Vale do Lobo Royal Course
Golf at Vale do Lobo began in 1965, when Sir Henry Cotton was brought in to lay out the resort's first course, part of Trusthouse Forte and Costain's plan to build Portugal's first purpose-designed luxury resort. Two nine-hole loops opened in 1968 and 1972, and eventually became today's Ocean course. The Royal course as it stands opened in 1997, American architect Rocky Roquemore's reworking of Cotton's original drawings.
It's a par-72 layout of around 6,059 metres, rolling through pines and lakes, with some steep climbs on the back nine and a couple of doglegs. Water shows up on both nines, mostly visible from the tee. The 9th plays to a green that's almost an island. But the signature hole is the 16th, inherited from Cotton's original 1968 routing: a par-3 played along the coastal cliffs, often named among the most photographed holes in Europe.
The buggy is recommended here, and the resort backs it up with a driving range, an academy staffed by resident professionals, a clubhouse restaurant and snack bar, locker room and pro shop. Book a round on the course that gave the Algarve its most famous photograph, and pair it with its sibling, the Ocean course, next door.
Reception: 6:45am to 7pm(Summer) / 6pm(Winter)
Golf Clubs: Standard
Club House: With Restaurant and Snack bar
With driving range
With an Academy
Trolleys: Manual and Electric
With locker room
Pro Shop: 6:45am to 7pm(Summer) / 6pm(Winter)
Golf Lessons: Resident professionals
With putting green
Juniors: Up to 16 years oldVale do Lobo Royal Course - latest comments and reviews
Renato Guerriero
2026-11-02
Beautiful course with magnificent hole overseeing the cliffs
John Rowe
2026-10-29
Great course The greens were not at their best but that’s similar on all the courses at the moment
Mark Brooks
2026-10-28
Course is not as good a layout as the ocean course. There is also substantial building work going on all around many holes which spoils the atmosphere. Greens are not as well maintained as the Ocean course. A lot of walking along roads between holes and most holes have houses along the sides which is quite intimidating.
Mark Clancy
2026-10-20
Iv played the royal course many times and its always a pleasure walking down 15th to 16th with its stunning views.its a fair course to play and again staff were so helpful and friendly
Brian Mulligan
2026-10-20
great course & club house. Course staff were great. Could use some course rangers were held up at times.
Gobert Katia
2026-10-14
Excellent
Lauermann Andreas
2026-10-13
Great course, not only because of Hole 16. Good fairways, bunkers and ondulated greens
Simon Reece
2026-10-06
Superb. One of the best courses in the Algarve. Very friendly and welcoming team. Course in good condition. Excellent clubhouse if a bit slow with ordering drinks.
Kelly Bains
2026-10-05
Same as previous the range is limited and when busy the buggies are challenge but this tine we were early so it was easier
Søren Rasmussen
2026-10-04
greens not good, but my favorite course
Stuart Johnston
2026-09-26
Nice layout, fairways nice but greens particularly slow and lots of pitch marks. Signature hole 16 is spectacular.
Gill Forrester
2026-09-17
Not as good a Villamoura old course but it was an interesting course.
Tecnicals
*Parkland - Total except the 16th
*Undulated - With some steepish climbs on the back 9
*Buggy Recommended - yes
*Signature Hole - famous 16th , par3
*Water hazards - Yes on both 9's, easily seen from tees
*Tree Lined - Yes, with Pines
*Dogleg - Couple on the back 9
*Comments - Excellent course, one of Algarve's best
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