Three Decades Of Algarve Golf History

Algarve golf history dates back three decades. There are over twenty-nine well-groomed golf courses. During the first part of the 1990s, all the 1980s and during the 1970s, Portugal's southern coast started blossoming with golf courses. The Algarve countryside is mainly arid, but because of water catchments and fancy distribution schemes, the golf courses have tricky holes surrounded by water hazards. Before the golf courses were developed, the land was fishing villages with miles and miles of sandy beaches. Today, hotels, discos, restaurants and other attractions surround the golf courses.

Algarve golf history dates back to the 1920's when the first Algarve golf course was developed. Because there was no fresh water at this time, the greens were more of a brown color than they were green. The ground was oil and sand mixed together. The first green grass course was designed by Henry Cotton. Henry designed three of the Allgarve golf courses and made his home there for thirty years. Arnold Palmer designed the Vilamoura's Victoria Club and Frank Pennink designed the Vilamoura's Old Course. Donny Steel designed the Vila Sol.

The Vilamoura Old Course is just one of the championship layouts in Algarve while the Quinta do Lago was host to the Portuguese Open. One of the golf courses was built on a cliff top setting, the Vale do Lobo Royal Course not only offers a view of the beautiful water, but it is also a very challenging course to play. The best golf course is still the Henry Cotton's Penina. Algarve golf history not only includes PGA tournaments, intriguing courses, but also some of the pro golfers that travel to the area to play on the courses. Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Christy O'Connor are just some of the players that have traveled to Portugal to play on the Allgarve golf courses and leave their mark in history.

The Algarve golf courses are all-inclusive. They have clubhouses, equipment rental, practice grounds, restaurant s and bars. Since the weather in the Algarve's is mild all year long, golfing is played daily by many European travelers that visit the area to play on some the most fascinating courses in the world. Algarve golf history is just as exciting and interesting as playing golf on the courses themselves. It is amazing to learn about how the area developed from a fishing village to the most popular golf destination in Europe.