There is nothing more exciting than planning your European golf trip and spending time searching all the potential courses you could play and today I’m going to give you an insight into the Vale Do Lobo golf courses. A few years ago, a group of us went to Portugal and we played the Vale Do Lobo Golf courses for the first time. We took with us someone who could capture the experience and so if you want to see what the courses look like and how they might play from an average golfer’s point of view then this is for you.
Vale Do Lobo Golf Course – Ocean Course
The first video is the Vale Do Lobo Ocean Course (ranked at number 31 top golf courses in Portugal), and was day 3 of our trip, so in our defence, the standard of golf was already dipping somewhat… possibly something to do with a few beers and some late nights.
Coming Soon: Some of my favourite images from the trip
Vale Do Lobo Golf Course – Royal Course
Day 4 of our trip took us to the Royal Course (ranked 46th in Portgual) and there are some tiring bodies out there. The format is singles, 1v1, join us and see which team will take the victory.
Vale Do Lobo Golf Course Review
Overall, I loved the whole experience at Vale Do Lobo.
Favourite Course: For me, the Ocean course is more fun and just has some spectacular holes and views. The rankings puts the Ocean course further up the table and I would agree with that. The way it takes you out to the sea, along the beach (on the beach for some of us), then ends with a great par 5 up to the clubhouse, and a stand where the rest of your group can watch the final putts be made, it’s all just excellent.
The Royal course has the famous 16th hole (par 3 over the cliffs), which you simply have to play, so if you are heading there for the first time, I would play both courses. Overall, I just didn’t find the Royal as exciting as the Ocean.
After the first round on the Ocean Course, we then proceeded to spend roughly 6 hours having drinks and putting competitions, with the bar right next to the putting green it felt rude not to. We weren’t quiet, we hopefully weren’t obnoxiously loud either, and I don’t remember thinking people hated us (you can normally tell can’t you). In fact, several groups followed suit and came and started their own putting competitions.
Getting To Vale Do Lobo:
Vale Do Lobo is a 25min journey from Faro airport, you’re in the Algarve and close to Vilamoura.
Booking A Trip
If you are travelling as a group from the UK and playing several courses and wanting hotels etc, then I would recommend getting a golf travel company to sort it all out.
If you happen to be over in Portugal on a holiday and you’re thinking about sneaking in a couple of rounds, then either contact the resort, or you can book a tee time online through GreenFee 365, click here for a round on the Ocean Course or here for a round on the Royal Course… I’d play both.
If you have enjoyed the review and think it might be somewhere you’d like to play then pitch it to your friends and share this review with them.
