Golf trip advice... Spain or Portugal

bobwilliams wrote: »

Hi all,
Looking for a stear here.
Firstly the 8 lads going are all decent golfers but wouldn't have huge wallets.
The options I'm looking at is the Algarve, south of Spain or Girona (pga catalunya)
The likes of Valderama is a bit steep so looking for a 4 or 5 day trip with 3 or 4 rounds.
Many thanks in advance.
I've read some of the Portugal Algarve courses are not great for the fees demanded.
We're planning next September.

If you’re comparing rates with Ireland then you’ll struggle to find “value” in most of Spain or Portugal. Our mid-tier courses which can be found €20 for a midweek round, even in peak season, is some of the best value in the world of golf. I’m up on 25-30 golf courses in Spain / Portugal now, almost all at €100+ including buggy, and the only ones that would definitely make top 20 in Ulster are Quinta Do Lago South and Morgado. Even some of the premier names like Vilamoura Old and Vale Do Lobo Royal, while perfectly good and enjoyable golf courses, just didn’t agree with me in the same way that Irish courses do.

Drop GolfBreaks or YGT an email with your requirements. It is possible to sort out your own breaks marginally cheaper than these operators, but only if you put serious effort in.

If you’re not overly bothered about nightlife then Amondeira in Algarve (Faldo and O’Connor) will usually have a hell of a deal, as will La Cala (Costa Del Sol). We got a great deal a few years ago in Formosa Park (Algarve) too but it was just a little too far out for my group of functioning alcoholics. You should probably have a look at flights to Lisbon too; packages you there are much better value, but there’s just not as many convenient flights.

Portugal is dear, if you were going next year you may struggle for tee times

Id advise against la Cala. 3 courses but all of them are finikey with holes that are uninspiring and ridiculousy tight. Lots of punters selling lake balls on the road in and Id say they do very well!

neris wrote: »

If your booking your own accommodation in Portugal dont stay in Bom Succeso. Theres **** all there and its in the middle of no where

Yeah. Even the drive up to it from the main road just seems to go on forever.
I stayed in a rented house near Praia del Rey, and that's a lot more central.

searay wrote: »

Prawnsambo, The courses there look great and the area is on my list. Some of our group like a few nights out while we are away. Is there any nightlife there and if so where should be stay.

Hi Searay, good to hear from you.


Praia del Rey is a massive resort area. The resort centres around the Marriott Hotel which overlooks the golf course. If you're staying in the resort, you can walk to the Marriott. Obviously the club house is close by too. There's also a separate restaurant and bar down near the end of the course where it follows the shoreline and a supermarket there too. But the walled town of Obidos (about 20 minute's drive from the resort) is a stunning place to go at night for food and drink. You could stay there, but the availability would be limited enough. Better to get a taxi from the resort or a designated driver.

bobwilliams wrote: »

Guys, a lot of reviewers saying courses in Anendeira have declined a lot due to overuse.

Has anyone stayed in Tavira before, still thinking of doing Monte Rei twice and nearby course Benamor once and renting a house in Tavira.

Stayed there for a short trip in October, maybe 5 years ago - Played 3 courses nearby. Golf was fine but the town was very, very, quiet.

bobwilliams wrote: »

Hi all,
Looking for a stear here.
Firstly the 8 lads going are all decent golfers but wouldn't have huge wallets.
The options I'm looking at is the Algarve, south of Spain or Girona (pga catalunya)
The likes of Valderama is a bit steep so looking for a 4 or 5 day trip with 3 or 4 rounds.
Many thanks in advance.
I've read some of the Portugal Algarve courses are not great for the fees demanded.
We're planning next September.

8 of us went to la manga last Feb and really enjoyed it but we were only 3 days so less down time...
There are 3 courses on site all decent with different challenges. Not sure where September sits in their busy periods, as I think it's pricey in season but in Feb it was both warm and reasonable prices. We booked through golfbreaks.com

https://lamangaclub.com/en/sports/golf


There's a few restaurants and bars on site but that otherwise there's not a huge amount to do locally apart from the golf we got a mini-bus into Cartagena the one night for something different

bobwilliams wrote: »

Guys, a lot of reviewers saying courses in Anendeira have declined a lot due to overuse.

Has anyone stayed in Tavira before, still thinking of doing Monte Rei twice and nearby course Benamor once and renting a house in Tavira.

I have played Amendoeira in March of the last two years and the greens are so pure and Summer like I was quite surprised with how true, fast and fair they rolled. Plenty of sand in bunkers etc.
Maybe as the year goes on, over use is an issue but I couldn't fault the course conditioning. Cant wait to head back again in March.

bobwilliams wrote: »

Guys, a lot of reviewers saying courses in Anendeira have declined a lot due to overuse.

Has anyone stayed in Tavira before, still thinking of doing Monte Rei twice and nearby course Benamor once and renting a house in Tavira.

I’ve not played them but Quinta del Ria/Cima is a 36 hole layout between Tavira and Monte Rei that gets good reviews. Right by the sea.

That’ll be my trip in a few years once my mates calm the nightlife down.

Benicetomonty wrote: »

Id advise against la Cala. 3 courses but all of them are finikey with holes that are uninspiring and ridiculousy tight. Lots of punters selling lake balls on the road in and Id say they do very well!

Played la Cala 5 yrs ago and loved it. I'm a high hc but bought the course books beforehand to have some idea where to aim at least (rarely landed in the proper area)

Salgado in the Algarve is a wide open course low handicappers would find it easy. But a Rd with a buggy around midday was €70 I think.

searay wrote: »

morrga wrote: »

The likes of Your Golf Travel seem to be able to command discounted green fees that when wrapped up into a package works out at great value.


If you book through a UK agent at the moment, you're committing to a sterling price for something that should be billed in euros and could get hit with an exchange move post brexit, if there is a brexit!

If you book through an Irish or Portugese/English agent, you are avoiding that risk.

Your talking buttons. £369 package at current rates equate to €428 at 1.16. Even a calamitous fall to 1.25 adds just 30 quid. In the grand scheme of things a fiver a day extra.

I wouldn’t get too obsessed with physical proximity of golf courses. Getting in, out and around Albufeira takes more time than it does to get to neighbouring towns along the motorway. You’re going to be 15 mins in transit regardless, and 30 mins opens up a pile of courses.

Salgados will be your closest course and it’s decent enough but surprisingly lacking in memorability considering there is water, literally, everywhere. It’s very much aimed at the beer-golf-beer society. Morgado is a classy, manicured course not far away though I found them a little snooty. They’ve a sister course Alamos which is shorter and fun too but not maintained to same standard. Also pretty close are sibling courses Gramacho and Pinta. They’re very much aimed at the society market and although pretty short, the large rolling greens are three putt central. All of Vilamoura’s golf courses are in easy reach too, and they’re all solid to v good, and priced accordingly.

If you can stomach a little longer in transit I’d definitely recommend Palmares and Quinta Do Lago South, the best courses I’ve played over there by a street. The former is more reasonably priced, being a right old tramp from Faro / Vilamoura.

Questions 4 and 5 amount to the same thing. Whilst it’s not hard to book tee times yourself (teetimes.pt), you’ll not get cheaper than a hotel/package package deal with the main operators. Vilamoura is sewn up with Dom Pedro Group, with a mid range offer and a high range offer. Quinta only approached a semblance of value when playing all three courses.

There’s one chain (Nau I think) that monopolises Albufeira and will hook you up with hotel, Morgado, Alamos and Salgados for humble enough money.

And then there’s the Pestana Group who’ve a litter of hotels, plus 5-6 courses including Pinta and Gramacho (and Vila Sol, which is supposed to be very good if too busy).

you could contact them directly but you really won’t save much more than 20 a man by just calling Golf Breaks or Your Golf Travel and letting them look after it. They’ll even throw you a new driver in if you bring enough people along.

i prefer Golf Breaks. They were exceptionally accommodating for my group when we had to bounce a trip twice due to Covid and lost 8 players. Little things like that go a long way.

Just make sure if you’re going with them, that the price includes every golf and airport transfer. They’re often put on my the courses as part of the green fee, but having them booked in advance takes away a lot of mucking around for your group.

——

I have thought about providing my knowledge as a business for this lol.

Has anyone played Dom Pedro Victoria in Villamoura? Trying to squeeze a few rounds in during a two week holiday over there and was looking at playing this one.

Does Silves sound familiar to anyone

Yes,

Play there every year including February last. Decent course in good condition, won’t beat you up, would definitely recommend.

Played salgados up on 10 yrs ago at this stage. At the time it was fine for a high HC who wasn't playing much, but now I reckon it wouldn't be much of a challenge for myself (16 HC now) . No hole stood out at the time. If the price is ok it might be fine for a game after a heavy night out..🙈🙈