Quinta do Lago North Golf

Location and access

The famous golf and holiday resort Quinta do Lago is one of the most exclusive destinations of its kind not only in Portugal, but also in Europe. It is located on the western border of the nature reserve Ria Formosa between Almancil and Faro International Airport. It is a seven km drive from the EN125 in Almancil to the club house which lies in the heart of the resort, and around ten kms from exit 13 of the A22 motorway.

Golf course

In 1974 the first golf course with 27holes designed by William Mitchell was inaugurated. He introduced greens, bunkers and tees in line with American standards to the Algarve. In 1989 nine holes were added by Joseph Lee and Rocky Roquemore, forming the two courses North and South.

The first 9 holes of the North Course are situated in a flat area on the northern border of the resort near the luxurious mall Quinta Shopping. The terrain of the second 9 is more undulating and stretches on the other side of the Av. André Jordan along the eastern border of the resort. The terrain is typical of the area: sandy and strewn with pine trees, heather, gorse and wild flowers.

In 2013/14 the North Course was redesigned by renowned American architect Beau Welling in collaboration with European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley to the highest specifications using the latest state-of-the-art technology. Golfers will be challenged by a combination of undulating greens, well-positioned bunkers and water hazards.

The aesthetics of the course have also significantly improved through the introduction of a cool season rough grass and the selective planting of native grasses and a variety of trees. To reduce the impact on the environment, recycled water and solar energy are used to maintain the course, grassed areas have been reduced and new plant and animal habitats have been created.

Services & facilities

The elegant club house, shared by players of both the North and the South courses, is situated in the heart of Quinta do Lago. The terrace offers great views to the 1^st and 10^th holes of the South Course and a buggy-bar provides refreshments and snacks all day on the courses.

The practice facilities, open to the public, are located on the opposite side of the Av. André Jordan, the main thoroughfare of the resort.  They are home to the Paul McGinley Golf Academy and include a 500 square-meters 9-hole putting green and a 300-meter driving range with grass and mat tee areas with 6 target greens. Three short game areas are divided into bunker, chipping and pitching sections and are designed to give the player a comprehensive and challenging training session.

Noteworthy

The totally revamped North Course is the newest addition to Quinta do Lago’s five-star golf facilities. It has been one of the most talked about golf projects in 2014 and is set to be one of the new stars of European golf and the new number one course at Quinta do Lago.