Quinta do Lago Laranjal Course

Five par fives give Laranjal a different rhythm from many Algarve championship courses, asking you to balance patience with the chance to attack. At 7,087 yards from the back tees, this par 72 has enough length to reward a well-struck driver, yet its character comes from the rolling ground, defined greens and the decisions around five lakes. Fairways run through the former orange grove of the Ludo Valley, with umbrella pines, cork oaks and orange trees shaping the view and occasionally the shot. Bermuda grass fairways and Penn A4 greens help keep the surfaces dependable through the year, while the changing lies make distance control and accurate approach play central to a good score. It feels slightly apart from the busier parts of Quinta do Lago, around 1.2 miles east of the main resort.

There is a driving range and practice area for a proper warm up, along with club, buggy and trolley hire, a pro shop and strokesavers. The clubhouse looks across the course and works well before a morning tee time or for a relaxed lunch afterwards, serving breakfast, food and drinks daily. KOKO, beside the range, is another easy stop between rounds, with pizzas, salads and lighter snacks served in its shaded garden. Laranjal sits alongside Quinta do Lago South and North, so there is scope for a varied week of golf, with coaching also available at the Paul McGinley Golf Academy.

For a stay nearby, The Magnolia Hotel has 74 rooms and seven cabin-style cottages, with 300-thread-count cotton sheets and steam showers in the rooms. A heated outdoor pool, spa, gym, pool bar and sand sports court give the non-golf hours some shape, and complimentary bicycles are useful for getting about locally.