Dom Pedro Old Course

The verdict

The Dom Pedro Old Course is the grande dame of Algarve golf, the second course ever built on this coast and still, for many, the most charming. Frank Pennink laid it out in 1969 through a forest of towering umbrella pines, and the decades have only deepened its character as those trees have matured into the defining feature of every hole. A sympathetic Martin Hawtree renovation in the late 1990s freshened the bunkering and greens without disturbing Pennink's classic, walkable routing. The result is a course that feels timeless, a parkland test where position off the tee matters far more than brute strength.

It sits at the heart of Vilamoura, a purpose built resort town with marinas, hotels and restaurants and no fewer than five courses within a few minutes of one another, which makes the Old Course the cornerstone of one of the easiest and best value golf trips in Europe. The fairways are framed and narrowed by the pines, the greens are subtle and well defended, and the whole experience is unhurried and gracious. For the travelling golfer it is a must play on any Algarve itinerary, history and quality wrapped in the scent of warm pine.

The holes worth the trip

The Old Course makes its intentions clear from the start: this is a driving course where the umbrella pines, not bunkers or water, are the principal hazard. Avenues of mature trees frame nearly every fairway, so the tee shot is about finding the right side and leaving a clear line to the green. Stray into the pines and you are usually chipping out sideways, the surest way to leak shots on a course that otherwise gives the accurate player plenty of chances.

Through the middle of the round Pennink's routing shows its quality, the holes changing direction so the wind is rarely the same twice and the doglegs asking you to shape the ball both ways. The par 4s are a varied, well balanced set, and the par 3s are pretty and precise, played to greens tucked among the trees. Hawtree's revisions sharpened the bunkering and firmed up the putting surfaces, but the spirit is pure golden era parkland, all angles and touch rather than power.

The closing stretch winds back through the pines toward the clubhouse, a relaxed and satisfying finish in keeping with the course's gentle, classic character. The Old Course will not overwhelm a big hitter with length, but it quietly rewards good thinking and clean ball striking, and punishes carelessness off the tee. It is the kind of course you finish wanting to play again straight away, which is exactly why it has remained a Vilamoura favourite for more than half a century.

Where to stay nearby

Vilamoura is the obvious base, a self contained resort with a glamorous marina, a wide choice of hotels from the comfortable to the luxurious, and the Old Course and its four sister courses all within minutes. Staying here means you can walk or take a short shuttle to the first tee and fill the rest of the day with the marina's restaurants and bars.

The central Algarve makes a superb golf region beyond Vilamoura itself. Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo are a short drive east, the beaches are excellent, and Faro airport is close, with direct flights from across Europe. Most golfers build a week around several of these courses, and the Old Course is the natural place to start.

Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts in Vilamoura.