Vilamoura Old Course

The course that started Vilamoura

The Old Course was the first layout built in Vilamoura, opening in 1969 just three years after Penina established the Algarve as a golf destination. Frank Pennink, a former Walker Cup amateur turned course architect, was commissioned as part of the master-planned Vilamoura resort development. Where Cotton built Penina on flat rice paddies, Pennink had something better to work with: a gently rolling site covered in mature umbrella pines.

Pennink's philosophy was to let the landscape do the work. Rather than clearing the pines and reshaping the terrain, he routed fairways through natural corridors in the forest, creating a course defined by its tight, tree-lined holes. In 1996–97, Martin Hawtree renovated the greens to USGA specification and modernised the drainage, but preserved Pennink's original routing. The character Pennink built into the course remains intact.

The Old Course suits golfers who value shot-making over length. If you can keep the ball in play and control your approach shots, the par 73 will yield scoring chances. Spray it off the tee and you'll spend the afternoon chipping out from pine needles. Brian Barnes won the 1979 Portuguese Open here, and the course still favours the same kind of controlled, strategic golf that worked for him. It's not the most manicured course in Vilamoura, but it has more architectural character than any of them.

Course design

The layout plays as a traditional parkland course through dense umbrella pines. At 6,254m from the whites with a par 73 (out in 36, back in 37), it doesn't overpower you with length. The Slope Rating of 136 tells the real story: the pine corridors are penal. Miss a fairway and you're punching out sideways, turning pars into bogeys or worse.

Greens are relatively small and were rebuilt to USGA spec during the Hawtree renovation, surfaced with Bentgrass that putts true and at medium-to-fast pace. The Bermuda Tifton 419 fairways run firm in summer, adding distance to well-struck shots but making precise distance control more important on approaches. Bunker placement is strategic rather than excessive; the pines do most of the course's defending.

The front nine eases you in with a 310m par-4 opener before the corridors tighten at the 3rd. The back nine is where the course makes its statement: longer (3,248m versus 3,006m on the front), more doglegs, and noticeable elevation changes. Three par-5s on the back nine offer scoring opportunities, but each demands accuracy with the second shot to set up a reasonable approach. Higher handicappers should consider the forward tees (Yellow at 5,913m, Blue at 5,718m) where the pine corridors feel less claustrophobic.

Natural setting

The umbrella pine canopy dominates everything. These trees have been growing since before the course opened, and their broad crowns create a high, shaded canopy that filters light across the fairways. In summer, the shade is welcome; on exposed coastal courses nearby, there's nowhere to hide from the heat. The pines also block most of the wind, making the Old Course significantly more sheltered than the open layouts at the Els Club or Laguna.

The terrain rolls gently, with subtle elevation changes that are more noticeable on the back nine. The 2024 renovation cleared years of overgrown underbrush and installed wood chip areas beneath the trees, opening up sightlines and creating sharp visual contrast between the dark trunks, golden chips, and green fairways. On a quiet morning midweek, the course feels almost secluded, the only sound the crunch of pine needles underfoot and birds in the canopy. It's hard to believe you're in the middle of one of the Algarve's busiest resort areas.

Signature holes

The 4th (par-3, 163m): the course's official signature hole and the only place where water is the primary threat. The entire carry is over a lake to a green guarded by deep bunkers. After three holes of pine corridors, the open water is a jarring change of scene. Wind swirls unpredictably through the surrounding trees, making club selection a guessing game. Take one extra club and aim for the centre of the green; short is wet, and right is worse.

The 8th (par-4, 419m): Stroke Index 1, and it earns the ranking. You need a full drive to reach a narrow landing zone, then a long iron or hybrid into a well-protected green. The fairway offers no margin on either side. Many visiting golfers would score better treating this as a three-shot hole, laying up to a comfortable wedge distance rather than forcing a hero approach from 200m between the pines.

The 16th (par-5, 514m): an uphill par-5 that plays as a genuine three-shotter. The fairway pinches between bunkers on both flanks, and from the landing zone you can't see the green. Even long hitters are forced to play position rather than attack in two. The blind second shot demands local knowledge or trust in the yardage markers. It's the kind of hole where par feels like a birdie.

The 18th (par-4, 413m): Stroke Index 3, and the "card wrecker" reputation is earned. The fairway climbs steeply uphill to an elevated landing zone, and the approach is completely blind over the crest to a bunkered green. At 413m uphill, this is a mid-to-long iron approach after a solid drive. After 17 holes through the pines, this steep climb to an unseen flag is a physical and mental test. It can turn a solid round into a frustrating one in the space of two shots.

The experience

The green fee sits above €200 year-round, reaching €274 in peak season, which positions it at the premium end for Vilamoura. Multi-course packages across the five-course Vilamoura Golf portfolio can improve the value if you're playing several rounds. The course is walkable, though buggies are recommended in summer heat.

The 2024 renovation under new ownership has visibly improved the experience. The clubhouse was redesigned with a mix of Portuguese heritage and British pub character that works well for the predominantly UK visitor base. The practice range now includes Trackman bays, and a VIP concierge service has been introduced. Pace of play is generally reasonable: the wood chip areas beneath the pines mean fewer lost balls and less time searching, and the tree-lined corridors naturally prevent groups from spreading across adjacent fairways. If you played the Old Course a few years ago and found it tired, it's worth a return visit. The current operation is a significant step up from the deferred maintenance that characterised the previous ownership period.

Conditioning

The 2024 renovation addressed years of neglected pine canopy management. Major pruning lifted the tree crowns and cleared underbrush, dramatically improving sunlight and air circulation to the turf. The difference is visible: fairways are healthier and greens are more consistent than they've been in years.

Greens are Bentgrass, putting true and at medium-to-fast speed. Fairways are Bermuda Tifton 419, which means firm, fast-running surfaces in summer but dormant, less lush conditions in winter. If you're visiting between December and February, expect the fairways to look tired compared to peak season. Irrigation uses treated wastewater from the Vilamoura treatment plant, giving the course a reliable water supply even during drought periods. Bunkers have been reworked throughout. The conditioning won't match a premium venue like Monte Rei or San Lorenzo, but for a 55-year-old course carrying significant daily traffic, it's well-maintained and improving.

Last reviewed: 18 April 2026