Vale do Lobo Resort

Fairways and a long Atlantic frontage set the rhythm at Vale do Lobo Resort, a 450 hectare holiday resort near Almancil on the Algarve. Its two 18 hole courses, Royal and Ocean, put golf at the centre of the break, while around 1.25 miles of uninterrupted beach give the rest of the day a different setting. Accommodation is spread across roughly 1,500 residential and holiday properties, with 2,500 beds available to rent, so it feels like a coastal community rather than a single hotel building. Fifteen restaurants and bars provide plenty of choice between rounds, from an easy lunch to an evening drink at the Praça.

The Royal is the more dramatic of the two, a par 72 measuring 6,626 yards, where the closing stretch asks for committed shots rather than cautious positioning. The 9th has a green set almost as an island, demanding accurate club selection before the turn. Then comes the celebrated par three 16th, played across a cliff edge to a green with the Atlantic alongside. It is a hole that stays in the mind, but the rest of the round has enough movement and strategic bunkering to keep the scorecard honest. Handicap certificates are required, with maximum handicaps of 28 for men and 36 for women, and the golf shop carries current equipment and accessories.

At 6,713 yards and par 73, the Ocean brings together two original nine hole courses designed by Sir Henry Cotton. It has a more open Algarve character, especially on the par four 11th and 14th, where the views broaden out beyond the fairways. The par three 15th runs beside the beach, a memorable tee shot when the wind is up. After golf, the Praça has separate circular pools for adults and children, plus a pool bar and beach restaurant. The Beach Club Pool adds Jacuzzis, Balinese beds and sea facing dining, while Royal Spa offers a Turkish bath, hammam, sauna and relaxation area. A year round on call shuttle helps Vale do Lobo Card holders move around the resort.