Salgados Golf
A rare links style layout on the Algarve, Salgados runs flat and open beside the beach and the Salgados Lagoon. A Pedro de Vasconcelos design opened in 1994, this par 72 of about 6,083 meters puts water in play on most holes, a different kind of test from the region's parkland resorts.
Photo: Salgados Golf Course via Google.
The verdict
Salgados stands apart from the parkland courses that define Algarve golf. Designed by the Portuguese architect Pedro de Vasconcelos and opened in 1994, it sits on flat, open coastal ground beside the protected wetlands of the Salgados Lagoon, with the beach a short walk away. The result is the closest thing the central Algarve has to a links, wide and breezy, with sea air moving across the fairways.
It plays as a par 72 of about 6,083 meters, and its defining feature is water. Lakes, streams and the lagoon margins frame and threaten the majority of holes, so accuracy and nerve matter more than raw length. Backed by the NAU Salgados resort hotels and recently the subject of course improvements, it is a popular, good value round and a refreshing change of scenery on an Algarve golf trip.
Salgados Golf at a glance
- Opened
- 1994
- Designer
- Pedro de Vasconcelos
- Type
- Links style coastal
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,083 m
- Green fee
- From about 60 euro
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the resort operator and leading course databases. Salgados was designed by Pedro de Vasconcelos and opened in 1994, a par 72 of about 6,083 meters on flat coastal ground beside the Salgados Lagoon. It is a public course attached to the NAU Salgados resort hotels and managed to a high standard. Indicative 2026 green fees run roughly 60 to 95 euro depending on season, with twilight and resort packages the best value. Fees move with season and demand, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The character of Salgados is set by its flat, open setting and the water that runs through it. With little tree cover and the sea close by, the breeze is almost always a factor, and the wide fairways that look generous from the tee narrow quickly toward greens guarded by lakes and the lagoon's reedy margins. It is a course that rewards the player who plots a sensible line and keeps the ball dry.
Several holes play directly over or alongside water, demanding committed carries and punishing the timid or the wayward. The lagoon is a protected wetland alive with birdlife, which adds to the sense that this is a more natural, untamed stretch of golf than the manicured resort courses nearby. Club selection in the wind is the key skill here.
At about 6,083 meters it is a fair rather than brutal length, but the water and the breeze keep it honest from the first tee to the last. Recent course improvements have sharpened the conditioning and a new signature hole, and Salgados remains one of the most distinctive and enjoyable rounds in the Albufeira area.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public course attached to the NAU Salgados resort hotels; open to guests and visitors |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026 range about 60 to 95 euro depending on season; twilight and resort packages are the best value; confirm at booking |
| Booking | Reserve online, by phone or through the resort; popular in peak spring and autumn windows |
| On the day | Flat and walkable but buggies are common; bring spare balls for the water holes and a windbreaker |
| Getting there | Near Guia and Albufeira, central Algarve, about 30 minutes from Faro Airport |
| Best months | Spring and autumn for the most pleasant Algarve conditions, though it plays year round |
Access and fee details verified June 2026. Pricing moves with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. See our Algarve green fees guide for the wider picture.
Where to stay nearby
The simplest base is one of the NAU Salgados resort hotels beside the course, which put the golf, the beach and the spa within easy reach and make stay and play packages straightforward. The wider Albufeira area offers a vast range of hotels, apartments and resorts for every budget within a short drive.
Salgados pairs naturally into a central Algarve golf trip. Combine it with the clifftop Pine Cliffs, the championship Vilamoura Old Course, and the classic Vale do Lobo Royal. See our Golf in Portugal hub and our best courses in Portugal ranking to shape the route.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Albufeira.
Build an Algarve golf trip
We book the Salgados tee times, pair them with the best of the central Algarve golf and arrange the resort lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Salgados Golf questions
Who designed Salgados Golf and when did it open?
Salgados Golf was designed by Portuguese architect Pedro de Vasconcelos and opened in 1994 beside the Salgados Lagoon near Albufeira on the Algarve.
What is the par and length of Salgados Golf?
Salgados plays as a par 72 of about 6,083 meters from the back tees, a flat, open links style layout with water in play on the majority of holes.
Why is Salgados called a links style course?
Salgados sits on flat coastal ground beside the beach and the Salgados Lagoon wetlands, with wide fairways, sea breezes and little tree cover, giving it an open, links like feel rather than a parkland one, though the many lakes make it its own kind of test.
Can visitors play Salgados Golf?
Yes. It is a public course attached to the NAU Salgados resort hotels. Indicative 2026 green fees run roughly 60 to 95 euro depending on season, with twilight and resort packages the best value; always confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.