Pine Cliffs Golf

Hawtree's clifftop nine

Martin Hawtree had an unusual brief at Pine Cliffs: build 9 holes on the 168-acre resort estate between a luxury property and the cliff edge above Praia da Falésia. The result, opened in 1991, routes the course through the native umbrella pine forest before exposing golfers to dramatic cliff edges. The routing alternates between exposed clifftop holes with Atlantic views and sheltered holes threading through the pines, creating a course that feels far more substantial than its 2,226m length suggests.

Pine Cliffs is part of the Pine Cliffs Resort, a Luxury Collection property, and the course reflects that positioning. The conditioning is maintained to a standard that justifies the premium green fee, and the whole operation runs with the quiet efficiency you'd expect from a five-star resort. It suits golfers staying at the resort who want a round without a long drive, couples where one plays and the other doesn't, and anyone curious enough to play the Devil's Parlour.

Course design

The layout mixes five par-4s (the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 8th) with four par-3s, playing to par 32. Hawtree kept things tight. The fairways are narrow by Algarve standards, with umbrella pines punishing wayward drives on the inland holes and the cliff edge adding genuine jeopardy on the coastal ones. The greens are small and well-defended by bunkers, placing a premium on accurate iron play.

For 9 holes, the variety is notable. You'll hit everything from a wedge to a driver, and the elevation changes between clifftop and pine-sheltered holes keep club selection interesting. Higher handicappers will find the tight lines demanding, but the short distances mean a lost ball doesn't ruin the scorecard the way it would on a championship course.

Natural setting

The clifftop holes sit 60m above the beach, with views along the red sandstone coastline towards Vilamoura in one direction and Albufeira in the other. On exposed holes, the Atlantic wind adds a club or two depending on direction. Drop into the pine-lined holes and the atmosphere changes completely: sheltered, quiet, the only sound the occasional wood pigeon. The contrast between the two environments is what gives the course its character.

Signature holes

The 6th — par-3, 197m (Devil's Parlour): the hole that built the course's reputation. From an elevated tee, the shot carries nearly 200m across a deep ravine cut into the red sandstone cliffs to a green perched on the opposite edge. There's no bail-out: short is in the ravine, long is off the back of a narrow green, and the prevailing crosswind makes club selection a genuine puzzle. It's a mid-iron or more for most players, but the visual intimidation of the 60m drop into the ravine makes it play harder than the yardage. Take an extra club and aim for the centre of the green.

The 5th — par-4, 395m: the hardest hole on the course and rated stroke index 1. At 395m from the championship tees, it's the longest hole at Pine Cliffs and plays even longer when the prevailing Atlantic wind blows across the exposed cliff edge. The tee shot demands accuracy through a tight pine-lined corridor, and the approach to the green needs two full strikes to get home. When the wind is up, this hole alone can wreck a card. The 9th, by contrast, is a 150m par-3 that finishes directly below the clubhouse terrace — a short iron to close the round with an audience.

The experience

A round takes about two hours, which makes Pine Cliffs a good option for an afternoon slot after a morning on the beach or at a bigger course. The resort operates the tee sheet efficiently, and pace is rarely an issue given the small number of holes.

At €€€ for 9 holes, this is expensive golf measured by the hole. Two loops bring it closer to a standard 18-hole green fee, and the course plays differently enough on a second pass — different pins, different wind — that it doesn't feel repetitive. The green fee is easier to justify if you're a resort guest with a package rate. For non-guests driving in specifically, the question is whether the Devil's Parlour and the clifftop setting are worth the premium over a full 18 at one of the nearby championship courses. For most golfers, once is enough to say you've played it.

Conditioning

The course is maintained to the resort's luxury standards. Greens are fast and consistent, fairways closely mown, and bunkers well-raked. The compact layout helps: with fewer holes to manage, the greenkeeping team can maintain a high standard across the whole course. It holds up well through winter, with the mild Albufeira climate keeping the turf green year-round.

Last reviewed: 6 March 2026