Amendoeira O'Connor Course

The verdict

Amendoeira built two contrasting courses, and the O'Connor Jnr is the warmer, greener one. Where the resort's Faldo Course leans into a stark, desert style of golf, Christy O'Connor Jnr laid out a classic parkland test in 2008, with broad fairways, mature palms and water threaded through the round. It is a par 72 that stretches to around 6,700 metres, roughly 7,300 yards, from the back tees, which makes it one of the bigger ball striking challenges on the Algarve from the tips, yet eminently playable from the right set of markers.

For a travelling group it ticks a lot of boxes: buggies are normally included, the conditioning is reliably good, and the green fees sit below the marquee names at Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo. Pair it with the Faldo Course for a two course resort base in the quieter western Algarve, and you have a relaxed golf week with a serious test of length when you fancy stretching it out.

The holes worth the trip

From the back markers the O'Connor Jnr is a genuine length test, and the smart move for most visitors is to play one set forward and enjoy the width. The fairways are generous, framed by palms and the occasional lake, so the player who commits to the driver is rewarded with shorter clubs into the greens. From the wrong tees in a stiff breeze, though, it can feel long.

Water is the recurring theme, with lakes and watercourses guarding several greens and forcing a clear decision on the approach. The greens are large and receptive when the conditioning is at its best, which suits the resort golfer who would rather flight a confident iron than fiddle around the edges.

The closing holes bring the water back into focus and give the round a satisfying finish that can swing a match. It is not a course of famous individual holes so much as a consistent, well presented examination that flatters good driving and tidy iron play. Walk off with a buggy ride done and a card intact and you understand why groups keep coming back here for the value.

Where to stay nearby

The simplest base is the resort itself, where apartments and villas sit between the two courses and include access to the leisure facilities, making it easy to play both layouts across a few days without ever moving the car. It suits a self catering group that wants golf on tap at a sensible price.

For more on the doorstep, the resort towns of Carvoeiro and Albufeira are a short drive away, adding beaches, restaurants and a wider choice of hotels, while keeping the western and central Algarve courses within comfortable reach. Faro airport is around 45 minutes, which still makes a long weekend straightforward.

Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Amendoeira.