Quinta do Lago is the pick of several incredibly good golfing resorts on the Algarve - it's within 15 minutes of four other resorts on the NCG Top 100 European Golf Resorts list. ‘The Lake Estate’, as it translates into English, is home to three 18-hole golf courses, a quirky boutique hotel, sports campus and much more.

Quinta do Lago has been around for 50 years now. Andre Jordan’s vision in the early 1970s was to create a spectacular golfing resort by the beach with facilities and real estate, and he did exactly that. Originally built with 27 holes, the resort has since expanded to double that. The opening of both The Campus and the Magnolia Hotel have catapulted Quinta do Lago to the very top of the European golfing landscape.

The South Course is the jewel in the crown and recently received a €7million upgrade.  It is a former DP World Tour venue, having hosted the Open de Portugal on eight occasions, most recently in 2001. The likes of Colin Montgomerie, Tony Johnstone and Philip Price were victorious here.

The resort is also home of the North Course and the Laranjal Course, both of which have undergone serious renovations over the last decade. The Paul McGinley Academy is one of one, and its home is at Quinta do Lago, while the TaylorMade Performance Centre is the only one in the country.

Quinta do Lago is also home to The Campus, a state-of-the-art, multi-sport complex - one of the best in the world, and  a stunning addition to the resort. 

While you’re in the region, you can also visit the likes of Dom Pedro, Vale do Lobo and San Lorenzo, all of which are within driving distance.

 

Book your trip to Quinta do Lago with Golfbreaks now.

Visit Quinta do Lago’s website here.

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.

Quinta do Lago boasts three incredible courses - the North Course, South Course and Laranjal Course. The South Course played host to the DP World Tour on eight occasions, as the host of the Open de Portugal. 

The South Course has championship status thanks to that event, one that continues on the Challenge Tour to this day at other locations in Portugal. The South provides a stern challenge for all golfers. The front nine winds its way through the parkland, before water comes into play on the back nine.

The North Course at Quinta do Lago underwent major changes in the early part of the 2010s. Under the guidance of Beau Welling and former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley, the Par 72 course was re-built, with greens, tees, bunkers and the irrigation system all being improved to a high standard.

Opened in 2009, the Laranjal Course is the final piece in the puzzle at Quinta do Lago. The Laranjal is situated around a mile to the east of the resort in what was originally an orange grove. With five lakes on the course, it provides another tough challenge, but with five par-5s and five par-3s, there are opportunities on this fun lay-out.

Quinta do Lago is home to the only Paul McGinley Academy in the world. Founded in 2011 by the soon-to-be European Ryder Cup captain, the academy aims to improve golfers, whether they be complete novices or experienced players.

The academy provides private sessions so golfers can work on their game on a one-to-one basis with one of the PGA-qualified professionals, including computer swing analysis. The academy is also home to programmes for children and teenagers. Half-day and five-day Golf School programmes are put on, which can allow children to improve the tactical aspect of their games. 

The resort is also the home of a TaylorMade Performance Centre, the only one in the country. Golfers can receive a custom fitting experience testing hundreds of club and iron combinations, ensuring the best fit for each player’s swing. Ball flight technology and launch monitors are used by trained TaylorMade technicians to aid this process.

One of the newest parts of Quinta do Lago is The Campus. It is a unique, state of the art multi-sports complex where professional training and coaching are on offer to all, whatever the level of skill. From world-class athletes and international competitors to active families, sports enthusiasts and rising stars, people of all ages and abilities, no matter what their sport, are welcomed at The Campus. 

The Campus’ facilities include a Desso Grassmaster hybrid pitch which is designed to professional standards. There is a high performance gym equipped with the latest technology, with the fitness centre also providing classes ranging from yoga to pilates, barre to zumba. There is also a swimming pool and a rehabilitation centre. 

Outdoor sports include six tennis courts, two of which are made from synthetic clay, and four padel courts, one of the world’s fastest growing sports. The Bike Shed offers an extensive range of resources for cyclists of all levels and is the starting point for many routes and trails along the Algarve coast.

The Magnolia Hotel is the resort’s boutique accommodation, bringing a taste of Palm Springs to the Algarve. The hotel is stylish and vibrant, with 74 rooms designed with elegance and comfort in mind.

There is a  heated outdoor pool, colourful Mediterranean restaurant, cinema, gymnasium and spa and wellness areas, allowing guests to relax in the Algarve sunshine.

Away from the hotel, the Quinta do Lago resort also has different properties that can be rented for the duration of your stay on the south coast of Portugal. Apartments, townhouses and villas are all available, with as many as six bedrooms depending on your accommodation needs.

Where is Quinta do Lago located?
Quinta do Lago is located on the Algarve, the southern coast of Portugal. The Algarve is the host of many incredible golfing venues, some of which are also on our European Golf Resorts list.

The resort is just down the road from the regions of Vilamoura and Faro, with Albufeira, Portimao and Lagos all down the coast if you travel west along the shoreline of the Mediterranean Sea.

What is the nearest airport to Quinta do Lago?
Quinta do Lago is in the perfect spot for travellers coming into Portugal. It is situated less than half an hour away from Faro International Airport, which sees daily flights arrive from several countries around Europe.

What golf facilities does Quinta do Lago offer?
Along with the three championship golf courses at the resort, there is also the Paul McGinley Academy, set up by the 2014 European Ryder Cup captain. There is also a large driving range, chipping green and putting area for you to hone your skills before your round.

Quinta do Lago is also the home to Portugal’s only TaylorMade Performance Centre. Highly trained TaylorMade staffers can help provide you with club fitting and more, to help boost your game before going out on to one of the three courses that Quinta do Lago has to offer. 

Does Quinta do Lago offer golf lessons?
Lessons are available at the Paul McGinley Academy, no matter what age or ability you are. The academy is there to help with any queries you have about your golf game, providing tuition and analysis to help you improve.

The South Course is the most expensive of the three at Quinta do Lago, thanks to its championship status as a DP World Tour venue. A round on the South will set you back a little more than €150. Both the North and Laranjal Courses will cost €139 during the high season.

Is Quinta do Lago suitable for families?
The Magnolia Hotel is a child and family friendly hotel in the Algarve. Guests can also stay in a beautiful cottage in a cosy corner of the grounds, complete with comfy bedrooms, a lounge area, bathroom and kitchenette, and a lovely private patio. 

Cottages can sleep up to four adults and two children, perfect for the whole family to enjoy a blissful holiday. There are plenty of activities on offer for the kids to enjoy themselves throughout the day as well.

What accommodation is on offer at Quinta do Lago?
There is an array of accommodation options at Quinta do Lago, from the boutique Magnolia Hotel, to property rentals. The Magnolia has many different types of rooms to cater for all the needs, while the property rentals range from one-bed apartments to six-bed villas.

What other resorts and courses are nearby?
There are several resorts on the NCG Top 100 European Resorts list that are near Quinta do Lago, with the Algarve being known as a golfing paradise. San Lorenzo is next door to the south, while Vale do Lobo is less than four miles to the north west, up the coast. Dom Pedro and Vila Sol are also within a 15-minute drive from Quinta do Lago.

What does Quinta do Lago mean?
Quinta do Lago means ‘The Lake Estate’ in Portuguese. It is apt, due to the number of lakes that you have to avoid with your ball around on the resort’s three golf courses.

Book your trip to Quinta do Lago with Golfbreaks now.

Visit Quinta do Lago’s website here.

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.