Eastern Algarve and Spanish Border area golf courses

Price Guide: € = very good value, €€ = mid range, €€€ = expensive

Quinta de Cima. (€€) TOP COURSE AWARD Named in the 2005 Peugeot Golf Guide as the best course in Portugal. A long course, designed to host tour events, but wide enough off the tee for higher handicappers. A real star, highly recommended. Set in quiet, lightly undulating open countryside, dotted with many ancient olive and eucalyptus trees. Easy walking.

Quinta da Ria. (€€) FABULOUS VIEWS AWARD A highly attractive course, with several holes running along the Atlantic coast, giving beautiful sea views. Slightly shorter and a little easier than it's sibling Quinta de Cima, this is a great course for all levels of golfer. Rated in the Peugeot Golf Guide as joint-second best course in Portugal. Parkland and seaside, easy walking.

Quinta do Vale. (€+) The first Seve Ballesteros course in Portugal. Seve said he wanted to create a course to please all handicap levels. A high quality golfing experience, and terrific value for money. Mostly easy walking, a bit hilly towards the end.

Costa Esuri West. (€+) It is exciting to find a real links challenge in the Algarve region, with the sort of fairways you associate with the top British links. A very long course, but with generous fairways that encourage you to get the driver out, and lots of run. Lightly undulating terrain and an easy walk. This course has been getting great reviews from our golfers, and is a candidate for our top course recommendation. The new east course is also worth considering. Located right on the border of Portugal and Spain, 15 minutes from Tavira.

Benamor. (€+) A popular and friendly course close to Tavira, with some shorter par 4s to help you get a score going, before building to a strong finish.. Great views both to the sea and the mountains. Undulating Parkland.

Casto Marim. (€) (27 holes) A course with magnificent elevated views across the border into the Spanish province of Andalucia. Quite tight, but not long, so you don't need to risk the driver off the tee. Undulating parkland.

Monte Rei. (€€€+) TOP COURSE AWARD. It is unashamedly expensive. But for your money you get a fabulous Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in a dream location for golf. Every hole seems to be a signature hole. And you get plenty of time to enjoy it, as tee times are at 15 minute intervals and only 80 players per day are allowed on. Set in secluded, undulating countryside, a buggy is included.

Isla Canela. (€) A well-presented resort course located just inside Spain. Orange, eucalyptus and olive trees frame the course, and water meanders by several holes. The terrain rolls over gentle sand dunes, so an easy course to walk. Well worth a visit.

El Rompido North & South. (€) These linksy, lightly undulating courses are spearated from development by a nature reserve by the sea. Part of a 5-star resort. Highly recommended, the south course is rated among the best in Spain, and the newer north course looks set to become a star also.

Islantilla. (€) (27 holes) Well established parkland course with sea views on the spanish side of the border, spectacular in places. It has a strong international reputation and should be on your short list.

Nuevo Portil. (€) A course where strategy rather than distance is important, with narrow fairways and subtle greens Close to El Rompido.