Quinta de Cima Golf

Roquemore's design

Rocky Roquemore designed Quinta de Cima as the counterpoint to its sister course, Quinta da Ria Golf. Where Quinta da Ria plays open and links-influenced across exposed ground beside the Ria Formosa, Quinta de Cima is tighter and more parkland in character, routed through olive groves, carob trees, and orange orchards near Cacela Velha. Opened in 2002 as part of the same resort development, the two courses share a clubhouse and facilities but demand different skills.

Roquemore's approach here was to use the existing landscape rather than flatten it. Centuries-old olive trees define several fairway corridors, and a winding creek crosses multiple holes, creating strategic decisions that the more open Quinta da Ria doesn't force. The course rewards accuracy and course management over raw distance, and lower handicappers who position the ball well will score better than long hitters who spray it.

At €100–150 during peak season, the green fee matches its sister course and is fair for the eastern Algarve. The course is longer than Quinta da Ria at 6,586m from the back tees, but the tighter layout and tree-lined fairways make it play demanding rather than exhausting. Multi-round packages covering both courses are good value and let you experience Roquemore's contrasting designs back-to-back.

Course design

The layout is parkland with a creek running through it, creating a front nine that eases you in and a back nine that escalates. The opening holes are relatively straightforward, with wide enough fairways and manageable hazards. From the 10th onwards, the course tightens and the creek starts appearing in landing areas, forcing you to think about club selection off the tee rather than just hitting driver.

Holes 13, 14, and 15 form the toughest stretch on the course. The 14th in particular plays between orange orchards with out-of-bounds on both sides, leaving a narrow fairway where accuracy is non-negotiable. The greens across the course are medium-sized and gently contoured. They're not the multi-tiered surfaces you find at the premium courses, but they reward precise approach play and punish the wrong miss side.

Higher handicappers should play from the forward tees, where the landing areas open up and the water hazards become less threatening. The course is playable for all levels, but the back nine's tight corridors and water will test golfers who struggle to keep the ball in play.

Natural setting

The course runs through a landscape of old olive and carob trees, with orange orchards bordering several holes. It's a more enclosed, sheltered setting than Quinta da Ria, and wind is less of a factor here thanks to the tree cover. The mature vegetation gives the course a settled feel that belies its relatively young age.

From the higher points on the course you can see across to the hills beyond Vila Real de Santo António, though the views are less dramatic than the lagoon panoramas on the sister course. The eastern Algarve's quieter character is evident here: the pace is unhurried, the surrounding countryside is largely undeveloped, and the birdsong through the olive groves is a pleasant change from the busier courses further west.

Signature holes

The 14th (par-4, 390m): the hardest hole on either Quinta da Ria course. A tight driving hole with orange orchards and out-of-bounds on both sides. The fairway gives you about 25m of width, so the tee shot requires a committed club choice: enough distance to leave a manageable approach, straight enough to avoid the boundary fences. The green is well-defended by bunkers, and anything offline off the tee makes par difficult. A solid four here is worth celebrating.

The 16th (par-5, 517m): the signature hole and the best risk-reward test on the course. Water threatens the second and third shots, and the aggressive line to reach the green in two requires carrying the creek at the 250m mark. Lay up to 100m and you have a wedge to a green surrounded by sand and water. When it comes off, an eagle putt is possible; when it doesn't, the creek and bunkers will cost you.

The 7th (par-3, 170m): a mid-iron par-3 to a green framed by olive trees with a bunker front-right that catches anything that fades. Club selection needs to account for any breeze filtering through the trees. A clean strike to the middle of the green gives a realistic birdie look on a hole where the scenery is a welcome distraction.

The experience

Quinta de Cima shares its reception, clubhouse, and tee sheet with Quinta da Ria, so the experience off the course is identical. Many visiting golfers play both courses during an eastern Algarve trip, and the contrast in character makes the combination worthwhile. The resort hosted professional events including the PGA Europro Tour and European Seniors Tour qualifying between 2003 and 2008, which speaks to the quality of the layout.

Pace of play is reasonable. The eastern Algarve doesn't see the same volume of golf tourism as Vilamoura or Quinta do Lago, and four-hour rounds are typical except during peak summer weeks. Booking a few days ahead is advisable in high season. The course suits mid-handicappers who favour accuracy over distance, but the forward tees make it accessible for higher handicappers and visiting groups.

Conditioning

Conditioning is adequate for the price point without standing out. Greens are generally consistent and hold approach shots, though they don't run as fast as the premium courses in the region. Fairways are presentable in peak season, with the tree-shaded areas holding up better than the more exposed sections during summer heat.

Winter conditioning drops, particularly in the fairways and bunkers, and the course shows its wear during the drier months. Spring and autumn offer the best balance of conditions and weather. Compared to Monte Rei the maintenance gap is obvious, but the green fee reflects that difference. Within the €€€ bracket, conditioning is comparable to Benamor Golf and similar eastern Algarve courses.

Last reviewed: 6 March 2026