The newly renovated club has also been nominated for World’s Best New Private Golf Course
– November 13, 2025
Quickly distinguishing itself globally, the recently renovated Els Club Vilamoura was recognised as the Most Sustainable Championship Golf Course in Southern Europe at the Sustainable Luxury Awards and received a nomination at the World Golf Awards for World’s Best New Private Golf Course.
The club places strong emphasis on integrating “environmental responsibility, innovation, and eco-design” into its operations, aligning with selected United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Efficiency in course management, architecture guided by eco-design, and the active enhancement of biodiversity” are the three areas of major focus, with the aim of “overseeing impactful change”.
In terms of course management, the club has completely modernised its irrigation systems, using treated wastewater from the Vilamoura Waste-Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) alongside highly precise systems that can be adjusted to suit the needs of all irrigated areas, ensuring “complete optimisation of water consumption”.
From a landscape architecture perspective, existing large trees were replanted, and only native tree and shrub species were used in landscaped areas, ensuring ecological integration across the course. The clubhouse renovation was guided by eco-design principles, focusing on maximising natural light and ventilation and incorporating natural materials throughout the structure.
Biodiversity enhancement was also a key priority, with nature sanctuaries, nesting boxes, bug hotels, and bee and butterfly houses installed to create habitats and provide food sources and nesting areas for local fauna and birdlife. The lakes surrounding the course were carefully managed, with vegetation planted along the banks to strengthen the connection between co-existing ecosystems. And fauna and flora monitoring programmes are in place to maintain ecological balance and promote eco-awareness in every aspect of Els Club Vilamoura.
Nuno Sepulveda, Co-CEO of DETAILS, the management company overseeing Els Club Vilamoura and a host of sports and leisure assets across Portugal, said: “It is an honour to have been recognised within just two months of the launch for our efforts towards making meaningful and long-lasting environmental change.”
“This is a testament to our wider team who have proved that it is possible to combine sporting excellence with exemplary environmental management – where nature and human activity co-exist in perfect harmony,” he concluded.
Ernie Els’ first European private members club was officially launched in July, when it was also announced that the Portugal Invitational will be the first PGA Tour Champions event in Europe, taking place in July 2026.
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