The Els Club Vilamoura

The 462 yard 18th is a fitting final examination, a par 4 with water pressing from the left and bunkers waiting to the right of the tee shot. Find the fairway and there is still a shaped green to negotiate. This is a par 72 that gives you space to start holes, yet rewards a clear plan for each approach. From the back white tees it reaches 7,274 yards, while the yellow tees play at 6,665 yards and the red tees at 5,208 yards. Large lakes and sharp flashes of sand frame much of the round, but the challenge is often in the smaller details, with modest elevation shifts, contours and hazard positions making the best side of the fairway matter. The par 5 12th is a good example, its water guarded approach asking you to decide how much ground to take on.

Ernie Els remade the former Victoria Course into this 18 hole championship layout, retaining a scale suited to significant tournament golf while giving the course a more considered strategic character. Selected grass varieties and sustainable course practices form part of its upkeep, helping maintain a well-presented playing surface in the Algarve climate. The club is private, with membership granted by Founder Member nomination or invitation, which gives the day a more contained feel than at Vilamoura’s busier resort courses.

After the round, the private clubhouse provides the natural place to settle in. The 261 Bar & Restaurant is smart without being stiff, suited to a relaxed meal and a drink while the scorecard is still under discussion, and there is also a golf boutique on site. Vilamoura is around 20 minutes from Faro Airport, making this a straightforward arrival for a short Algarve golf break, with the marina, restaurants and Atlantic coast close by for time away from the course.