Amendoeira Golf Resort

Amendoeira Golf Resort sits in Alcantarilha, close to Silves, with the Monchique Mountains behind it and Armação de Pêra Beach within easy reach and 20 minutes by car to the lively town of Albufiera. The resort is built around two full length 18-hole courses, the Faldo and O’Connor Jnr., plus a floodlit nine-hole Academy Course for an evening round or focused short-game work. Apartments and villas bring a relaxed, independent feel to the stay, with Moorish-inspired arches, tiled patios and generous terraces. Two-bedroom apartments have fitted kitchens, two bathrooms and large lounges, while some of the three, four and five-bedroom villas have private pools.

The Faldo Course is the sterner test, a par 72 stretching to 7,194 yards from the back tees. Sir Nick Faldo’s design rewards sensible decisions from the tee and careful placement into greens, making it a course where chasing every flag can quickly cost shots. It received Portugal’s Best Golf Course award at the 2016 World Golf Awards. Christy O’Connor Jnr.’s course takes a different route through a fertile valley, where lakes and water hazards keep precision firmly in mind throughout the round. The Academy Course has three tees on every hole, including seventh-hole options played across water, and is useful for newcomers as well as those sharpening their scoring clubs. A driving range, putting greens and dedicated long-game and short-game areas support the two championship layouts, with coaching technology including TrackMan, V1 video and SAM PuttLab.

Between rounds, the central Clubhouse looks across both courses and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in its restaurant and bar. There are two outdoor pools, one for children, plus a sun terrace with loungers, while massage appointments can be arranged through the Clubhouse reception. Faro Airport is around 40 minutes away by transfer.