Golf
Golf in Tavira
In the last decade or so, some of the best courses have been designed in the Eastern Algarve. There are now 4 courses literally within a short 15 minute drive from our property near Tavira.
There are Quinta de Cima and Quinta de Ria within a short walk of each other. There is the oldest Eastern Algarve course of Benamor and also Castro Marim.
Four fantastic 18 hole courses within a 30 minute drive
Benamor – tel: 281 320 880
Quinta da Ria – tel: 281 950 580
Quinta de Cima – tel: 281 950 580
Castro Marine – tel 281 510340
Benamor golf course is a delightful par 71 course of about 6.100 Yards designed by Sir Henry Cotton. A well maintained, undulating course that is suitable for players of all standards to enjoy. There are views to the sea, to the south and the mountains to the north. Shots have to be accurate on the course to avoid the trees that have been retained. In addition, greens are protected by bunkers and lakes. Alongside the clubhouse is an interesting old church. The course has won awards as the best maintained course in Portugal.
The Quinta da Ria course was designed by Rocky Roquemore and is set in a spectacular location, the Ria Formosa Natural Park, in eastern Algarve. This spectacular 18 hole golf course is in the Ria Formosa Natural Park and spreads along an almost flat surface of 660.000 m2 down to the Ria Formosa itself, hanging over it and with a stunning view of the sea. It is a PAR 72, comprising two loops of 9 holes and each loop with 2 PAR 5, five PAR 4 and two PAR 3 holes. Its total length is about 6.016 metres. Five lakes were strategically built along the course, specifically near greens 5, 10 and 14. Hole 16, PAR 5, is played between the two biggest lakes. The green of the PAR 3 nr. 17 is limited by one of these lakes where an island with varied bird-fauna may be found. Besides the beauty the lakes render to the course, they are also used as water reservoirs for the irrigation and are nourished by a stream. Most of the night irrigation water is recovered through drainage, reaching the through an intelligent modulation of the ground. The greens, smoothly undulating, are well protected by bunkers. Greens, tees and fairways are covered with Bent Crenshaw and the roughs with Poa Pretensis with Fescuas. There will be no real estate construction in the Ria Course. More than 300 trees, such as olive and carob trees have been transplanted in order to maintain the ancient border of the course and the typical features of the region landscape. It also looks like as if the course is of the same age as its centenary trees. From any place of the site, one can see both the mountains and the sea. The surrounding orange trees and vineyards give their contribution to make the course country landscape even more beautiful.
Quinta de Cima is a new championship style course near the Quinta da Ria course. Eighteen holes skilfully scattered by an area of 620.000 m2, the Cima Course show themselves very competitive with dog-legs to the right and to the left and greens well protected by sand hazards and lakes, particularly holes 16, 17 and 18. A stream with dams and permanent flowing water crosses holes 4, 5, 6 and 13. The course is bordered to the north by the National Road 125 and spreads to the south, where its limits are a municipal road that leads to the Ria Course. The greens have been seeded with Bent Crenshaw. Tees and fairways are covered with Zoysia. In one of the Driving Ranges, with generous dimensions and built in the south/north direction, when hitting from the northern tees, one may appreciate a magnificent view of the mountains as well as of the Ocean. But from any part of the course, both the sea and the Algarvean mountains are a delight to anyone’s eyes. On the other Driving Range, designed to practice with irons, there is the Robinson Golf Academy. It comprises 3 greens and 6 tees to the teaching of the different types of game with irons, namely how to get off a bunker to a green 120 m distant. Since there will be no real estate construction on the site, the Cima Course is indeed a paradise to those golfers who love to be always in contact with nature.
The course at Castro Marim, in the Eastern Algarve, was opened in 2000. This course has beautiful views over the River Guadiana, the Nature reserve and the sea beyond. The design has made full use of the hilly terrain which has been supplemented by ornamental lakes. The trees, bunkers and water hazards give a demanding game that requires precision approach shots. This is our personal favourite and best value for money!
Casa Shambala 