Algarve, Portugal · Portugal · Frank Pennink
Vilamoura Old Course
James Kinloch
Golf Travel Specialist · played this course
The Old Course at Vilamoura opened in 1969 and remains the most atmospheric course on the Algarve. The umbrella pines are now fifty years old, and playing through them on a warm October morning — the light filtering through, pine needles underfoot, complete silence between holes — is an experience that newer courses can't replicate regardless of budget.
The course itself is not the most demanding on the strip. It rewards accuracy over power, which makes it ideal for mixed groups and higher handicappers who want to enjoy the round rather than fight it. The conditioning is reliable without being spectacular.
At £120 it's among the best value rounds in the Algarve.
Signature hole
Par-4 9th, 378 yards
"A blind tee shot over the top of a ridge, then a short iron to a green nestled in the pines. Old-fashioned, fun, slightly silly. Exactly right."
Designer
Frank Pennink
Par
73
Yardage
6,254
Green fee
from £120
Best for
Best time to go
October to May. The Old Course plays well in all seasons.
Play Vilamoura
James can arrange tee times, transfers, and accommodation around this course. One call is all it takes.
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Explore the destination
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