Groups usually pick their golf courses first and their hotel second. It is worth doing it the other way round. The area you stay in sets your travel times, your evenings and, quite often, how happy everyone is by day four.
Vilamoura: the default for golf groups, for good reason
Vilamoura has the highest concentration of golf within a short drive of a genuine centre. The marina gives you dozens of restaurants and bars in walking distance, which matters enormously for a group of ten who do not want to organise taxis every evening.
It has plenty of life to it, particularly in peak weeks. But for a four-ball to a society of twenty-four, it removes more friction than anywhere else in the region.
Quinta do Lago: the premium end
Quinta do Lago is quieter, greener and a high-end resort. The golf is manicured, the restaurants are excellent and the whole area feels calm.
It suits groups where the standard of the trip matters more than the cost per round.
Vale do Lobo: golf and the beach in the same place
Vale do Lobo is best known for its golf: two well-regarded courses, one of them running right along the cliff edge, with the accommodation only minutes from the first tee.
Western Algarve: Lagos and around
Head west and the coastline gets more dramatic, with traditional Portuguese towns such as Lagos to explore in the evenings. Courses are spread out a little more, so it is worth planning the driving in advance.
A good fit for a quieter break if you would rather not have a large selection of restaurants and bars on your doorstep.
Eastern Algarve: quieter and often better value
Towards Tavira the pace drops and prices tend to follow. If your group is happy to drive twenty or thirty minutes to some rounds, the eastern Algarve can deliver a noticeably cheaper trip in busy months.
Tell us your group size, budget and how much travelling you are happy to do each day, and we will recommend the area that fits your group best.