Palmares Ocean Living and Golf
Most Algarve golf is heathland cut through umbrella pines. Palmares is the exception, a sweep of ground above the Bay of Lagos where Robert Trent Jones II found three distinct kinds of golf on one property, including a genuine stretch of seaside links that runs along the dunes with the Atlantic in full view.
Photo: Palmares Ocean Living & Golf via Google.
The verdict
Palmares sits at the western end of the Algarve, between Lagos and the sea, and it plays unlike anything else in the region. Robert Trent Jones II rebuilt the old club into a 27 hole layout that opened in full in 2011, arranged as three nine hole loops, Alvor, Lagos and Praia, that combine in any order. Alvor is a hillside parkland with views to the Monchique mountains, Lagos a heathland transition, and Praia the prize, a true links along the beach.
It is the variety that makes Palmares special. You can open in the hills, drop down through the heath and finish on the links, all on one round, and the change of texture keeps it interesting from the first tee to the last. The conditioning is resort standard, the views over the bay are some of the best in the Algarve, and for a traveling golfer it is the round that breaks up a week of classic pine and sand with something closer to the British and Irish coast.
Palmares at a glance
- Opened
- 2011
- Designer
- Robert Trent Jones II
- Type
- 27 holes
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- Around 6,200 m
- Green fee
- From around €116
Design history and configuration verified June 2026 from the architect and course databases. Palmares is a 27 hole layout in three nine hole loops, the standard eighteen hole combinations playing to around par 72 over roughly 6,200 metres. Green fees are indicative, around 116 euro in the 2026 high season of spring and autumn with lower summer and shoulder rates. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The signature stretch is the Praia loop, where the holes run out along the dunes with the sand and the Atlantic on one side. It is as close to links golf as the Algarve gets, firm turf, sea breezes and approaches that reward a low running ball, a complete contrast to the lush parkland elsewhere on the property.
The Alvor nine climbs into the hills for the long views over Lagos Bay and the Monchique range, while the Lagos loop threads through heathland with cleverly placed bunkers and water that ask for position off the tee. Played as a full eighteen, the combination delivers elevation, sea and strategy in a single round.
The wind is the variable. On a calm morning Palmares is a photogenic resort round, but when the sea breeze fills in across the Praia holes the links character sharpens and the scorecard tightens. It is the rare Algarve course where the weather, not just the layout, dictates how you play.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort and members course at Palmares Ocean Living and Golf that welcomes visitors and resort guests, the 27 holes booked as three rotating nine hole loops |
| Green fee | Around 116 euro in the spring and autumn high season, with lower summer and shoulder rates, buggy often included (indicative) |
| Booking | Book ahead for spring and autumn, the Algarve peak; resort guests at the on site hotel get the keenest access |
| On the day | A buggy friendly resort course with a clubhouse, range and ocean view dining; caddies by arrangement |
| Getting there | Between Lagos and the sea in the western Algarve, around 75 minutes by road from Faro Airport |
| Best months | February to May and September to October for the firmest turf, comfortable temperatures and the best of the breeze |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Palmares has its own on site hotel above the course, the most convenient base for early tee times and the best access across the three loops, with the beach and the marina town of Lagos a short drive away.
Lagos itself offers a wide choice of hotels and restaurants and sits within easy reach of the other western Algarve courses, making it a natural hub for a links and parkland week in the region.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Palmares.
Build a western Algarve golf week
We pair Palmares with the best of the western and central Algarve, book the tee times in the right order and handle the hotels and transfers from Faro. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Palmares questions
What is the par and length of Palmares?
Palmares is a 27 hole layout of three nine hole loops, with the standard eighteen hole combinations playing to around par 72 over roughly 6,200 metres. The Praia loop adds a genuine seaside links feel rare for the Algarve.
Who designed Palmares?
The course was redesigned by Robert Trent Jones II and opened in full in 2011, built as three distinct nine hole loops, Alvor in the hills, Lagos through heathland and Praia along the dunes by the Atlantic.
What makes Palmares different from other Algarve courses?
Most Algarve golf is heathland through umbrella pines, but Palmares offers parkland, heath and a true seaside links on one property, with long views over the Bay of Lagos and the Monchique mountains.
How much does it cost to play Palmares?
Indicative 2026 green fees run around 116 euro in the spring and autumn high season, with lower summer and shoulder rates and a buggy often included. 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 yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.