Vale do Lobo Royal Course

The shot that stays with you comes at the 16th, a par-three played from the cliff edge towards a green across a ravine, with the beach and Algarve coast stretching beyond. From the back tee it measures 245 yards, so this is no token coastal photograph, particularly when the wind is up. The Royal Golf Course is a par-72 of 6,626 yards from the white tees, moving through rolling ground lined by umbrella pines, lakes and pockets of wildflowers. Water asks another precise question at the par-three 9th, where the green sits in a shallow bowl with water close on nearly every side. The stroke-index-one 6th rewards a sensible tee shot to the right of the fairway bunker, and there is no shame in laying up before the approach.

Created by Rocky Roquemore from Sir Henry Cotton’s original plans, the course has a measured feel throughout, mixing bold carries with fairways that need careful positioning rather than blind aggression. A proper warm-up is easy to arrange at the Golf Academy, which has a beginners’ instruction area, putting green and grass short-game ground with bunkers. The neighbouring Ocean Course gives a second 18-hole round without leaving Vale do Lobo, useful for a week where the group wants different challenges but no extra travel. A handicap certificate is required, with maximum handicaps of 28 for men and 36 for women.

Between rounds, self-catering one and two-bedroom apartments provide an uncomplicated base within the resort. There are 15 restaurants and bars across Vale do Lobo, including THE WOLF for pub food and drinks, TINTO, DOCE and the Smash Sports Bar. The Royal Spa is a fitting place to loosen up after a day of uneven lies and coastal wind. Faro Airport is around 25 minutes away, while the resort’s 1.2 miles of beachfront puts the sea close at hand. Vilamoura’s marina is also nearby for an evening away from the resort.