Exploring the charm of clubhouses to help you find an experience tailored to your needs, we’ve selected the Algarve’s top spots, from east to west
– 21 October, 2024 | Text Alexandra Stilwell
After 18 holes, there is nothing more pleasant than sharing a cold drink with your golf partners as you discuss the day’s game, whether you claimed victory or your “putting just wasn’t up to par” that day.
The 19th hole is an essential part of every golfing experience. It is the hub where it all starts – at reception, when you book your tee time and pick up any last-minute needed gear – and where it all ends, over drinks in the bar, or back at reception, to book that lesson you might need after all.
Across the Algarve, which boasts 38 courses today, we find clubhouses that feel like home to many local and visiting golfers and others that offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Some shine bright thanks to the excellence of their services, ranging from golf academies and swimming pools to a Michelin-starred restaurant. Others simply stand out for the exquisite views enjoyed from their panoramic terraces.
To help you find an experience tailored to your needs, we have selected the Algarve’s top clubhouses, from east to west.
Monte Rei: The crowning glory of the East
We start our selection near the Spanish border at the Monte Rei Golf & Country Club. This exquisite resort, famous for its unique location above Vila Nova de Cacela, lush gardens, luxurious interiors and fine-dining restaurant, features two 18-hole courses designed by Jack Nicklaus.
The resort’s classic-style clubhouse includes a reception area, pro shop, golf reception, a floor exclusively for members and two restaurants with a terrace overlooking the stunning North Course.
This clubhouse offers exclusive experiences such as the bag drop and valet parking services before checking in at the expansive pro shop, and the buggies prepped whilst members and guests prepare in the elegantly decorated locker rooms for a splendid day on the fairways.
The dining experience at Monte Rei is equally exceptional, offering options ranging from leisurely post-game meals to a fine-dining experience.
The Grill is the resort’s social hub, serving simple, flavourful dishes, whilst Vistas Monte Rei offers a gourmet menu paired with vintages from an impressive wine cellar.
Quinta da Ria: Farmhouse-chic with a modern twist
Not far from Monte Rei, in a down-to-earth setting with incredible views, we find Quinta da Ria.
It may not be as luxurious nor boast the high-tech equipment other clubhouses in the Algarve do, but this charming clubhouse deserves a mention for its location alone.
Quinta da Ria comprises two courses, Quinta da Ria and Quinta de Cima, served by a rustic-style clubhouse with a contemporary interior.
Recently refurbished, what used to be a traditional farmhouse is now a welcoming golfer’s hub with a golf reception, pro shop, locker rooms, and a contemporary restaurant and bar with a large outdoor terrace boasting superb views of the Quinta da Ria course and the astonishing Ria Formosa Nature Park.
Quinta do Lago: Taking golf to the next level
If there is one resort that does not require an introduction, it is Quinta do Lago.
This luxurious estate has been at the forefront of international golf since its creation.
Today, its three courses are among Europe’s best. Combined with world-class golf facilities such as the Paul McGinley Golf Academy and Southern Europe’s only TaylorMade Performance Centre, the resort offers unique facilities to help golfers elevate their game.
Serving the North and South courses is an exquisite modern clubhouse, showcasing a brighter, spacious and welcoming look and feel. It features a large pro shop with an excellent selection of high-end golf gear and luxurious locker rooms.
With its legendary 19th-hole atmosphere, the clubhouse is the ideal pit stop after a busy morning on the course.
The restaurant offers a refreshed menu focused on breakfast and all-day snacks to be enjoyed in the comfort of a stylishly decorated interior or on the classy pine tree-shaded terrace overlooking the fairways.
Vale do Lobo: The pine forest oasis
Set among a lush pine forest, the Vale do Lobo resort is known for its peace and tranquillity. Its clubhouse, in the heart of the resort, is no different.
Here, golfers and visitors find a welcoming atmosphere with excellent facilities and services, including a pro shop, a spacious restaurant and a terrace overlooking the 18th green.
The clubhouse was refurbished and reopened at the end of January 2024 as part of the legendary resort’s fresh brand identity.
Boasting a new shop selling an excellent selection of premium golf wear, the clubhouse also features a fully equipped Fitness Centre with a physiotherapist specialising in golf injuries.
As for drinks and dining, the Spikes Restaurant and Bar, with its terrace overlooking attractive gardens, is open for breakfast and late into the evening; an ever-popular destination for both players and non-golfers.
Vilamoura Old Course: A modern classic
One of the biggest golfing references in the Algarve, Vilamoura’s Dom Pedro Old Course Golf Club is internationally recognised for its layout and exquisite clubhouse.
At the time of print, the venue was undergoing an exciting renovation, set to reopen in November 2024 with a fresh experience “blending sophistication and comfort”.
An upscale restaurant and bar, a modernised pro shop, and a spacious terrace with stunning views of the course are highlights of the clubhouse’s renovation.
Providing a deluxe ambience, guests will enjoy a traditional British pub atmosphere, and the menu will offer freshly prepared dishes, including classic options like a Sunday Roast. With its blend of classic charm and state-of-the-art amenities, the clubhouse is set to become one of the finest in the Algarve.
Ombria: The Country Club(house)
Nestled in the backcountry, in the Algarve’s Barrocal area above Loulé, Ombria is a growing resort offering five-star accommodation and an 18-hole course with an exceptional landscape.
Its large clubhouse, with breathtaking views of the valley, was built within the fortress-like remains of a former farm. It includes amenities such as a sports bar, a restaurant, a golf shop, and soon, a pool, sauna, and gym, giving it the feel of a country club rather than just a clubhouse.
This 19th hole, featuring a large outdoor terrace, is the perfect place to unwind with an ice-cold drink after a golf round or grab a bite whilst catching all the latest games on one of the sports bar’s numerous flat-screen TVs.
Amendoeira: Moorish hospitality
Near Alcantarilha, the two 18-hole courses and 9-hole par-3 (the only one in the country to be floodlit for evening play) at Amendoeira Golf Resort were carefully designed by Nick Faldo to blend into the beautiful landscape.
The clubhouse, with tall ceilings and grand bay windows, is set within an imposing building perched on a hillside above the Faldo Course.
It includes a restaurant, a lounge and bar section, spacious outdoor terraces ideal for dining and socialising, and a Garden Deck where guests can enjoy a daily buffet breakfast.
Players enjoy access to spacious changing rooms and a pro shop stocked with a large selection of high-quality golf equipment and apparel, and just a short walk away, Amendoeira’s Golf Academy offers a broad selection of training courses designed to meet the requirements of novices to seasoned professionals.
Palmares: The rising star of the West
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning RCR Arquitects, an imposing ochre-coloured building is the exquisite setting for the Palmares Ocean Living & Golf clubhouse.
Boasting expansive panoramic views of the coast, from Alvor’s estuary to the Bay of Lagos, Palmares’ landmark clubhouse is one of the most distinctive 19th holes in European golf. It is home to two restaurants: the award-winning AL SUD – which acquired its Michelin star just five months after opening – serving Mediterranean cuisine with local influence, and the clubhouse’s all-day restaurant offering outstanding cuisine, where guests can enjoy everything from a traditional club sandwich to fresh local dishes.
A fully stocked pro shop featuring high-end equipment and clothing brands ensures that golfers have everything they need before heading out onto the course.
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