Palmares Golf
Palmares is the great seaside golf of the western Algarve, a 27 hole course on the hillside above the Bay of Lagos that Robert Trent Jones Jr redesigned in 2010 into three contrasting nines. Two links loops run down toward the beach and the Atlantic, a third climbs into parkland among olive and almond trees, all of it with sweeping ocean views.
Photo: Palmares Ocean Living and Golf via Google.
The verdict
Palmares began in the 1970s but was transformed when Robert Trent Jones Jr redesigned and expanded it to 27 holes, reopening in 2010 on the south facing hillside above the Bay of Lagos. Three nine hole loops, the Lagos, the Alvor and the Praia, combine to a par 72, and the variety is the appeal, links holes running down through dunes toward the beach and the Atlantic, and parkland holes climbing the hill among olive and almond trees.
It is the closest the Algarve comes to a genuine links experience, the seaside nines exposed to the breeze with the ocean as a constant companion, and the views over the bay are among the best in Portuguese golf. As the marquee round of a Lagos trip it is unmissable. See our best of Portugal ranking and the golf in Portugal guide.
Palmares at a glance
- Course reopened
- 2010
- Designer
- Robert Trent Jones Jr
- Type
- Links and parkland
- Par
- 72
- Holes
- 27
- Yardage
- About 6,300 m
Designer, redesign year and layout verified June 2026 from Palmares, Robert Trent Jones II and Algarve golf sources. Palmares, redesigned by Robert Trent Jones Jr, reopened in 2010 with 27 holes above the Bay of Lagos, the Lagos, Alvor and Praia nines combining to a par 72 of about 6,300 meters. Green fees are an indicative 2026 guide from around 90 euros in low season to about 130 euros at peak, with twilight rates lower. Rates vary by season; always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Palmares is really three courses in one. The Praia and Alvor nines are the links, running down through low dunes toward Meia Praia beach with firm turf, wide fairways and the wind off the Atlantic, the rare stretch of the Algarve that feels and plays like the coast of the British Isles.
The Lagos nine is the contrast, a more classic parkland loop that climbs the hillside among olive and almond trees with elevated tees and far reaching views over the bay and the town. Combining the loops gives genuinely different golf within a single round, from seaside to hilltop and back.
The constant is the panorama. Few courses anywhere offer this combination of ocean and links beside hillside parkland, and the views over the Bay of Lagos are unforgettable. It is a course to savor for its variety and its setting, the standout golf experience of the western Algarve.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Open to visiting golfers year round; resort guests and trip bookings welcome |
| Green fee | An indicative 2026 guide from around 90 euros low season to about 130 euros at peak, with twilight rates lower |
| Booking | Reserve online, through the resort or with your trip planner; 27 holes give flexible nine and eighteen combinations, buggies available |
| On the day | Exposed links nines by the beach plus a hillier parkland loop; the wind is a real factor; standard golf dress code with collared shirts |
| Getting there | Above Meia Praia at Lagos in the western Algarve, about 75 km and an hour from Faro airport |
| Best months | Spring and autumn are ideal; mild year round, breeziest on the seaside links holes |
Fees and access verified June 2026; the indicative green fees reflect 2026 pricing and vary by season, so always confirm the current rate and tee availability directly before booking. Book a tee time through our trip desk.
Where to stay nearby
The historic town of Lagos, with its old quarter, marina and the famous beaches and cliffs of the western Algarve, is one of the most attractive bases in the region, and the Palmares resort sits above its own golf by the bay. Meia Praia, Praia da Luz and the Sagres coast are all within reach.
For a fuller western Algarve trip, pair Palmares with the eco friendly golf at Espiche nearby and the historic championship test of Penina toward Portimao.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Lagos.
Build an Algarve golf trip
We book the tee times at Palmares, set you up around Lagos in the western Algarve and build the rest of an Algarve golf week around your golf. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Palmares questions
Who designed Palmares and when did it open?
Palmares dates to the 1970s but was redesigned and expanded to 27 holes by Robert Trent Jones Jr, reopening in 2010 above the Bay of Lagos in the western Algarve.
What is special about Palmares?
It offers the closest thing in the Algarve to genuine links golf, two of its three nines running down through dunes to Meia Praia beach with ocean views, alongside a parkland loop that climbs the hillside.
How many holes are there at Palmares?
There are 27 holes, the Lagos, Alvor and Praia nines, which combine in pairs to a par 72 of about 6,300 meters with sweeping views over the Bay of Lagos.
What are green fees at Palmares?
Green fees are an indicative 2026 guide from around 90 euros in low season to about 130 euros at peak, with twilight rates lower. Always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, redesign year and layout verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.