The Salgados Palm Village Resort - Fanastc Value for money golf holiday
Portugal is now many golfers go-to Golf Holiday destination due to its climate, short flight time, the abundance of great golf courses and resorts. Here is an option that I feel caters for everyone and represents a good value for money Golf Break – because 99% of the time that’s what I am looking for when booking my Golf Holiday!
This 4* resort is fully All inclusive between March and October and is only 25 minutes from Faro Airport. You will be able to stop in one of the 283 suites, there are many options on accommodation with standard suites all the way up to 4-bedroom suites with living area and 4 bathrooms housing up to 8 adults, if there was a group of you on a Golf Holiday and all wanted to be together then this would be perfect. The hotel has 3 restaurants (Including a lovely Italian) and 2 bars – I have heard great things about the cocktails from the pool side bar also, and if that isn’t enough you are not far from the nightlife of Albufeira (10 minutes in a taxi). The resort also boasts 10 outdoor swimming pools if you wanted a bit of relaxation after your round, you are also within a mile of the beach/ sea if that is more your thing and the resort has a complimentary bus service every half hour to and from a designated pick up / drop off point if you would prefer not to walk. Also, if you wanted something a bit different or you have taken the family the Zoo marine and aqua park is only 10 minutes away which has dolphin and seal shows along with big slides and waves pool.
During your Golf Holiday to Palm Village you have the choice of playing 3 wonderful Golf Courses, 2 of which are on site and one which is off site.
Morgado
The host of the 2017 Portugal Masters where we saw Matt Wallace burst onto the scene (and then go from strength to strength in 2018)
Designed by Russell Talley of the European Tour Design and opened in 2003, Morgado is a tight and tough track, well I say tight but actually the fairways are quite wide however the rough which can be very penal just makes you feel it’s a lot tighter than it actually is. The greens on the Morgado are some of the best in the area which I would expect from a European Tour venue, Large and very very fast. You will also be glad to know that there are refreshment buggy’s that come around the course so you can grab a water or a beer (which always taste nice one the golf course) The one thing that is unique to the course in the Algarve is that it is not surrounded by property like many others in the area. The course has a rather gentle start letting you get your swing going but by the time you are into the middle of your round you’ll need that A game. Note that the Morgado Course is approximately a 30 minutes transfer from the hotel, but you can book that transfer for free, so no issue.
Salgados
A course which has been described to be ‘as flat as Florida’ with water almost everywhere you will need to be able to commit to your shots and plot your way around. The nice thing about the Salgados is that unlike many others in the area it is flat built just behind the beach of Praia de Gale
and after playing those other hilly courses this is then a nice change. There are not many courses in the area where you could choose to walk over having a buggy but Salgados offers you that opportunity, obviously flat but with only a very short walks from greens to tee’s I would save a few euros and walk this one with a trolley instead! Before playing this course you may think it will be easier than others played (that may be the case) but be in no doubt that it plays longer than the scorecard suggests due to the wind coming off the sea that will be a factor on most days, especially the brute par 5 15th which measures 600 yards but would end up being 700 yards into wind !! The greens run very true but are well protected with bunkers and the aforementioned ‘water everywhere’ so stock up on balls before you play you will probably need them.
Alamos
The newest of the 3 courses at Palm Village, the Alamos fairways meander through and up and down small valleys in the near 1000-hectare site. The course is definitely the easiest of the 3 but could also be the most fun! You will notice the extremely large greens (Many raised up from the fairway) which can be extremely slow in the winter months but very hard and fast in the summer as its defence, so you will either have to be very accurate with your approaches or have a very good touch with your flat stick. The Alamos could be a perfect starting course on your Golf Holiday or could be the one you want to play the morning after a big night out! All in all the Alamos compliments the other 2 courses superbly at this Golf Holiday Resort.
Palm Village would be an excellent choice for a Golf Holiday in Portugal. Short transfer from airport, All inclusive, choice of 3 courses (Including a European Tour host Course) I am not sure that this could be beaten pound for pound or euro for euro. The Palm Village Resort is open from Months of March, April, May, June and September & October.
Not only does Palm Village offer an amazing all inclusive board basis in luxury accommodation all packages include unlimited golf. For further details and to enquire for a golf holiday to Palm Village click here
Other top all inclusive golf holiday resorts across Portugal include the 5* Sao Rafael Suites and the Pestana Delfim
Written by Dan Parker, Golf Holidays Direct, Golf Travel Guru