A Joyful Farewell – Our Last Golf Day in the Algarve at Alto Golf

Our last golf day in the beautiful Algarve took us to Alto Golf, a course known for its narrow fairways, majestic trees, and spectacular natural setting.

Alto Golf was the last course designed by the legendary Sir Henry Cotton, who integrated gentle ascending valleys into the landscape. After his passing, the project was continued by the well-known golf journalist Peter Dobereiner.

The golf course is located between the towns of Alvor and Praia da Rocha, about 5 kilometers from the city of Portimão, set against the beautiful Serra de Monchique, nestled in two valleys with winding fairways and gently undulating greens.

These natural advantages of the terrain have been transformed into a park-like golf course characterized by its stands of pine, carob, almond, olive, and fig trees.

On the first nine holes, you can enjoy an excellent view of the bay of Lagos, while the last nine holes wind through beautiful mountainous landscapes. Notably, the 16th hole, a par 5, is known as the “Sir Henry Challenge” or “O Gigante” and is one of the longest holes in Europe. However, we noticed that the course has changed over the years. The famous 16th hole has apparently been shortened, and the course is now a par-70 instead of the previous par-72. While these changes have slightly altered the character of the course, the sporting challenge remains unchanged.

It was a fitting conclusion to our time here, even though the strong wind made the game more challenging. While I managed well with the conditions and played a solid round, my husband struggled a bit – particularly the narrow fairways and some close putts made him sweat, often being just a few centimeters short. But that's what makes golf so exciting; every shot tells its own story, and sometimes it just comes down to a centimeter.

With a view of Alvor and the breeze that made the Portuguese sun feel milder, we realized how special these days in the Algarve were.

On Saturday, we leave the Algarve, but memories of this unique landscape, the warm hospitality, and of course the impressive golf courses will stay with us for a long time.

Our conclusion: The Algarve is a paradise for golfers. From diverse golf courses to picturesque coastal landscapes – every day offered us new highlights. It was the perfect place to indulge in our favorite sport while also relaxing. We will surely return!