by Americans so hope I get to come back in 2027, 100% recommend this course.
We had an absolutely fantastic time here. ⛳ Everything was perfect, but what really stood out was how beautifully green the course was. 🌲 Unlike many other courses that get dried out, it’s clear they water this one thoroughly. 💧 The fairways and greens were incredibly lush, fresh, and in pristine condition. 🌱 Highly recommended for anyone visiting Vilamoura! 🏌️♂️
Probably the best course we played in Vilamoura and one of the most expensive but worth the money compared to what the other courses around here are charging everyone. As soon you arrive you are treated so well and politely but all the staff. Range ball are included in the price and they also give you a lovely bag tag engraved with your name on it. The condition of this course was amazing tee boxes were perfect fairways in excellent condition as were the greens. We enjoyed this course so much that we booked it again on our off day. I would highly recommend this course to anyone that is coming to Vilamoura on a golf trip to play here.
What can I say!! 1st class plus! Staff, course everything! Made you feel so welcome. The course is magnificent, as a two ball we were paired with another 2 ball but with a buggy it’s absolutely fine . Want to come back !!!
Brilliant experience. Clubhouse, staff, facilities and course all absolutely 10/10. Well worth a special treat.
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