Amendoeira Golf Resort - Faldo & O’Connor Jr.

Course Overview

Set within a peaceful valley near Alcantarilha in Portugal’s Algarve region, Amendoeira Golf Resort is home to two superb 18-hole championship courses designed by Sir Nick Faldo and Christy O’Connor Jnr. Opened in 2008, the resort offers two distinctly different golfing experiences, both framed by rolling countryside, olive groves and orange orchards that create a striking inland setting away from the Algarve’s coastal courses.

The Faldo Course is a par-72 layout that stretches to just over 6,500 metres from the back tees and is widely regarded as one of the Algarve’s most strategic modern designs. Faldo has created a visually dramatic course with a desert-style character, featuring rugged rocky outcrops, wild herbs, ancient olive trees and distinctive crushed-limestone bunkers. Precision and thoughtful course management are essential, as rolling fairways and cleverly positioned hazards punish wayward shots. The back nine climbs gently through the valley, offering expansive views across the surrounding countryside. Standout holes include the picturesque par-3 11th, which plays over water to a two-tiered green, and the demanding closing par-5 18th, where a well-placed tee shot is required to set up a rewarding approach beneath the clubhouse.

In contrast, the O’Connor Jnr. Course provides a more traditional parkland feel. Also a par-72 championship layout, it measures around 6,700 metres from the back tees and winds across the fertile valley floor, where water hazards come into play on many holes. Designed to complement the more rugged Faldo Course, O’Connor Jnr.’s layout features wide fairways lined with palm trees and landscaped lakes, creating an oasis-like setting among the surrounding orange groves. Accuracy is vital, particularly on the front nine where several holes are influenced by lakes and streams, while the large, subtly contoured greens demand a confident putting stroke.

Together, the Faldo and O’Connor Jnr. courses provide two contrasting but equally enjoyable tests of golf, combining dramatic design with beautiful Algarve scenery. Supported by excellent practice facilities, including Portugal’s only floodlit 9-hole Academy course, Amendoeira Golf Resort remains one of the region’s most complete and rewarding golfing destinations.