Limited stay-and-play access opens the door to Vilamoura’s private Els Club
– January 14, 2026
Guests at Victoria Golf Resort & Spa in Vilamoura can now book a stay-and-play experience that includes access to The Els Club Vilamoura and the historic Old Course, in the new three-night golf package.
Managed by Accor, the resort is the only hotel offering guests the chance to play at The Els Club Vilamoura, Portugal’s first private golf club designed by Ernie Els. The package includes one round at the private club and one round at the Old Course, allowing visiting golfers to experience two of Vilamoura’s most established courses during a single stay.
The Els Club Vilamoura opened in July last year and is both the first private golf club in the Algarve and the first Els Club in Europe. Built as a full redesign of the former Victoria Course, the 18-hole championship layout reflects a traditional approach to course design, with a strong emphasis on strategy and integration with the surrounding landscape.
As a private members’ club, access to the course is limited. Non-members can only secure tee times through the stay-and-play arrangement at Victoria Golf Resort & Spa, in line with the club’s members-first policy.
According to general manager Wael Soueid, demand for golf travel continues to evolve, with guests increasingly combining golf with family holidays, relaxation and sightseeing, whilst also showing greater interest in private and tailored golfing experiences.
Golf Director at The Els Club Vilamoura, Romeu Gonçalves, said the collaboration allows a limited number of visiting golfers to experience The Els Club Vilamoura whilst maintaining the club’s members-first approach and levels of service and “exclusivity that defines The Els Club worldwide”.
Further details are available via the Victoria Golf Resort & Spa website.
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