Amendoeira O'Connor Jnr Course

The 178 yard third sets the tone early on the O'Connor Jnr Course, a par three played across water to an undulating green guarded short and long by three bunkers. A small Moorish relic on an island beside the lake adds a memorable focal point, but the shot itself needs proper distance control. Christy O'Connor Jnr’s 6,900 yard, par 72 layout stays largely on the floor of a fertile valley, where lakes, water hazards and carefully placed bunkers repeatedly ask you to commit to a line. Orange groves frame several holes, giving the round a distinctly Algarve feel, while the demands increase around the greens, where a missed approach can leave an exacting recovery.

This is a course that rewards accurate play rather than simply length. Water remains a factor throughout, and the changing angles into the greens make tee shot placement important if you want a clear route to the flag. Before a round, the resort academy offers a driving range, putting greens and separate areas for long-game and short-game work. Its floodlit nine-hole par-three course provides another useful option in the evening, with three tees on every hole changing both the line of play and the influence of hazards. Coaching uses Trackman, video analysis, BodiTrak and SAM PuttLab, with tuition available for every standard of golfer.

Accommodation at Amendoeira Golf Resort comes in fully equipped apartments and villas, designed with Moorish-influenced arches, tiled patios and generous terraces for unhurried time between rounds. Massage and spa treatments can be arranged through the Clubhouse reception. The resort sits near Silves, with the Monchique Mountains behind it and Armação de Pêra Beach close by. Faro Airport is around 30 minutes away, making it a straightforward Algarve base for a golf break.