Pestana Gramacho

Set in one of the most stunning parts of the Algarve, Gramacho golf course benefits from both the spectacular golfing landscape and incredible weather of Southern Portugal. A part of the famous Pestana collection of golf courses and resorts, Gramacho measures up to the same lofty standards as the neighbouring Vale de Pinta.

It is one of only a few courses in the world with 18 sets of tees and fairways, but with 27 greens. This means players are able to enjoy the same course time and time again with slightly different challenges. Holes 1 through 4 and 14 through 18 have two greens each, and your approach to each hole will vary depending on which greens are in play.

Even though this course has hosted the Portuguese Ladies Open on a number of occasions, Pestana Gramacho is well-known as a championship course that is playable for all abilities, even those with a very high handicap.

Apart from the fantastic design, Fream and Price managed to incorporate the traditional landscape into the layout by using the natural stone outcrops, historical dry stone walling and existing ancient trees, along with some artfully sculpted lakes and bunkers.

Experienced golfers will certainly know that they have played a superb golf course with its testing par of 71 and a tiger tee length of nearly 6,700 yards.

Vale da Pinta

The Vale da Pinta is a fantastic parkland course, measuring 6,728 yards. Like the resort's further two courses, it was designed by Ron Fream, a highly regarded American golf architect, and features a number of lakes which are as testing as they are beautiful.

Since opening in 1992, the course has established an excellent reputation, culminating with the award of a European Seniors Tour event in November 2007. The Pinta Course, despite not being the oldest when compared with local favourites like Penina, is fast becoming one of the most desirable and admired courses to the west of Vilamoura.