When thinking about holidays in Portugal, one of the most popular destinations which comes to mind is often the Algarve. The southernmost region in the country presents holidaymakers with a range of sun-kissed beaches, brilliant family days out and plenty of places for entertainment.
However, the resort is also cherished by tourists for its brilliant sporting facilities, which is highlighted by its superb golf courses. To get an idea of why families keep on going back for a spot of golf in the Algarve, you only need to look at the Quinta do Lago resort.
What makes Quinta do Lago so eye-catching?
Those of you who are looking to enjoy a great golf holiday in the Algarve have so many reasons to give due consideration to the Quinta do Lago resort.
For starters, the golf course’s location is truly astonishing. Upon reaching the southern corner of Portugal, holidaymakers will find that the resort is hidden away around almost 1,600 acres of pine forest. There are also a variety of lakes dotted around the destination to add to the allure.
Even when taking a break from playing golf, tourists have so much to see and do. Within a stone’s throw away from Quinta do Lago, you will find a large stretch of gorgeous sandy beaches. As well as catching the rays, these beaches allow you to experience the thrills of water-skiing, windsurfing, scuba diving or sailing in warm and inviting waters.
Meanwhile, those hoping to enjoy a great day out should venture over to the beautiful Ria Formosa National Park, where you can enjoy a relaxing stroll while watching such fascinating birds as the purple heron, white storks and egrets fly over your heads.
The renowned history of Quinta do Lago
Once the sightseeing has been completed, holidaymakers will be able to enjoy a spot of golf on a collection of award-winning courses.
The South Course of the resort, for example, has played host to no less than eight Portuguese Open tournaments over the years and is so iconic that it was included in Golf World Magazine’s ‘Top 100 Golf Courses in Europe’ last year.
Meanwhile, the newest of Quinta do Lago’s three courses, Laranjal, was heralded as the ‘Best Golf Course’ during the 2011 Portuguese Travel Awards (Publituris) ceremony.
If you decide to tee up at the Quinta do Lago resort, you can also take comfort in the fact you will be playing on the same green as Colin Montgomery, Justin Rose, Padraig Harrington, Ian Poulter and Ernie Els all plied their trade in the past.
Watching the greats of tomorrow at Quinta do Lago
Those heading on Algarve golf holidays and have the Quinta do Lago resort in mind may be wise to push their getaway back to the autumn though.
This is because the attraction will welcome 21 young finalists through its clubhouse doors between October 9th and 11th 2013, who will compete in the climax of the Telegraph BMW Junior Golf Championship.
To get a grasp of the prestige surrounding this tournament, Justin Rose, Melissa Reid, Tom Lewis and Rebecca Hudson have all been finalists in the event in previous years.
Paul McGinley, who was recently announced to be the Europe team captain for the 2014 Ryder Cup, commented: “I’m delighted to be supporting the 2013 Telegraph BMW Junior Golf Championship. For more than 25 years, the championship has given junior golfers throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland the chance to be part of the biggest junior golf competition in the world.
“The calibre of champions over the years illustrates this is one of the ‘Majors’ on the junior golf circuit and a great starting point for many in their golfing careers. I’m looking forward to meeting the finalists at Quinta do Lago in October when they will experience the trip of a lifetime. Good luck to everyone taking part this year.”
On a side note, budding golfers who are eager to show off their skills on an international platform should keep an eye on tournament details to see where the next opportunity is taking place.
In the meantime, to make sure that you don’t miss a minute of the action in the Algarve, and ensure that your holiday is centred on the sport you love, booking up with a specialist travel agent will give you that added peace of mind.