Golf Break in Spain/Portugal

Billydoc

Hi,
A group of about 12 of us thinking of heading next April to either Spain or Portugal for four nights and three rounds. We never went before and just looking for advice on which place would be better and any good advice and do any of ye have any experience with golf travel agents or should we book separately?

First Up

Billydoc wrote:

Hi, A group of about 12 of us thinking of heading next April to either Spain or Portugal for four nights and three rounds. We never went before and just looking for advice on which place would be better and any good advice and do any of ye have any experience with golf travel agents or should we book separately?

There have been several threads on this topic. You might find it useful to look at those.

JIdontknow

This was a recent one that might help:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057577273

Here's one or two others after a quick search:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=90279545
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=89166513

Ronney

Have a trip booked to Portugal this September (Faro). Looked at doing it independent but it worked out a lot more expensive.

Most of the courses have tie in with hotels/apartments so you get the two for a fraction of what you would pay booking separate. List price for Green fees seem to be quite high.

I Used Yourgolftravel, Email them your requirements and they get back fairly quick with a list of options. Was able to swap in and out courses and add an extra night for some too.

(tell them Darren sent you)

Billydoc

Thanks

razorblunt

Ronney wrote: »

Have a trip booked to Portugal this September (Faro). Looked at doing it independent but it worked out a lot more expensive.

Most of the courses have tie in with hotels/apartments so you get the two for a fraction of what you would pay booking separate. List price for Green fees seem to be quite high.

I Used Yourgolftravel, Email them your requirements and they get back fairly quick with a list of options. Was able to swap in and out courses and add an extra night for some too.

(tell them Darren sent you)

Are you playing Espiche, would be good to hear your feedback.
I found it very tough!

Ronney

razorblunt wrote: »

Are you playing Espiche, would be good to hear your feedback.
I found it very tough!

No Playing San Lorenzo and Pinheiros Altos, Staying in Formosa Park Hotel & Apartments which is tied in with san lorenzo and does free shuttle bus between

Prices were 3 nights B&B + 2 Rounds £209 (€268 today)
and some doing an extra nigh 4 nights B&B + 2 Rounds £235(€302)

San Lorenzos list price is €180 and Pinheiros is €90.

razorblunt

That's a pretty good price.
I've got those pencilled in for the next visit, we've taken Espiche off the last, few of us like Parque da Floresta and the others like Boavista so that's always 2 of the 4 days taken up.

the greatest game

Highly recommend the Amendoira Resort about 30 minutes from Villamoura.
Part of the Oceanico group.
3 night package for 4 , 290 euro, Fantastic accomadation, unlimited golf, great courses ( faldo and O'Connor) gree upgrade to another Oceanico course( pick old course villamoura) free buggies,
You can have a great 3-4 days for very small money on fanstastic courses.

Dublin72

the greatest game wrote: »

Highly recommend the Amendoira Resort about 30 minutes from Villamoura.
Part of the Oceanico group.
3 night package for 4 , 290 euro, Fantastic accomadation, unlimited golf, great courses ( faldo and O'Connor) gree upgrade to another Oceanico course( pick old course villamoura) free buggies,
You can have a great 3-4 days for very small money on fanstastic courses.

Was here last week and had a great time. Fantastic value for money. Thought the Old course and Faldo course were excellent. Only drawback is it is in the middle of nowhere! Going back next year.

FixdePitchmark

Lads

I'm thinking of a winter golf break - nothing solid in head - but about time I did this type of thing in winter.

any ideas.

Can you do this last minute ?

and is it very dead this time of year,

Putt it there

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Lads

I'm thinking of a winter golf break - nothing solid in head - but about time I did this type of thing in winter.

any ideas.

Can you do this last minute ?

and is it very dead this time of year,

If you go to vilamoura its not dead in fairness as theres always lots of golfers and couples about , average age would certainly be 30+ but theres great craic to be had . Bunch of us usually go in April but once went at the end of October and it was great - 18-22+ degrees and all courses open .

We book with teetimes.pt - golf/hotel/transfers and its always been top notch , play the oceanico courses near vilamoura as the transfers to and from are free . Old course/pinhal/victoria are 3 great courses , the o connor and faldo ones are very isolated if you choose to stay out there .

A sample price would be about €450 each for hotel , golf and transfers . Flights extra of course .

CMOTDibbler

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Lads

I'm thinking of a winter golf break - nothing solid in head - but about time I did this type of thing in winter.

any ideas.

Can you do this last minute ?

and is it very dead this time of year,

It's funny, but in Portugal (not sure about Spain) they seem to consider the winter to be high season. Except December and January.

Presumably they get a lot of winter golfers.

Low season is actually June to August (and Dec-Jan).

First Up

FixdePitchmark wrote:

I'm thinking of a winter golf break - nothing solid in head - but about time I did this type of thing in winter.

If weather is the big issue I would widen it. Turkey (Belek) and Morocco (Agadir) are worth looking at. Good deals with Turkish Airlines.

CMOTDibbler

First Up wrote: »

If weather is the big issue I would widen it. Turkey (Belek) and Morocco (Agadir) are worth looking at. Good deals with Turkish Airlines.

:eek:

I hear Syria is good this time of year too.

First Up

CMOTDibbler wrote:

I hear Syria is good this time of year too.

Its a big world out there. You stay under cover.

CMOTDibbler

First Up wrote: »

Its a big world out there. You stay under cover.

Well my niece decided to take a short holiday with a friend to Istanbul a while back.

Arriving there on a certain Friday...

First Up

CMOTDibbler wrote:

Well my niece decided to take a short holiday with a friend to Istanbul a while back.

CMOTDibbler wrote:

Arriving there on a certain Friday...

Bad luck. Great city. I transit through Istanbul about once a month and when circumstances allow I overnight in a small fishing port near the airport called Yesilkoy. Best seafood you will find on the planet.

thewobbler

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Lads

I'm thinking of a winter golf break - nothing solid in head - but about time I did this type of thing in winter.

any ideas.

Can you do this last minute ?

and is it very dead this time of year,

Most resort towns will be quiet this time of year through to June There's no getting away from the fact that across the Costas and the Algarve, golfers make up at best 10% of the overall (high season) nightlife trade

I'd personally recommend either Vilamoura or Marbella as your base. The latter is larger and *should* be busier but the former is a proper weekend destination as it's a 2 hr flight and 20 minute transfer for Englanders.

If you go Vilamoura, pay extra to play the Quinta Do Lago courses. 15 minute drive and top class golf.

kieran.

Was in vilamoura 2 weeks ago the town/marina itself was busy enough in the evenings but not packed. Would highly recommend it as a base.

FixdePitchmark

Lads - when people are booking these - these days.

Does anyone actually use an agent ?

Or is it all DIY - are there good packages out there.

Say a trip for 4 days with 3 rounds.

How much are peolpe paying per head - if say 12 are going ?

paulos53

I have always booked the rounds of golf with local agents. Booking multiple rounds with them seems to work out cheaper than sorting out individual rounds myself.

I then book the accommodation separately but that suits us as we are only looking for something basic with self-catering

DuckSlice

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Lads - when people are booking these - these days.

Does anyone actually use an agent ?

Or is it all DIY - are there good packages out there.

Say a trip for 4 days with 3 rounds.

How much are peolpe paying per head - if say 12 are going ?

I went through an agent for a holiday for 15 people last april. I would never use this agent again and would not recommend them to anyone. The guy I was dealing with was absolutely useless. I will name if i am allowed but PM and I will tell you.

They tried to say we underpaid by one but we had all the records to show that we had paid.

The package itself was ok, wasn't too expensive but wasn't cheap either.

FixdePitchmark

paulos53 wrote: »

I have always booked the rounds of golf with local agents. Booking multiple rounds with them seems to work out cheaper than sorting out individual rounds myself.

I then book the accommodation separately but that suits us as we are only looking for something basic with self-catering

Ok - so in general for

3 rounds - 4 days with flights

What do people pay in the say ?

Budget Range (with ok golf range)
Mid range ( good course)
up market ?

We would be on the budget to mid range. To be honest - I'd like to play good courses - but it is a bunch of mixed golfers. I'll go with flow for the few days that are in it.

DuckSlice

In April, we paid 790 for flights and 5 nights accommodation. 3 rounds of golf. I think playing the Victoria course made was a reason for it being quite high.
We played the Oceanico courses - Pinhal, Laguna and Victoria.

thewobbler

Fixed, if you spend a full day on it planning, phoning, crossing off, crossing on, you might shave (literally) 30 a man off that trip by self-booking but honestly it's not worth the hassle.

YGT's prices are very solid and as often as not (in my experience) will come in a couple of quid cheaper than self booking.

----

If you're for Portugal, here's 3 things to ponder.

1.Vilamoura is made for golf. It's brilliant. But it's also pricier than anything further west. If you're determined to stay in Vilamoura, then don't bother with the low end (Pinhal, Millennium, Laguna) courses. They're distinctly average and by the time you fork out for a buggy, will only be 20 quid or so less than Old and Victoria (or maybe QDL if you catch them on a golf day).

2. If it's a golf trip you're after rather than a golf ~ drinking trip, have a look at the all inclusive deals around Anendoira area. It's 25 minutes from anywhere (think of a night out at Moyvalley) but has two very decent courses on site (Faldo and O'Connor). People who stay in Vilamoura pay top whack to drive out there to play those two. People staying on site tend basically get it for nothing. About 45 mins to the airport.

3. If your group enjoys a hefty binge in the 19th (if so, can I come?), you should probably consider another all inclusive option in Sao Rafael, which is close to albufeira. I haven't played the morgado course which is part of this deal buts it's supposed to be sound enough. I played Salgados a decade ago and it has potential then as a young course. This is a cheap as chips option.

FixdePitchmark

etxp wrote: »

In April, we paid 790 for flights and 5 nights accommodation. 3 rounds of golf. I think playing the Victoria course made was a reason for it being quite high.
We played the Oceanico courses - Pinhal, Laguna and Victoria.

Thanks for all the info lads.

They are all good courses.

So with flights / Acc / Golf - and all in, could we get below the 700 ?

Is spain simply cheaper ? - much cheaper ?

I think we will be 4 nights - 3 rounds.

FixdePitchmark

thewobbler wrote: »

Fixed, if you spend a full day on it planning, phoning, crossing off, crossing on, you might shave (literally) 30 a man off that trip by self-booking but honestly it's not worth the hassle.

YGT's prices are very solid and as often as not (in my experience) will come in a couple of quid cheaper than self booking.

----

If you're for Portugal, here's 3 things to ponder.

1.Vilamoura is made for golf. It's brilliant. But it's also pricier than anything further west. If you're determined to stay in Vilamoura, then don't bother with the low end (Pinhal, Millennium, Laguna) courses. They're distinctly average and by the time you fork out for a buggy, will only be 20 quid or so less than Old and Victoria (or maybe QDL if you catch them on a golf day).

2. If it's a golf trip you're after rather than a golf ~ drinking trip, have a look at the all inclusive deals around Anendoira area. It's 25 minutes from anywhere (think of a night out at Moyvalley) but has two very decent courses on site (Faldo and O'Connor). People who stay in Vilamoura pay top whack to drive out there to play those two. People staying on site tend basically get it for nothing. About 45 mins to the airport.

3. If your group enjoys a hefty binge in the 19th (if so, can I come?), you should probably consider another all inclusive option in Sao Rafael, which is close to albufeira. I haven't played the morgado course which is part of this deal buts it's supposed to be sound enough. I played Salgados a decade ago and it has potential then as a young course. This is a cheap as chips option.

Nice one wobbler.

These lads would be there for a binge - with the golf a bit of a laugh - in fairness there is a trophy involved , so that is a bit unfair - if true

I've no interest in playing crap courses myself - but the mid range stuff is fine. I've played Pinhal, Millennium, Laguna - and that level is excellent for us. In fact, i'm surprised they are low end :eek:
I think I need another trip over there to play the top stuff.

thewobbler

Np.

By the way, in my experience Malaga is more expensive than the Algarve for everything, including golf.

DuckSlice

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Nice one wobbler.

These lads would be there for a binge - with the golf a bit of a laugh - in fairness there is a trophy involved , so that is a bit unfair - if true

I've no interest in playing crap courses myself - but the mid range stuff is fine. I've played Pinhal, Millennium, Laguna - and that level is excellent for us. In fact, i'm surprised they are low end :eek:
I think I need another trip over there to play the top stuff.

I think you could get it below the 700 probably, I know we would have saved 50 a man if we just booked our own flights.

If its mainly just a bit of fun and some of the golfers are just playing golf for the laugh I wouldn't recommend going to Victoria with them, im not sure about the other top courses. When I was there we had a lot of lads that hadn't played golf for a good while and Victoria was just too hard for them and most of my time was spent looking for balls. Pinhal/Laguna would be perfect for that, a lot more forgiving etc.

Putt it there

€700 seems expensive - we've already booked for next april in vilamoura and its €445 for 5 nights b+b with 3 rounds and transfers (flights usually about €110 return extra) If you have 8+ players theres currently an offer in oceanico courses when you pay for one less than whats playing , this will save €70-€140 per booking depending on what courses you play .
Theres nowt wrong with pinhal , laguana or millennium for golf hols although victoria and the old course are top notch . Further out from vilamoura you can play quinta do lago north/south and laranjal - deals on offer if you book those 3 also . Then you have vila sol and the 2 courses at vale do lobo .

Try teetimes.pt - we use them every year and you can see prices as you make up your own package deal .

FixdePitchmark

Putt it there wrote: »

€700 seems expensive - we've already booked for next april in vilamoura and its €445 for 5 nights b+b with 3 rounds and transfers (flights usually about €110 return extra) If you have 8+ players theres currently an offer in oceanico courses when you pay for one less than whats playing , this will save €70-€140 per booking depending on what courses you play .
Theres nowt wrong with pinhal , laguana or millennium for golf hols although victoria and the old course are top notch . Further out from vilamoura you can play quinta do lago north/south and laranjal - deals on offer if you book those 3 also . Then you have vila sol and the 2 courses at vale do lobo .

Try teetimes.pt - we use them every year and you can see prices as you make up your own package deal .

Thanks for that.

Just to be clear, are you saying your total is 445 + 110 = 655 ?


What is your total all in ?

HighLine

Funny sometimes the different views people have about courses.Before going I was told by an avid golfer that "Laguna was a kip and not to waste your time".

Personally I thought Pinhal was fantastic (pics below) and Laguna was nice as well. My perception may have been skewed by a severe hangover but I found Victoria to be overpriced. A few great holes but many bland ones also.

Putt it there

Just to be clear, are you saying your total is 445 + 110 = 655 ?


What is your total all in ?[/quote]

Or even 445 + 110 = 555

Thats it and we use clubs to hire which works out inc insurance at €50 per set per week .

Its about €80 onto the flights if you bring your own . I see clubs to hire will now drop at your hotel and collect for €20 per booking wether you book 1 set or 20 its still €20 .

€600 for flights , clubs , 5 nights hotel , transfers , 3 rounds each is great value .

Also with the crowd we deal with its 3 payments spread out over the few months before you travel so you dont have to stup it all up in one go

Putt it there

HighLine wrote: »

Funny sometimes the different views people have about courses.Before going I was told by an avid golfer that "Laguna was a kip and not to waste your time".

Personally I thought Pinhal was fantastic (pics below) and Laguna was nice as well. My perception may have been skewed by a severe hangover but I found Victoria to be overpriced. A few great holes but many bland ones also.

Agree 100% . Love pinhal , great course

DuckSlice

Putt it there wrote: »

Agree 100% . Love pinhal , great course

Also agree, pinhal was a fantastic course and in much better condition than Victoria.

Silver-Tiger

Hi Lads.

Thinking if hitting Portugal with 12 lads. It has to be around mid February though. Is the weather very chancy at that time?

First Up

Silver-Tiger wrote:

Thinking if hitting Portugal with 12 lads. It has to be around mid February though. Is the weather very chancy at that time?

Not really. It will be a lot better than here. The further south the better your chances. I prefer the Lisbon area but the Algarve is likely to be a bit warmer. But it is still February so don't expect the get sunburn.

FixdePitchmark

Lads

anyone got any ideas or recommendations for 3 days club hire in vilamoura - how does it work ?

Not looking for any fancy clubs - just 3 days - coming into Faro Airport.

thewobbler

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Lads

anyone got any ideas or recommendations for 3 days club hire in vilamoura - how does it work ?

Not looking for any fancy clubs - just 3 days - coming into Faro Airport.

When you bounce off a plane in Faro, the first thing you'll see when you get through arrivals is a Clubs To Hire shop.

If you order in advance with them online, your clubs willl be sitting waiting, and you just show ID and sign a few waivers.

They'll do hotel delivery and pick up for a smal fee too.

I'd expect you'll find somewhere a little cheaper than them, but you won't beat them for convenience

searay

thewobbler wrote: »

When you bounce off a plane in Faro, the first thing you'll see when you get through arrivals is a Clubs To Hire shop.

If you order in advance with them online, your clubs willl be sitting waiting, and you just show ID and sign a few waivers.

They'll do hotel delivery and pick up for a smal fee too.

I'd expect you'll find somewhere a little cheaper than them, but you won't beat them for convenience

If you are going with clubs to hire.com, You have to book the clubs online in advance. One of our guys didn't and they had no sets available in the shop. Cost him a fortune in the first club we played. Have to agree about them for convenience.

Ronney

searay wrote: »

If you are going with clubs to hire.com, You have to book the clubs online in advance. One of our guys didn't and they had no sets available in the shop. Cost him a fortune in the first club we played. Have to agree about them for convenience.

Second that suggestion of clubs to hire, Pre book and they will be waiting there and all you do is select your putter.

FixdePitchmark

Lads have a chance to play Old course Vilamoura-

a couple of things I'm reading about it.

A few of our golfers wouldn't be great 24/25 handicap- is it that hard and is it true some places will ask you for handicap certs ?

I find that hard to believe in Vilamoura - as are most lads not from societies etc there ?

Thanks for all the info on here that has helped immensely.

First Up

The more serious courses often look for h/c certs and the Old Course is a serious course. But in any case I wouldn't recomend it for society golf hackers. Its not super long but its tight and tricky. It is also expensive. I've played there and Pinhal and unless you know what you are doing you can get into a lot of trouble.

bmay529

Vilamura old is a cracking old style course and one of my favourites in Portugal... expensive though. I have played it several times and on one occasion they insisted on h/c cert and luckily I had one. I was with a group at the time and as I recall they also had a h/cap limit, so worth checking both in advance. While there are a lot of trees I would say it is no more difficult to play off forward tees for a high h/cap than other good courses as long as they don't spray it too much/

thewobbler

Fixd, almost every course of repute in Portugal has a handicap limit. But it's not there to keep poor golfers away, it's there to protect themselves from people who've no idea what's going on.

As a rule of thumb. If you are dressed properly and look like you've half a clue about what's going on, you'll not be asked.

Turn up in bermudas and trainers, and stand beside the first tee shouting loudly about who's round it is, and they won't be long asking.


The Old course in terms of difficulty is in the same bracket as any shortish tree lined affair in Ireland. Trees can be frustrating if you kee finding them but the course isn't long enough for it to become a slog.

If you think your mates would get around Headfort Old okay, then they'll get around Vilamoura Old just fine too.

First Up

thewobbler wrote:

The Old course in terms of difficulty is in the same bracket as any shortish tree lined affair in Ireland. Trees can be frustrating if you kee finding them but the course isn't long enough for it to become a slog.

Plenty of trees all right but there is more trouble around (and on) the greens at Vilamoura.

thewobbler wrote:

If you think your mates would get around Headfort Old okay, then they'll get around Vilamoura Old just fine too.

Headfort doesn't cost €180-€200 a pop.

FixdePitchmark

thewobbler wrote: »

Fixd, almost every course of repute in Portugal has a handicap limit. But it's not there to keep poor golfers away, it's there to protect themselves from people who've no idea what's going on.

As a rule of thumb. If you are dressed properly and look like you've half a clue about what's going on, you'll not be asked.

Turn up in bermudas and trainers, and stand beside the first tee shouting loudly about who's round it is, and they won't be long asking.


The Old course in terms of difficulty is in the same bracket as any shortish tree lined affair in Ireland. Trees can be frustrating if you kee finding them but the course isn't long enough for it to become a slog.

If you think your mates would get around Headfort Old okay, then they'll get around Vilamoura Old just fine too.

Yes we are all sensible enough - sure I'll be there to keep things right , the courses I've played over there are a joke (I know Old is a step up a little harder) - but they are very short and open in rough.

But looking at photos - under trees you find ball and have some sort of shot.

I was a bit suprised at the whole handicap thing, because I would have viewed Vilamoura as packed with societies / pub societies etc. And you get your tee time from a 3rd party - not sure how they can apply a cert requirment.

Anyway , the more you learn about Vilamoura , the more you can see why people go away from it.

The courses are too full, the cost is too expensive, the golf is too slow. At least it seems to have a bit of a suitable night life.

thewobbler

What's the price got to do with it first up?

He's asking if social golfers would find it too daunting. It's less than 6,000 yards and, has almost no water hazards, and minimal rough.

By the way, in my experience social golfers don't give a damn if the greens and fringes are a little tricked up; they don't expect to get up and down. 200 yard carries and unforgiving rough are the things they'll avoid.

First Up

FixdePitchmark wrote:

I was a bit suprised at the whole handicap thing, because I would have viewed Vilamoura as packed with societies / pub societies etc. And you get your tee time from a 3rd party - not sure how they can apply a cert requirment.

Its a bit more serious and upmarket than that. There's a variety of courses to suit all standards but you won't find any pub societies at the Old Course.

Maybe do a bit more research.

FixdePitchmark

By the way on the price.

Most ok courses 80 to 100 euro anyway. Laguna - a poor course is 100 euro .

Most of the guys are golfers - so you may as well pay the extra and play old for that 120 to 140. In for the penny in the context of the trip and you want golfers going away going, class course.

It is mad money - but all of Vilamoura is mad - sure you can play very bad stuff for 90 euro.