Amendoeira Faldo Course
Sir Nick Faldo’s strategic desert style design in the hills above Silves, the Faldo Course at Amendoeira is one of the Algarve’s most demanding and distinctive tests, where careful positioning matters far more than raw length.
Photo: Amendoeira Golf Resort via Google.
The verdict
The Faldo Course at Amendoeira Golf Resort is unlike anything else in the Algarve. Opened in 2008 and designed by Sir Nick Faldo, it abandons the usual pine and parkland of the region for a bold, links influenced desert aesthetic, with sandy waste areas, native scrub and firm running fairways set in the rolling hills near Silves. It was Faldo’s first signature design in continental Europe and it bears his hallmark, a course that asks the golfer to think.
At a par of 72 and around 6,600 metres, roughly 7,200 yards, from the championship tees it has real length, but the defense is strategic rather than purely physical. Faldo routed the holes so that the line off the tee dictates the angle of approach, and the player who positions the ball is rewarded while the one who simply hits long is often punished. It is the more cerebral of the two courses at Amendoeira, the sister being the more forgiving Christy O’Connor Jr design, and together they make the resort a strong stay and play base.
The Faldo Course at a glance
- Opened
- 2008
- Designer
- Sir Nick Faldo
- Type
- Desert style
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- Around 6,600 m
- Green fee
- Around €165
Par, length and designer verified June 2026 from the resort and leading databases. The Faldo Course plays to a par 72 of around 6,600 metres, roughly 7,200 yards, from the championship tees, with forward tees in regular use. Green fees are indicative, in the region of 150 to 175 euros in the 2026 season. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Faldo Course is all about angles and discipline. The waste areas and contoured fairways mean the smart tee shot is often not the longest, and the greens are large and undulating, so the approach must find the correct section to leave a makeable putt. Wind exposure in the open hill country adds another variable, and the firm conditions reward the player who can run the ball.
Faldo built in a series of risk and reward decisions, par 5s that tempt the long hitter and par 4s where the aggressive line brings sand and scrub into play. The course rewards a clear head and a plan, punishing the golfer who attacks without thought. It is a layout that repays repeat play, as local knowledge of the angles and the green contours is worth several shots.
For the travelling golfer the Faldo Course offers something genuinely different from the Algarve norm, a modern, strategic championship test with a distinctive look and feel. Paired with the second course of the resort and its practice facilities, among the most extensive in Europe, it makes Amendoeira a serious destination for the group that wants to play and improve.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course open to visitors and to stay and play guests, with tee times bookable through the resort year round |
| Green fee | In the region of 150 to 175 euros, varying by season (indicative) |
| Booking | Book ahead through the resort, especially in the spring and autumn peaks; stay and play packages offer the best value |
| On the day | Buggies are widely used across the open, hilly terrain; the resort has one of the largest practice facilities in Europe |
| Getting there | At Alcantarilha near Silves in the central Algarve, around 40 minutes from Faro Airport |
| Best months | Spring and autumn are prime, with the mild Algarve winters making it a popular cool season golf escape |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the club; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with Amendoeira Golf Resort or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is Amendoeira Golf Resort itself, whose villas and apartments put both courses and the vast practice ground on the doorstep for a true stay and play trip.
For a wider trip the nearby towns of Carvoeiro, Armacao de Pera and Albufeira offer hotels and beaches within a short drive of the resort and the other courses of the central Algarve.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Amendoeira.
Build an Algarve golf trip
We turn Amendoeira into a complete stay and play trip, pairing the Faldo and O’Connor courses with the best of the central Algarve and handling the hotels and transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Faldo Course questions
What is the par and length of the Faldo Course at Amendoeira?
The Faldo Course is a par 72 of around 6,600 metres, roughly 7,200 yards, from the championship tees, with forward tees in regular use. It has real length, but its main defense is strategic positioning rather than distance.
Who designed the Faldo Course?
The course was designed by Sir Nick Faldo and opened in 2008, his first signature design in continental Europe. It features a bold, links influenced desert style with sandy waste areas, unusual for the Algarve.
How does the Faldo Course compare to the other course at Amendoeira?
The Faldo Course is the more demanding and strategic of the two, while its sister, the Christy O’Connor Jr course, is generally more forgiving. Together they make Amendoeira a strong stay and play base with one of the largest practice facilities in Europe.
How much does it cost to play the Faldo Course?
Indicative 2026 green fees are in the region of 150 to 175 euros, varying by season, with stay and play packages offering the best value. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Design history, par and length verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.