Golf in the Eastern Algarve

And our new club...

Golf is very important to us. Denise has played the game since the age of 10 and carries a single-digit handicap. Though I started much later, I became instantly addicted … taking lessons, becoming a range rat, and practicing my short game nearly every day. At one point I was also a good golfer … now I recall those days fondly, and on occasion actually play well.

Proximity to Golf

So when we were deciding where we wanted to live, of course, we considered the Algarve. But fearing a seasonal tourist invasion of obnoxious, loud drunks for 4 months of the year and shuttered businesses the rest of the year…we avoided the central Algarve near the coast. (Before you send me nasty emails…I realize there are many lovely areas in the Central Algarve. But we wanted to walk to the beach. We also did not want to live in a golf community. Did that in the States…liked it very much…but wanted to live in a town.) And, of course, we were drawn to the East because our “buds” had moved to Tavira.

So as we zeroed in on where to live we took careful note of available golf courses. And specifically courses that would allow us to join as members as we typically play 3 to 4 times a week.

Quinta da Ria…along the coast

Walking

During our investigatory visits, we took the time to play many of the golf courses in the area.

• Benamor - just outside of Tavira is the most forgiving layout.

• Castro Marim Golf - 27 holes just 8 minutes by car from VRSA with a clubhouse fashioned after a castle.

• Monte Rei - a Jack Niklaus signature course which we did not play. First, we were told only homeowners could join the club, second, a round will set you back about 200€/player (did I mention I am frugal?), and finally, since Jack embraced the former President’s Big Lie, I have avoided his courses.

• Quinta do Vale -the last course Seve Ballesteros designed across the street from Castro Marim Golf.

• Quinta da Ria/Quinta da Cima - two great courses in one club with an exceptional practice facility. But there was one hitch.

Benamor was a bit far and frankly a bit too forgiving. Castro Marim we played twice because several people we had already met in VRSA belonged there. I don’t mind the clubhouse. In fact, part of me thinks it is charming. The issue is we enjoy walking when we golf and this is a very, very, hilly golf course. God bless anyone able to walk 18 holes … I certainly could not.

This left us with the two/three “Quinta’s”. We played the Ballesteros course and I must have been playing well that day because I liked it. Holes 1 and 10 should both be blown up (I mean redesigned) … but other than that I thought it was a challenging but fair layout. We also played Quinta da Ria and Quinta da Cima … we loved both courses, the views, and the facilities. With just over 200 active, full-time members it was a club we felt was a great fit. One problem. They do not have a facility to store clubs or electric trolleys (electric pull-carts in the States).

Denise sent me to the Director of Golf to plead our case. I used my best salesmanship skills (which are considerable), begged, and even attempted a bribe. Unfortunately, they didn’t budge. They would provide free non-electric trolleys … but still we would have to schlep our clubs.

Aerial view Quinta da Vale

So back to Quinta do Vale we went. We joined as a couple for 2900€/yr., this includes storing our clubs and trolleys, and of course unlimited golf. We each got a locker in the ladies’ locker room for 5€/month. There are approximately 100 active, full-time members. We played in the “social golf” group a few days after we joined and met many lovely people. We played with a Scottish woman and her English male friend who reside just across the river in Ayamonte, Spain. She had been a VP for First Consulting Group, a company I had known from selling computers to hospitals, and she spent one week a month in King of Prussia … a Philadelphia suburb near where we used to live. SMALL WORLD!)

Denise picked olives, oranges, and pomegranates when we played Quinta do Vale in July.

Trade-offs

Of course the day we played social golf I came away wondering why I had liked the golf course. Yes, it is walkable … and everyone we met was lovely. But I thought Oitavos was tough…it was a cakewalk compared to this course. With water on 14 of 18 holes and many forced carry’s you may need to stock up on golf balls. However, with time, one learns how to play the course.

If in the future, Quinta da Ria/Cima offers storage facilities we may take another look. But until then, we have a well-maintained course, just a 10-minute drive from our home at a very affordable price (much less than we paid in Cascais) and some very nice people to play with. Life is good!