The Local Courses

A year round golfing paradise!

One of Europe's top golfing destinations, the Portuguese and Spanish Algarve have firmly established their reputation as quality resorts among all enthusiasts. The quality layout of the courses, many of them designed by the very best international architects, coupled with the sheer beauty of the surrounding landscapes, meets the demands of golfers of all levels. Indeed, the region has become a firm favourite among golfers from all around the world. The pleasant climate, with over three hundred days of sunshine, ensures that golf can be comfortably played all year round. The excellence of the courses is heightened by the variety of trees and vegetation, the greens, tees and the prevailing silence broken only by the sound of a well-struck shot. Perfect!

 

The 'Spanish Algarve' is the increasingly popular name for the most westerly part of the Costa de la Luz, in Huelva province. While a popular holiday destination for the Spanish, this region escaped the mass tourism boom of the 1970-80s, so the area retains an air of authentic Spain. Miles of unspoilt Atlantic beaches flanked by dunes and pine groves frame this part of the countryside. The other defining feature of the regional geography are some of the most important parts of Spain's natural heritage, the protected wetlands of the 'Marismas del Guadiana', the protected salt marshes of the Guadiana estuary, and other wetland areas, home to a wide variety of waterfowl including flamingos and herons. The natural frontier between the Spanish and the Portuguese Algarve is the Guadiana River and, for centuries, the historical crossing point between the two countries was the ferry journey between Ayamonte and Vila Real de St Antonio. This ferry still operates, but more as a tourist attraction. There is now a modern and beautiful bridge, which connects the two countries, to the north of Ayamonte.

The Golf Courses

It was the legendary Henry Cotton who put the Algarve on the golf map . In the mid-sixties at Penina he designed the first proper grass course. It was the first of three he designed in the Algarve, a place he loved and made his home for almost 30 years. But for many years the majority of courses were built to the west of Faro. The area of the Algarve between Faro and the Spanish border lay relatively untouched unti the mid 1990s, but has made up for lost time with the development of superb courses from Vilamoura to Castro Marim.

Just over the border, the Spanish Algarve has some of the most beautiful golf courses in the whole of Spain. They are all carefully designed to provide the optimum golfing experience for both the novice and the experienced golfer; for example, the course at Isla Canela has been built into the existing wetland areas and carefully uses the features of the area to provide natural hazards. So the novice golfer will enjoy his game in these beautiful surrounds, with his strokes possibly being overlooked by flamingo or heron, while the expert will find a course that will still provide him with a challenging round.

The course at Islantilla takes a different approach, with three nine-hole courses which can be combined to provide the ideal round for any level. Although a relatively new course (it opened in 1992) it has already hosted a variety of PGA Challenge Tour Events, including the PGA European Tour Turespaña Masters in 1995. It is also the winter home for both the Swedish and Danish Golf Unions.

In addition to these established courses, the new development of Costa Esuri will eventually boast two 18-hole courses.

Andalucia Rentals

Andalucia Rentals has access to some carefully selected apartments and villas, just on the Spanish side of the border with the Portuguese Algarve. From here you can enjoy the golf and explore this relatively unknown golfing paradise.