Pestana Carvoeiro Golf is one of the Algarve’s best options for golfers who want two contrasting championship courses in the same resort. Set close to Carvoeiro and Ferragudo, with the Monchique Mountains in the distance, the golf is centred around Gramacho and Vale da Pinta, giving you 36 holes to enjoy without needing to spend your holiday travelling between different venues.

Gramacho is the more unusual of the two. Designed by Ronald Fream together with former world number one Nick Price, the 18-hole, par-72 course measures 6,107 metres and features 27 greens, allowing the set-up to change and giving repeat rounds a slightly different feel.

What we particularly like about Gramacho is how naturally it fits into the landscape. Mature carob, fig and olive trees have been preserved throughout the course, while rocky outcrops, dry-stone walls, lakes and carefully positioned bunkers all add to the challenge. It rewards good positioning rather than simply distance, and there are plenty of holes where choosing the correct angle into the green is more important than hitting the longest drive.

Vale da Pinta offers a more traditional championship test. Designed by Ronald Fream, it opened in 1992 and plays to a par of 71. The course moves across rolling Algarve terrain amongst mature olive, almond, fig and carob trees, including an olive tree believed to be more than 1,200 years old. Vale da Pinta has also hosted the European Seniors Tour Qualifying Final on numerous occasions, which gives you a good idea of the quality of the layout.

The contrast between the two courses is one of the main reasons we recommend Pestana Carvoeiro Golf. Gramacho feels slightly more unconventional and strategic, while Vale da Pinta provides the stronger championship-style challenge. Playing both gives you much more variety than simply repeating the same course several times during your stay.

The resort also has a golf academy and driving range, while the Gramacho and Vale da Pinta clubhouses provide restaurants, bars and outdoor terraces for relaxing after your round.

With Pestana Carvoeiro Resort accommodation surrounding the golf and Carvoeiro’s beaches, restaurants and bars nearby, it is an easy base for a longer Algarve golf holiday. Speak to our Golf Travel Experts at Hashtag Golf Travel and we can build Pestana Carvoeiro Golf into a tailor-made Algarve itinerary, combining Gramacho, Vale da Pinta and other leading Pestana courses across the region.