When we asked everybody in the office, “Who wants to go on a golf trip to the Algarve?”, Steve was already cleaning his clubs.
At GroupiaGolf, we like to have inside knowledge, so we sent our Director to the Algarve–our most popular destination.
Read below to discover Steve’s thoughts…
@groupia.golf The best golf trip destination in Europe? 😍⛳️ #golftiktok #golftok #golf #algarve ♬ MILLION DOLLAR BABY (VHS) – Tommy Richman
How Was It Getting to the Algarve? ✈️
“We flew from Bristol Airport and it took around 2.5 hours to get to Faro Airport.”
“Getting from the airport was really easy, as our travel partners were ready to collect us and all our bags and clubs.”
What Were Your First Thoughts?
“The weather was good, although it did actually rain on the first day, but not for very long. It was hot for the rest of the trip.”
“It was my second time in the Algarve, so I knew some of the courses were amazing.”
“I was pleasantly surprised by the presentation of the Millennium Course, the greens were some of the best I’ve seen.”
What Courses Did You Play? ⛳
“The Millenium was brilliant and surpassed our expectations.”
“The Old Course was one of our favourites. It had a bit of maintenance work going on for the path improvement, but we still loved it.”
“Quinta do Lago South was a great course and we loved the various levels the course is set on. The greens were not as good as Millenium or the Old Course but still enjoyable.”
“Vila Sol was more impressive last year because we were not put on the championship 9-hole combination (Prime & Challenge) but played Challenge & Prestige instead.”
Which Course Was the Hardest?
“It was definitely Quinta do Lago South.”
“There are lots of different levels and water throughout, so you had to be dialled in on your yardages to hold the greens.”
Which Course Was the Easiest? ✅
“I wouldn’t say any were easy.”
“Millennium favours the high handicapper with wider fairways and more ‘miss’ areas.”
What Were the Clubhouses Like?
“The clubhouses were great and they had everything you could need.”
What Were the Practice Facilities Like? 🏌️♂️
“Quinta do Lago, Millennium, and Old were all great.”
“Vila Sol’s practice area needs some work, it looks very tired and warn.”
What Advice Would You Give to Algarve Newcomers?
“Play Millenium!”
“It’s not deemed a premium course and charges a lower green fee, but we loved it and I would certainly like to play there again.”
Did You Hire a Buggy or Walk? 🚶♂️
“We got buggies on all 4 days.”
“They are not cheap, at €50 a pop, but between 2 it’s not too bad and gives you a good base for drinks, food, shades and even a little speaker.”
Accommodation
“We stayed at the Vilamoura Hotel and the facilities were brilliant.”
“It has everything you need: a good bar, an outdoor pool, a spa, and a great breakfast area.”
“It’s right next to a bar called ‘The Caddy Shack’ that shows all the sport, which is great.”
How Was the Travel Between the Course and Accommodation 🚗
“It was very easy.”
“The shuttle bus to both Dom Pedro courses and Vila Sol comes with the hotel and Quinta do Lago come and pick you up for free with their green fees.”
“It was around 15 – 30 minutes depending on the course.”
“It was either a golf shuttle or private shuttle.”
Any Non-Golf Activities?
“We went for two good meals away from the harbour just to mix it up.”
“The first was Retinto, just a 10-minute walk from the hotel with a great selection of meat and wine.”
“Our second meal was at Parrilla Natural, a great outdoor venue with a lively atmosphere. The fillet steak was amazing and the wine list was exceptional.”
What Package Would You Recommend?
“I would do a three-night and three-round package around Dom Pedro, which is perfect for a golf trip.”
“If you wanted to bolt on some of the Algarve’s premium courses, I would go for a 4 or 5-night stay and 3 or 4 courses, like our Dom Pedro Vilamoura package.
