Penina Championship
Championship in Portimao
Penina Championship Course holds a singular distinction in Algarve golf history: it was the first championship-standard layout built in the region, opening in 1966 and effectively launching the Algarve as a golf destination. Designed by Sir Henry Cotton, the three-time Open Championship winner who had fallen in love with the Portuguese climate, Penina was carved from flat, marshy rice paddies near Portimao. Cotton's achievement in transforming this unpromising terrain into a challenging and attractive golf course remains remarkable, and the thousands of trees he planted have matured into a magnificent landscape that belies the site's agricultural origins.
Cotton planted an estimated 365,000 trees across the Penina estate, creating the verdant, shaded environment that characterises the course today. Eucalyptus, pine, palm, and jacaranda trees line the fairways, and in spring the course erupts in colour as the flowering trees compete for attention. The flat terrain means that the challenge comes not from elevation changes but from the tightness of the tree-lined corridors, the strategic placement of water hazards, and the subtlety of the green complexes.
The course plays to over 6,800 yards from the back tees and the par of 73 includes three par fives, all of which offer genuine birdie chances for longer hitters. The third, a par five that doglegs through the trees, is reachable in two for those who find the fairway with a strong drive, but the approach must carry a lake that guards the front of the green. The fifth, another par five, requires precise positioning through a tight corridor to set up the approach to a well-bunkered green.
Water comes into play on several holes, reflecting the course's origins as rice paddy land. Irrigation ditches and lakes have been incorporated into the design as both aesthetic features and strategic hazards, and they add a dimension of risk that the flat terrain might otherwise lack. The tenth, a par four that plays alongside a lake for much of its length, is one of the most demanding holes on the course, requiring both an accurate drive and a precise approach to a green with water lurking on one side.
Penina hosted the Portuguese Open on multiple occasions during the 1970s and 1980s, cementing its reputation as a genuine championship test. Cotton himself was closely involved with the course until his death in 1987, and his influence is evident in the emphasis on strategic play over brute force. The greens, while not as dramatically contoured as those on more modern designs, present subtle slopes that reward careful reading and punish assumptions.
The Penina Hotel and Golf Resort surrounds the course, and the clubhouse reflects the elegance of a bygone era in Algarve tourism. There is a certain old-world charm to playing at Penina that appeals to golfers with a sense of history. The knowledge that Cotton walked these fairways, shaped these holes, and set in motion the entire Algarve golf phenomenon adds an intangible quality to the experience.
The course underwent renovation work in recent years, updating the bunkers and greens while preserving Cotton's original routing and design intent. The practice facilities include a driving range and short game area, and the resort offers two additional nine-hole courses for those seeking a less demanding round.
Green fees at Penina are generally more accessible than those at the premium Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo courses, making it an excellent option for golfers who want championship-quality golf without the highest price tag. The course plays particularly well during the winter months when the flat terrain avoids the wet-weather drainage problems that can affect hillier layouts.
Highlights
- First championship golf course built in the Algarve, opened 1966
- Sir Henry Cotton design on former rice paddies with 365,000 planted trees
- Multiple Portuguese Open host venue during the 1970s and 1980s
- Historic hotel resort with old-world charm and accessible green fees