Algarve Living
Southern Portugal's Atlantic Coast
Home›Golf›Morgado Golf

Morgado Golf

Resort in Portimao

Type
Resort
Holes
18
Par
73
Designer
Salgados Group
Established
2003
Location
Portimao

Morgado Golf Course sits within the rolling countryside north of Portimao, occupying part of a large rural estate that also houses the NAU Morgado Golf and Country Club hotel. Opened in 2003, the course was developed by the Salgados Group as part of a broader resort project that aimed to bring golf to the less developed inland areas of the western Algarve. The result is a layout that offers a markedly different experience from the coastal courses, with the undulating agricultural terrain providing natural elevation changes and long-range views across the Algarve interior towards the Serra de Monchique.

The course measures over 6,600 yards from the back tees, and the par of 73 includes three par fives and five par threes, an unusual configuration that creates a varied sequence of holes. The routing follows the natural contours of the hillside, climbing and dropping through carob groves, cork oak woodland, and open grassland. The absence of the dense pine forests that characterise the coastal courses gives Morgado a more spacious, rural character, and the wider views contribute to a sense of openness and freedom that many golfers find refreshing.

The front nine features some of the most dramatic holes on the course. The par four second climbs steeply uphill, requiring two powerful shots to reach a green that offers panoramic views as a reward for the effort. The fifth, a par five that sweeps downhill through a natural valley, offers birdie chances for those who can find the fairway with their drive and position their second shot below the green. The eighth, a par three, plays across a depression to a green set on a natural shelf, with the distance difficult to judge due to the elevation change.

The back nine continues in a similar vein, with the hills providing a constant source of interest and challenge. The thirteenth, a long par four playing into the prevailing wind, is generally considered the toughest hole on the course, requiring both length and accuracy from the tee followed by a demanding approach to an elevated green. The par five fifteenth offers a birdie chance for well-executed play, while the par three seventeenth, played downhill with the hotel visible in the background, provides a memorable penultimate hole.

Morgado shares its estate with the Alamos Course, a shorter and more accessible layout that provides an alternative for those seeking a less demanding round. The combination of two courses within the same resort, together with hotel accommodation, a spa, and multiple dining options, makes Morgado a viable destination for a golf-focused break without the premium prices of the Vilamoura and Quinta do Lago resorts.

The course conditioning at Morgado is generally good, though it does not reach the immaculate standards of the highest-rated Algarve courses. The greens are well maintained and putt truly, while the fairways provide decent lies on the sandy soil. The rough, which includes natural grasses and wildflowers, adds character and challenge without being overly punitive.

Green fees at Morgado are competitive, typically ranging from 40 to 80 euros depending on the season, and multi-round packages with the Alamos Course and hotel accommodation represent strong value. The inland location means that summer temperatures can be several degrees warmer than the coast, making early morning and late afternoon tee times advisable from June to September. The winter months, with mild temperatures and the occasional spectacular clear day, offer the most comfortable playing conditions.

For golfers who want to experience the Algarve interior and enjoy a round on rolling, characterful terrain at a reasonable price, Morgado provides an appealing alternative to the busier and more expensive coastal courses.

Highlights

More golf courses