Penina Championship Course
Penina is where Algarve golf began, the Sir Henry Cotton championship course that opened in 1966 on flat former rice fields near Portimao and remains the oldest and most historic layout in the region. A par 73 framed by close to half a million trees Cotton planted himself, host of ten Portuguese Opens, it is a piece of living golf history.
Photo: Luis Pereira via Google.
The verdict
Penina is the course that started it all. Sir Henry Cotton, the three time Open champion, laid it out on flat, featureless former rice fields near Portimao and opened it in 1966, planting close to half a million trees to give the land shape and definition. It is a par 73 of about 6,273 meters and the oldest course in the Algarve, the layout that proved the region could be a golf destination.
More than half a century on it is a mature, tree lined parkland test with water in play and a championship pedigree, having hosted ten Portuguese Opens. It plays its history quietly and rewards a precise, traditional game. As the heritage round of any western Algarve trip it is essential. See our best of Portugal ranking and the golf in Portugal guide.
Penina at a glance
- Course opened
- 1966
- Designer
- Sir Henry Cotton
- Type
- Parkland, flat
- Par
- 73
- Holes
- 18
- Yardage
- About 6,273 m
Designer, year and par verified June 2026 from the resort, the Albrecht Golf Guide and Algarve golf sources. The Penina Championship Course, designed by Sir Henry Cotton, opened in 1966, a par 73 of about 6,273 meters near Portimao, the oldest course in the Algarve and host of ten Portuguese Opens. Green fees are an indicative 2026 guide from around 74 euros in low season to about 150 euros at peak, with twilight rates lower. Rates vary by season; always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Penina is a flat course made interesting by what Cotton put on it. The fairways are framed by the mature trees he planted, water comes into play on a number of holes, and the routing asks for position and shape rather than power, a traditional, strategic test that has stood the test of time.
The greens and the trees are the defense. Decades of growth have turned the once bare rice fields into a genuine parkland, so accuracy off the tee matters and the approach must find the right portion of well guarded greens. It is a course that rewards the precise, patient golfer and quietly exposes the wild one.
Its real signature is its history, the ground where the Algarve's golf story began and where the Portuguese Open returned ten times. Playing it is as much about the heritage as the holes, a mature, dignified round that anchors a western Algarve trip with a sense of occasion.
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 74 euros low season to about 150 euros at peak, with twilight rates lower |
| Booking | Reserve online, through the resort or with your trip planner; the resort hotel sits beside the first tee |
| On the day | Flat and walkable but tree lined with water in play; placement and accuracy matter; standard golf dress code with collared shirts |
| Getting there | Between Portimao and Lagos in the western Algarve, about 65 km and an hour from Faro airport |
| Best months | Spring and autumn are ideal; mild and playable year round in the western Algarve |
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 five star resort hotel sits right beside the first tee, the classic stay and play arrangement, while the town and marina of Portimao, the beach of Praia da Rocha and the historic centre of Lagos are all a short drive away.
For a fuller western Algarve trip, pair Penina with the long championship value of Morgado above Portimao and the coastal links and parkland of Palmares at Lagos.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Portimao and Alvor.
Build an Algarve golf trip
We book the tee times at Penina, set you up between Portimao and 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.
Penina questions
Who designed Penina and when did it open?
The Penina Championship Course was designed by Sir Henry Cotton, the three time Open champion, and opened in 1966 on former rice fields near Portimao, the oldest course in the Algarve.
What is the par and length at Penina?
It is a par 73 of about 6,273 meters, a flat, mature, tree lined parkland course where accuracy and position matter more than length.
What is Penina's championship history?
Penina has hosted the Portuguese Open ten times and is regarded as the course that launched golf in the Algarve, framed by close to half a million trees that Sir Henry Cotton planted himself.
What are green fees at Penina?
Green fees are an indicative 2026 guide from around 74 euros in low season to about 150 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, year and par verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.