Written by John Green
I have played and stayed at the Quinta Do Lago Resort many times but it’s nearly 10 years since I was last there.
So National Club Golfer sent me there to see if, how the resort had evolved in the last decade and if it remains a gem of the famed Algarve.
The Golf Course
Quinta South has hosted the Portuguese Open eight times and is the original course. Built in 1972 on what was farm land next to the lake which is part of the stunning Rio Formosa National Park.
It has generous fairways but miss the fairway and you end up in the deceptively clingy kikuyu grass rough.
As for my favourite hole, the 16th hole is easily the most photogenic and so the most well-known hole but I’m going to bunch all of the par 5’s as my favourite hole(s).
For me they are all almost reachable in two but miss the fairway and I can kiss that eagle putt goodbye. I must confess, I missed every par 5 fairway.
Quinta North was completely redeveloped by the American golf Architect Beau Welling in close collaboration with Paul McGinley and then reopened again in October 2014.
Although I didn’t play from the back tees, the North course is a chunk shorter than the South course, but it demands accuracy from the tee. There are quite a few dogleg holes that give you that risk and thrill reward.
From when I played the North years ago, I could definitely see a difference in the green complexes. Now there are some huge humps, bumps and run off areas that have been created which add to the fun.
The last hole has to be my favourite. It’s a sharp dog leg right so cutting the corner is an option for the longer hitters. The sloping green sits comfortably into the side of a hill and is guarded by bunkers left and right.
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It is interesting to see that for sustainability and playability reasons almost all of the deeper rough has taken away from the South and North and replaced with bark.
This means that unless you hit the ball way off line it’s very findable. However, hitting shots from the bark is an art that I didn’t master over three days, despite the number of times I was on it.
Moulded from an orange grove, Laranjal opened in 2008 and has a different feel to the North and South courses. At Laranjal there aren’t any villas at all so you can see most of the course laid out in front of you and it has a lovely quiet charm to it.
But don’t let that charm fool you. If you play from the wrong tees you will find yourself in trouble.
The par three second is the signature hole. An undulating green gives way to a bunker that gives way to a large lake. It really is a beautiful hole to look at.
There’s almost no bark here just lots of water and Bermuda grass to gobble up those errant drives. If I had to give you a favourite course of the three, I would say Laranjal just gets it for me.
Practice Facilities
10 years ago, the practice range was frankly a little jaded. But the whole facility has undergone a significant upgrade.
To go with the Paul McGinley Golf Academy there is now a state-of-the-artTaylorMade Fitting Centre which I believe is the only one in Portugal.
On the range itself all of the bays are covered. The balls are good and the mats are just as fine for a long session or a simple warmup.
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All of this is has now been repackaged as the Quinta Do Lago Performance Centre.
Resort Facilities
The Magnolia Hotel was my base, it has a modern bright, breezy and boutique feel about it with a super relaxed atmosphere. I stayed in one of the cottages which was a good size and very comfortable.
The rooms and suites carry on the theme of modern and bright. The whole hotel looks like it takes its inspiration from the glamour of 1950s Palm Springs.
The breakfasts were excellent, there was social vibe in the bar and the staff were all very attentive and friendly.
However, if elegant 5-star luxury accommodation is more your taste then just down the road is the Conrad Algarve Hotel.
With spacious designer rooms, a world-class spa and Michelin-starred dining, luxury is the word best placed to describe this hotel.
Add to this a portfolio of Luxury Rental Villas and that’s the accommodation options sorted.
On the estate there is a choice of 14 bars and restaurants. While I would have been more than happy to sample them all, we ate at three; Koko, Casa Velha and Bovine.
The Koko Cafe restaurant has been completed revamped and is now a relaxing quality venue. They have their own in house coffee bean grinding machine so having a coffee here is a must.
Casa Velha has a lovely laid-back vibe. I was there with a small group so the ‘to share’ menu was chosen, and I would heartily recommend doing this. It made it a real social event. Not the cheapest place to eat but a sumptuous treat.
The Bovino Steakhouse is not for vegetarians, it’s for lovers of fillet, ribeye, t-bone and sirloin. We were there on a Saturday night and it was darn lively. But I can see why, the food was simply stunning, what an experience! So, well worth a visit.
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There is also the Casa do Lago for splendid sea food and UMAMI the Asian fusion restaurant.
The state-of-the-art Campus is simply a mecca for professional and amateur athletes, those looking to keep fit, those looking to have a bit of fun and those that aren’t at the resort to play golf. There’s tennis, padel, swimming pools, and a huge array of gym equipment.
My Summary
The Oxford English dictionary has no mention of the word golf in it’s description of the word resort.
It seems that Quinta Do Lago has read this and has added a myriad of amenities to the constantly improving great golf courses in the sun.
QDL really has evolved in the last decade or so and is a resort everyone can enjoy.
About John
He was the Head Pro at Alwoodley for 35 years and Fellow of the PGA. Now assisting in the club’s office and pro shop and playing more golf than ever. Simply loves everything about golf apart from tour players slow play and handicap manipulators. Talking about that just acquired a handicap of +1.3. Long live WHS. York City supporter, come on you Minster Men!
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