Set amongst 2,000 acres of the picturesque Ria Formosa Natural Park, Quinta do Lago is one of the most highly regarded golf and residential developments in Europe. Opened in 1972 and located just 15 minutes from Faro airport, the resort has been at the forefront of European golf with three award-winning championship courses matched by outstanding practice facilities including Europe’s only Paul McGinley Golf Academy and the only TaylorMade Performance Center in Southern Europe. Named ‘Best New Golf Course in Europe’ at the 2014 World Golf Awards, Quinta do Lago’s North Course has been redesigned by renowned American golf architect Beau Welling and European Ryder Cup winning captain Paul McGinley with the emphasis firmly on precision and strategy, making it a course that is playable and fun for golfers of all abilities.
A favourite among European Tour professionals, Quinta do Lago’s South Course - an eight-time venue of the Portuguese Open - calls for accurate driving and precise iron play if you’re to return a good score while Laranjal, built on an old orangery, is a great test for players of all levels, with lightning-fast, giant-sized greens and a plethora of Augusta-style bunkers among the many highlights.
Away from the fairways, the resort’s extensive leisure facilities guarantee there is plenty to keep everyone occupied, with events, tennis, cycling and watersports just some of the activities available.
The resort’s stunning location by the beach offers the perfect place to relax and unwind while its wide array of restaurants, both formal and informal, take advantage of the fresh Mediterranean produce that the resort has become famous for.
Courses
The North Course: is the newest addition to Quinta do Lago’s five-star golf facilities, the totally revamped course has been one of the most talked about golf projects in 2014 and is set to be one of the new stars of European golf and the new number one course at Quinta do Lago. Redesigned by renowned American architect Beau Welling in close collaboration with European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley, the new layout has been built to the highest specifications with a €9.6m investment. The North Course has been redeveloped with the emphasis firmly on precision and strategy. Among the changes introduced on the 6,776-yard course which has been closed since last December, all greens, tees, bunkers, irrigation and drainage systems and cart paths have been rebuilt using the latest state-of-the-art technology. Four sets of tees have been introduced on each hole to accommodate players of all levels and golfers will be challenged by a combination of undulating greens, well-positioned bunkers and water hazards. A low-cut Bermuda grass approach has been introduced around greens to create a myriad of recovery shot options for increased satisfaction on all levels of play. The aesthetics of the par-72 course have also significantly improved through the introduction of a cool season rough grass and the select planting of native grasses and specimen trees to help the environment. The renovation has also allowed Quinta do Lago to further reduce the impact on the environment by using recycled water and solar energy to maintain the course. The reduction of grassed areas will lessen the impact on the environment and the new design will include the creation of some new animal and plant habitats. McGinley said: “I’ve been coming to Quinta do Lago with my family for many years now and it keeps getting better and better. The new design will test golfers in many different ways and I believe this is a great addition to Europe’s leading destination.”
The South Course: the jewel in the Quinta do Lago crown, the South Course has played host to the Portuguese Open no less than eight times. Designed in 1974 by William Mitchell, who raised the bar by introducing American-standard greens, tees and bunkers to the Algarve, it soon gained a reputation as one of the foremost courses in Europe and remains to this day one of the flagship European Tour Courses.The favourite course of many European tour players, it is a 6,500 metre par 72 set amongst umbrella pines, lakes and wild flowers, overlooking the spectacular scenery of the Ria Formosa National Park.The course hosted the Portuguese Open in 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 2001, the most memorable, perhaps, being in 1989 when Colin Montgomerie won the title with an incredible 24 under par. He finished 11 strokes ahead and broke the course record with a round of 63.Its championship status does not deter the amateur golfer. Indeed, while the 8th, 15th, and 18th are testing holes for low handicap players, the course provides interest and challenge to golfers of all levels and abilities.Accurate tee shots are essential in order to reach many of the greens in regulation and the course is made more challenging by a good variety of doglegs and strategically located hazards. The front nine holes, which wind their way through parkland, favour a draw, while the back nine, which loop around the lake, favour a fade from the tee.
Laranjal: Voted Best Golf Course at the Portuguese 2011 Travel Awards, Laranjal opened in 2009 as the newest course in Quinta do Lago.Originally an orange grove, this beautiful par 72 championship course is situated in the Ludo valley, just 2km east of the resort. Boasting some spectacular fairways and well-defined greens, Laranjal is renowned for its five beautiful lakes and its abundance of umbrella pines, cork and orange trees. At 6,480 meters in length, the course is challenging and it demands the highest levels of concentration and accuracy. Its distinctive rolling terrain has been expertly designed and manicured to provide a world class golfing experience. Comprising five par 5s, eight par 4s and five par 3s, the course is sown with Bermuda grass on the fairways and Penn A4 on the greens, guaranteeing excellent putting surfaces throughout the year.