If you’ve had your fill of top class golf courses in Ireland and fancy a change of pace, scenery and most importantly, weather, there’s one golfing hotspot that guarantees little driving time, an abundance of sunshine and plenty of tee times on some of Europe’s finest golf courses.

The Algarve has long been one of the most popular golf break destinations in Europe with established classics such as San Lorenzo and Penina attracting budding golfers from far and wide but more recently The European Tour has helped stamp Vilamoura on the golfing map. Oceanico Vilamoura offers golfers visiting Portugal not just one, but seven golfing wonders.

The Portugal Masters is one of a number of tournaments in recent years to make its way onto the European Tour Race to Dubai schedule. Unlike events like the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which has helped to develop the Middle East and Abu Dhabi in particular into a popular golf holiday destination; Portugal’s premier golf tournament has simply reinforced Portugal’s, and specifically Vilamoura’s reputation as one of the premier golfing hotspots in the whole of Europe.

Despite the name Vilamoura translating to ‘Moorish Town’, in terms of history there is very little to see in Vilamoura, and that’s hardly surprising as it has only really existed for about 30 years. So a holiday here will really consist of sun, sea, golf and pure relaxation…perfect for those who can think of nothing better than jetting off for some fun on the fairways.

Located virtually in the middle of the Algarve coast, Vilamoura’s accessibility has helped it also become one of Europe’s largest beach resorts and now it is home to practically every form of sport, entertainment and amenity imaginable.

The town itself is built around the upmarket, 1,200-berth Vilamoura Marina that was built in the 1970s and it’s the marina that is home to smart, chic bars and restaurants, many of which will be within easy walking distance of your accommodation of choice.

But what of the Oceanico golf courses?

Old Course

Being one of the oldest of Vilamoura’s golfing delights, The Old Course gets its name for obvious regions. Designed by renowned English designer Frank Pennick, the Old is often referred to as the ‘Grand Dame’ of the region, having been inaugurated in 1969.

Oceanico Old Course

Measuring 6,839 yards off the tips and playing to a par 73, the Old Course takes you on a wonderful journey through avenues of large umbrella pines. For the most part the course calls for accuracy over power. Any errant drive or iron shot will leave little chance of advancing to the green in regulation but mercifully, you will almost always be able to find your ball and play back to the safety of the short grass. Right from the outset the Old Course grabs your attention.

Pinhal Course

Seven years after laying down the Old Course, Pennick was invited back to Portugal to design a second course at Vilamoura. He obliged and in 1976 the Pinhal became was added to the Vilamoura portfolio. A few years later in 1985, Robert Trent Jones Snr made slight revisions to Pennick’s original design and just three years later it hosted the Portuguese Ladies Open which is testament to the quality of a course that is seen by many as an amalgamation of classic American and British design principles.

Oceanico Pinhal Course

An undulating par 72 layout, the Pinhal is a genuine pleasure to play during a golf escape in the popular resort town. Recent minor alterations have seen the maximum length of the course reach a healthy 6,947 yards which should be enough to test long hitters while those with less proficiency off the tee can still enjoy this marvellous course thanks to a number of different tee positions. Keep an eye out for the tough, uphill par 5 13^th which will require two or three solid blows to reach the green and secure a safe par.

Victoria Course

The Victoria Course is one the youngest in the area having been laid down by the legendary Arnold Palmer in 2004. This majestic layout wasted little time in attracting the attention of golf’s powers that be and since opening has hosted the World Cup, won by Bradley Dredge and Stephen Dodd, and the Portugal Masters since 2007. You may remember Tom Lewis blitzing the last 5 holes to set up his maiden European Tour victory on only his 3^rd outing as a professional.

Oceanico Victoria Course

From the championship tees the course measures a whopping 7,229 yards but fear not; you will only have to negotiate a maximum length of 6664 yards. In contrast to the Pinhal and Old Courses, the Victoria features few pines and is therefore exposed to the wind, making it a tricky proposition. Water hazards are also a common feature so good course management is a handy asset. This is arguably the most difficult of the Oceanico courses so higher handicappers may want to steer clear. Having said that the course is open to anyone looking to sample a course that is a regular feature on the European Tour.

Faldo Course

Six-time Major winner Sir Nick Faldo’s has used his considerable knowledge of the game of golf to pen a number of the finest golf courses around the world and his effort in Vilamoura is certainly up there with the best in Portugal.

Oceanico Faldo Course

The best British player of the modern era has a distinct design philosophy, as he seeks to present a challenge to every player; however, he achieves this not simply through extreme length, but by demanding that the golfer exercises some strategy and thought.

Set against the backdrop of the Monchique Mountain, the Faldo Course is quite undulating and features only a spattering of water here and there. This is very much a thinking man’s golf course and while the course will reward you for good strategy and solid shots, it will punish those who pay it a lack of respect by going all gung ho.

O’Connor Course

O’Connor’s Vilamoura creation was opened in 2008, the same year as Faldo’s course, and since then has been recognised as the perfect foil for the undulating, mostly water-free effort from Sir Nick. The great Christy was well aware of the natural Algarve terrain, and deliberately carved his course to take full advantage of indigenous features, particularly the stunning orange groves.

Oceanico O’Connor Course

Off the back tees, the O’Connor Course measures 6,860 yards. This might be considered long when compared to other modern golf courses but length around this layout isn’t necessarily a distinct advantage. Water comes into play on all but three holes so course management and accuracy are of paramount importance.

O’Connor’s par 3s are especially noteworthy with hole four, a 161 yard gem which forces you to hit your tee shot up and over a tree, a pond and a bunker at the front of the green.

Laguna Course

The Laguna Course is distinctly different from its neighbours in Vilamoura as it has a distinct links accent throughout. As the name hints, the course is punctuated with water; in fact the network of lakes and streams come into play on no less than 11 holes!

Oceanico Laguna Course

The Laguna was designed by Joseph Lee, an esteemed American golf architect, and was opened in 1990. From the championship tee markers the course reaches 6,706 yards, and is a greatly enjoyable test of golf for every visitor.

The main obstacle apart from the ever-present water is the wind, which can be a nuisance as the location is somewhat exposed, but alternatively a cooling breeze can be extremely welcome, particularly in the steamy summer months!

This is probably the easiest of the seven courses so for higher handicappers and those just starting out in the game it is a real gem.

Millennium Course

The Millennium Course, as its name suggests, was opened for play in the year 2000, and has done much to ease the traffic on the resort’s most popular courses. The Millennium is a fantastic course in its own right, measuring 6,718 yards, which cuts through the monumental pine forests that dominate the landscape.

Oceanico Millennium Course

Martin Hawtree, who has recently worked on the exciting Trump International Golf Links, was responsible for creating the layout. Using 9 holes of the old Laguna course, Hawtree created 9 holes from scratch and blended them seamlessly with the existing holes he was presented with. This course strikes the perfect balance of testing talented golfers whilst remaining manageable for the average visitor.

The short 6^th is the highlight of the Millennium, where the target will shrink before your eyes as you stare over the imposing water that guards the front of the green. This hole typifies how enjoyable the Millennium is, making it a sure fire hit for your golf holiday in Vilamoura.

Where to stay?

With tourism being an important part of the local economy in Vilamoura, accommodation of every shape and size is available for visiting golfers but there are a few hotels that stand out from the crowd.

The Dom Pedro Golf Hotel has long been a popular destination with golfers, as it is close to a number of courses, and is designed specifically with the interests of golfing enthusiasts in mind. Golfers will benefit from free transfers to the Oceanico Golf Course while away from the fairways guests can make use of impressive facilities that include an outdoor pool with surrounding sun terrace, three tennis courts, a volleyball court, games room and sauna.

The 4* Vila Galé Marina overlooks the stunning marina, which is the focal point of Vilamoura itself, and is also close to the beach and the town’s renowned casino. This hotel also offers free golf transfers and top class restaurants in addition to facilities that include an outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi, as well as a Turkish bath, gymnasium and games room.

For 5* luxury head to the Tivoli Marina Hotel. This superb hotel complex is set in the heart of 30,000 sq. metres of landscaped gardens and also has a beach immediately on its doorstep. Perfect for those who enjoy lounging in the sun during their time away from the golf courses. This 5* venue has two outdoor swimming pools, an indoor swimming pool and a health club which features a sauna, jacuzzi, steam room, solarium, Turkish bath and gymnasium. This is the perfect place to unwind after a day on the fairways and for those who need to brush up on their short game there is even a practice putting green.

For those of you who like your days on the fairways to be kissed by the sun, the Algarve really is the place to be and with the wealth of golfing options presented to you by the Oceanico Courses, Vilamoura is right at the heart of this superb golfing hotspot.

Unfortunately this year the FlyforGolf.com pair finished third with a vey respectable score of -11 for the two rounds, the winners from Oitavos Dunes edged out the team from Woburn Golf Club by one shot. For those who don’t know this area very well should now pay attention, the area of Cascais lies about 30 mins from Lisbon Airport which is now serviced by flights from Dublin & Cork and is a great venue for a golfing holiday. Cascais itself is a fantastic old style Portuguese fishing town and is littered by fantastic seafood restaurants and bars, a personal favourite of ours would be Mar do Inferno, a beautiful seafood restaurant close to the centre of Cascais.

Outside of the great culinary delights are some excellent golf courses, Oitavos Dunes & Penha Longa have both recently held the Portuguese Open and with Oitavos Dunes now ranked as the 68th best golf course in the world has added to the growing list of reasons to take a golf holiday here.

These two courses are well supported by the challenging layouts at Quinta da Marinha & the recently renovated Belas Golf Club. Off the golf course you will find the perfect hotels in which to unwind, from the 5* hotels at Oitavos & Quinta da Marinha to the more centrally located 4* Vila Gale Cascais & Pestana Cascais.

With Sintra and Lisbon City such a short distance from this area with plenty of cultural and historic sites to be visited gives this area so much to do off the golf course, take the train from Estoril into Lisbon city centre and spend a day in one of Europe’s most vibrant of capitals.

For more information on putting together a golfing holiday to this fantastic area check out this page for information on hotels and golf courses or simply get in touch with Peter, Shane or Sheila and we’ll be happy to help you out together the perfect golf holiday to Cascais.

Augusta sits atop every golfers list of ‘courses to play before I die’. Unfortunately that is truly the stuff of dreams as Augusta is arguably the most exclusive golf club in the world…even past champions like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woodsare required to play with a member if they return to exercise their lifetime honorary membership! Nothing is impossible though, and there are a few tricks of the trade that may get you a round on the most famous course in the world. These tips and tricks won’t guarantee success in your quest to play on the hallowed turf of Augusta but you can’t win the raffle unless you buy a ticket!

1 ) Get down to the range and stay there…until you are ready to win a top amateur events that will earn you an invite…or ready to break into the world’s top 50 players! Not likely we know but don’t worry because we also have more realistic methods to put into use!

2 ) Join the club! Don’t hold your breath though because membership is by invite only and it seems you have to be a real mover and shaker to get involved with the social circle that makes up the Augusta National membership. Members include the likes of Bill Gates! Oh and on a rather old fashioned note…ladies need not apply…sorry girls!

3 ) Befriend a member. If you don’t happen to hang out with the likes of Warren Buffett perhaps you have done business or have made the acquaintance with another member who you could persuade to invite you to play…again unlikely but never say never!

4 ) Get a job working for the visiting or local media who cover the US Masters. Every year 32 of the visiting members of the media are drawn from a hat and given the once in a lifetime chance to play the course. Don’t bank on this being a regular way of playing the course though…if your name is drawn from the hat that will be the last time you will be entered! Local media members are more fortunate and often get an annual crack at Augusta National. Having said that the visiting media play the course on the Monday following the tournament when the course is in peak condition! Perhaps then if you have the credentials, the best thing to do would be to work for the visiting media and then quit and emigrate to the States to get a job in the local media!

5 ) Volunteer to assist with the running of the tournament. It takes a great deal of effort from willing volunteers to make the Masters tournament the spectacle it is and the club recognises the effort their volunteers put in. Volunteers can enter their names to play the course before it closes in May and have a choice of three days to enter their names for. Supposedly there is a lengthy waiting list for a volunteer’s job so I wouldn’t hold your breath but it wouldn’t hurt to apply!

6 ) If you are looking for a career change you may be able to secure yourself annual golf on the course by training to become a caddie at the club. A company called CaddieMaster is responsible for training and supplying caddies for the club…as with all things Augusta this isn’t as easy as it sounds. With a tough application process and high levels of screening you will really have to know your stuff!

7 ) Secure a job in a local bar such as Somewhere in Augusta and ensure you top up the glass of any patron donning a green jacket! If you manage to coerce someone into promising a free round in this way make sure you get it in writing!

8 ) Join Augusta Country Club. This course is right next door to the Augusta National and can be seen from the 12th and 13th holes. Only fourballs are allowed to play Augusta and if someone is mad enough not to turn up to play, Augusta National has been known to call over to Augusta Country Club and see if there’s somebody hanging around that might want to nip over and complete a fourball with their more illustrious neighbours!

9 ) On a similar note…Rae’s Creek runs across the front of the 12th green at Augusta National. It also winds its way into the neighbouring Augusta Country Club where it provides protection to the 8th green there…Snorkel? Check. Flippers? Check….

10 ) Buddy up to a past champion…Apparently Gary Player is a stand up guy and loves doing these sorts of favours. So just track him down and convince him that you are ready to set the golf world alight if you get the chance to play Augusta National. Simple really.

Now that you are armed with our amazing tips and tricks for getting a game at every golfers dream course what are you waiting for?

For information on our US Masters packages click here