Vilamoura Old Course
Championship in Vilamoura
The Old Course at Vilamoura holds a special place in Portuguese golf as the first course built in what has become one of Europe's most prolific golfing destinations. Designed by the English architect Frank Pennink and opened in 1969, it predates the cluster of courses that now populate the Vilamoura area and retains a maturity and character that its younger neighbours cannot replicate. The towering umbrella pines that line nearly every fairway have had over fifty years to grow, creating a magnificent natural cathedral that filters the Algarve sunlight and lends the course an atmosphere quite distinct from the more open, modern layouts nearby.
Pennink's routing makes superb use of the gently undulating terrain, guiding players through corridors of pine trees that demand accuracy from the tee above all else. This is not a course that rewards the grip-it-and-rip-it approach. Fairways are generous enough for a controlled draw or fade, but the dense tree lines on both sides swallow anything truly wayward. Recovery from the pine straw beneath the trees is possible but unpredictable, as the ball can kick in any direction off the roots and cones that litter the forest floor.
The front nine establishes the pattern immediately, with the opening hole presenting a straightforward par four that nonetheless requires a well-positioned drive to open up the angle into the green. The third, a long par five, offers an early birdie chance for those who can find the fairway with their first two shots, while the par three fourth demands a precise mid-iron to a green tucked among the pines. The fifth is widely regarded as one of the finest par fours in the Algarve, a gentle dogleg right where the second shot must carry a strategically placed bunker complex to reach a green with subtle contours.
The back nine arguably contains even stronger holes. The twelfth is a magnificent par four that curves through a natural amphitheatre of pines, the green set in a hollow that creates a dramatic approach. The par three thirteenth plays over water, one of the few times the Old Course employs water hazards, and the closing holes build steadily in difficulty to create a memorable finish. The eighteenth, a par five that sweeps left through the trees towards the clubhouse, offers a grandstand finish for those brave enough to go for the green in two.
The course underwent a comprehensive renovation in 1996 under the guidance of Martin Hawtree, who modernised the bunkering and green complexes while respecting Pennink's original routing. The result is a course that plays to modern standards of distance and strategy while retaining the classic feel that makes it unique among Vilamoura's offerings. The greens were rebuilt to USGA specification and provide excellent year-round putting surfaces.
Vilamoura Old Course has hosted numerous professional events over the decades, including the Portuguese Open, and continues to feature in rankings of Portugal's finest courses. It consistently appears in the top five courses in the country across various publications and is a must-play for any golfer visiting the Algarve. The course offers a handicap limit of 28 for men and 36 for women, reflecting its championship status.
The clubhouse, set among the pines near the eighteenth green, offers a traditional atmosphere with a terrace overlooking the course. The practice facilities include a driving range and putting green, and the pro shop is well stocked with equipment and clothing suited to the local conditions. Green fees are at the premium end of the Vilamoura scale but represent excellent value given the quality and historical significance of the layout.
For many regular visitors to the Algarve, the Old Course remains the one they return to year after year. Its combination of natural beauty, strategic interest, and immaculate conditioning creates an experience that newer courses, for all their design sophistication, struggle to match. The sense of playing through a mature, established landscape adds an intangible quality that elevates a round here beyond the merely sporting.
Highlights
- Oldest course in Vilamoura, opened 1969, with over fifty years of mature pine growth
- Frank Pennink design emphasising accuracy through tree-lined corridors
- Renovated by Martin Hawtree in 1996 while preserving the classic routing
- Consistently ranked among Portugal's top five golf courses