Designed by Nick Faldo with strategic play in mind this Vilamoura championship golf course demands careful positioning to score well. Opened in the autumn of 2008, the Faldo Course is certainly one that has a different feel to other golf courses on the Algarve. Whatever you may think about his Ryder Cup captaincy, Nick Faldo on this evidence, can certainly design a golf course. When we visited it, the golf course was in absolutely superb condition and whilst the greens were hard this is perhaps to be expected on a new golf course. The first 4 holes are an excellent opening with a long Par 4 to start followed by a Par 3 with a green so large, only we could miss it. The 3rd and 4th are very testing risk and reward holes. The Par 3's were all fun and, with the exception of 7th, not too long. The designer also likes you to play the right club into his greens and there are penalties if you don't.

7198 yds par 72

Golf Pinta; An outstanding venue designed by Ronald Fream; Golf Pinta> is a real masterpiece that is in excellent condition and home to some beautiful old olive trees. Many of the bunkers are huge and have been placed in the most frustrating places. Water is also a feature on a number of holes notably the par four 13th, the hardest hole on the course.

The most westerly course on the Algarve, this Pepe Gancedo design is "mountainous". Whilst not the longest, Golf Parque da Floresta plays above its yardage as nearly every hole is played to and from raised tees and greens; club selection is critical.

6180 yds par 72

Golf Morgado and Alamos opened in February of 2003 and March 2005 resectively. The two luxurious relatively new golf courses are situated about 15 km north of Portimão in the Western Algarve.

6994 yds par 72 and 6149 yds par 71

Alto Golf, another Henry Cotton design, is a fine golf course course that has one outstanding hole. The 658 yard par five, 16th claims to be the longest golf hole in Europe and you will not hear any argument from us.

6677 yds par 72

Golf Penha Longa - A spectacular and very demanding golf course set in the Sintra hills just a few minutes drive from Cascais. It is quite hilly and we therefore recommend you hire a buggy. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, all the holes are immaculate and many undulate from tee to green; they certainly tested Europe's best in 1994 and 1995 when the Portuguese Golf Open was held here.

6878 yds par 72

If you are hydrophobic Salgados Golf will scare you to death. Pedro de Vasconcelos has created a fine golf course from virtually nothing; no trees to speak of but lots and lots of water that protects almost every hole.

6627 yds par 72

Penina Golf, Henry Cotton's "finest" is the oldest golf course in the Algarve and has hosted the Portuguese Golf Open on numerous occasions. It is a magnificent golf course characterised by only one par five on the front nine but no less than four coming home.

6838 yds par 73

The Golf Director here insisted the views out to sea from the tee on the par five 17th are the "best in Portugal" and whilst he was probably biased he did have a point; there is some stunning scenery from the top of the golf course.

6498 yds par 71

A superb, relatively new venue designed by Howard Swan that is in excellent condition. Boavista Golf is characterised by some extremely tough par three holes; notably the 247 yard, 14th at which a successful tee shot to the green will involve carrying the lake that protects it.

6957 yds par 72