Imagine checking into your golf resort and knowing you had five championship courses to play unlimited golf on and enjoy! At the 4-star Pestana Carvoeiro in the Algarve, that’s exactly what awaits you. Just 45 minutes from Faro airport, this resort is easy to get to and well worth the journey.
The two courses on the property have strong championship pedigree having hosted elite ladies and senior championships on many occasions. Pestana Carvoeiro has outstanding self-catered accommodation consisting of apartments, townhouses and villas as well as being very close to some of the best beaches in the Algarve, this resort is the perfect place for families or large groups of golfers.
The Moncihque Mountains provide an idyllic backdrop for this resort and with the towns of Lagoa and Carvoeria very close-by, you can take in some authentic culture whilst you’re here plus you can eat and drink with some of the locals in these characterful towns. Pestana Carvoeiro offers the chance to play some of Europe’s best courses in one of its most stunning locations, a great choice for any golf break.
For golfers, there is a choice of two courses on the property and another three great courses just 15-minutes away by car. The clubhouses at the two on-site courses have everything you need from buggy hire, merchandise, club hire, snacks and a putting green for final preparation before you head out to play. Once you’ve finished up, you should stay for a while and grab some food and drink in the clubhouse to pour over the round you have just completed.
Nick Price, former world number one, worked with Ronald Fream to build this 18-hole course with 27 greens. This may sound strange but it means that this course is very versatile and can be set-up in multiple different ways. This course has played host to the Portuguese Ladies Open many times, which gives an example of the championship pedigree of the course.
One of the highlights of this course is the incredible use of the natural terrain that was on offer during the building of the course. Exposed natural stone, large trees, lakes and historic walls all add to the unique character of the round.
| Par | 72 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Ron Fream, Nick Price |
| Opened in | 1991 |
| Previoulsy hosted | Portuguese Ladies Open (2005, 2007) |
| Black | 6,679 yards | SSS 70 |
|---|---|---|
| White | 6,050 yards | SSS 70 |
| Yellow | 5,700 yards | SSS 67 |
| Red | 5,224 yards | SSS 71 |
Signature Hole: Hole 5, Par 4, 400 yards, SI 2
The 5th hole at Pestana Gramacho in the Western Algarve is considered by many to be a hidden gem, and is the perfect showcase for Pestana’s undulating fairways and slick greens. A dramatic driving hole, featuring an uphill fairway and a significant dogleg to the right.
This course hosted European Seniors Tour Qualifying eight times and is a great golfing challenge for players of all levels. The course is highly playable and intelligent design by Ronald Fream has resulted in a superb experience. Strategic bunkering has been deployed perfectly to protect the course and water hazards add another element of danger for your scorecard. The terrain is an absolute joy on the eye and includes some wonderful trees, including an olive tree that is over 1200 years old!
The 13th hole is a real stand-out and a potential card-wrecker. A tight tee-shot requiring the avoidance of a large water hazard and many bunkers leaves a short approach to a very well-protected green. Greenside bunkers await errant wedges.
| Par | 71 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Ron Fream |
| Opened in | 1992 |
| Previoulsy hosted | European Seniors Tour event (From November 2007) |
| Black | 6,127 yards | SSS 69 |
|---|---|---|
| White | 6,373 yards | SSS 68 |
| Yellow | 5,918 yards | SSS 67 |
| Red | 5,621 yards | SSS 69 |
Signature hole: Hole 4, Par 5, 560 yards (Black Tees), SI 6
The course places great importance on accurate shot making- tight fairways, doglegs, and many well-placed hazards leave little margin for error. Perhaps the finest example of this can be found on the par 5 4th hole, measuring at 560 yards. The hole certainly provides a stern test of the driver, with a long and accurate drive towards a marker post, made tougher by the out of bounds on the left, and rough on the right. Further caution is required on the approach, with an ever-narrowing fairway and a well-protected, undulating green making for a tough par.
Pestana Golf Academy and Driving Range
As you would expect from a championship venue, the practice facilities are truly world-class. If you would like to get some tuition in whilst you are on holiday, the PGA professionals at the resort are here for you. Group clinics are also available for those who just want a quick tweak rather than a full analysis of their swing.
The driving range is equipped with a shelter to shade you from the sun and cool you down as you hit balls in the sun. You can loosen off with a bucket of balls before making your way to the first tee or you can spend a few hours working on your swing. There are also great facilities for you to work on your short game, putting and bunker skills.
Off-site Courses
Wait, there’s more! If you upgrade to the ‘Unlimited Golf’ package then there are another three courses around a 15-minute drive from the resort. Two incredible parkland experiences await you at Silves, Alto and Vila Sol. Each of these courses is of championship quality in its own right and they all have a unique character.
Together, at Pestana Carvoeiro, you have five wonderful courses to enjoy. It seems only right to play all of them then try your favourites again. Maybe this is one of the reasons why so many people return to this resort so frequently.
There are 155 apartments that can sleep between two and eight people or there are 144 villas that can sleep the same amount. Depending on the size of the group you are travelling with, you have great options at Pestana Carvoeiro Resort. All of these accommodation options come with a fully-equipped kitchen and a private patio so you can cook up a storm and enjoy it al fresco with some drinks and a good chat. The villas also come with the added bonus of a private pool for you and your group to enjoy.
The dining options at Pestana Carvoeiro are excellent and extra care has been taken to provide great dining options for people with special diets too. The two clubhouses on the property are there for you with local and international cuisine throughout the day. On warm summer evenings, you can enjoy some barbecue al fresco or if you are here for a special event, you can enjoy some spectacular fine dining.
In terms of non-golf activity, you could spend some time bathing in the outdoor pool on the resort or playing some tennis during time away from golf. Off-site excursions are available to all guests at the resort and can be arranged through the attentive staff. They include visits to nature reserves, historic sites and areas of historical significance. These are a great chance to see more of Portugal and broaden your horizons.
The well-equipped kitchens in the apartments and villas are perfect for the enthusiastic chef, but if cooking is not your forte, head for the nearby town of Carvoeiro, home to an array of bars and restaurants.
The focal point of Carvoeiro is the old square, where you can find many charming restaurants and bars. For those seeking a little livelier evening can look to the bustling town of Albufeira which is just a 30-minute taxi away but closer to home there is the undiscovered Praia Da Rocha beach which is host to a number of bars, pubs and clubs all along one street. It's the ideal lively nightlife strip with pints as low as €3 and a glass of wine for €1.20! The perfect way to forget 3-putting the final hole.
Very bad customer service. Not accomodating at all. We arrived slightly earlier than scheduled but the resort had no safe place to store our luggage. Were told to leave it in changing room which had no lockers. Two villas were 30mins walk apart. Came as a group but spent most of the time in two groups, what a waste. Villa 181 had issues with water everyday and ants on last two days. Rang maintenance, main reception and tried to get hold of manager, all were useless.
Villa was excellent and we spent our afternoons there lazing by the pool. Breakfast was good lots of choice. Bar & range of beers good. Supermarket on site was good although taxis will stop at hyper market on way from airport if you wish.
Comfortable and spacious
The apartments we stayed in were not elaborate but were very comfortable. They were equipped with everything you need for self catering not that we made use of this as were dined out every day. The breakfasts were good and plentiful and we ate evening meals in the clubhouse on 2 occasions with both of them being very good on not overly expensive.
8 of us shared two 2 bed appartments Very good quality with everything you would need
Excellent rooms and plenty of extras..(iron washing machine and towels)
Excellent nothing to complain about, staff great, food and drinks great, service very good & rooms are fantastic !
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