Amendoeira — Faldo Course

Alcantarilha, Algarve · Designed by Nick Faldo (2008) · Est. 2008

8.6/10Edge Score

€€€€Green fee

72Par

7,216Yards

18Holes

Why this Edge Score: Sir Nick Faldo's bold 2008 design in the hills near Silves is the Algarve's most distinctive course, a target-golf layout of desert-style fairways through scrubland and rock. A striking contrast to the coastal resorts, it earns its own place among Portugal's courses.

The Faldo Course at Amendoeira, in the hills behind Alcantarilha near Silves, is one of the most distinctive layouts in the Algarve — a bold, modern, target-golf design by six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo, opened in 2008. Faldo drew on the rugged, arid terrain to create something closer to a desert course than a typical Algarve parkland, with fairways carved through scrubland, dramatic waste areas, rock outcrops and native planting rather than lush pine.

At par 72 over around 6,600 metres, it is a genuine championship test that demands precise, strategic golf: carries over waste ground, angled greens and clever risk-and-reward options reward the thinking player. It is a striking contrast to the coastal resorts, and its inland setting keeps green fees keener than the marquee names.

The Amendoeira resort also has a second course, the O'Connor Jnr layout, making it a fine two-course base a little away from the coastal crowds.

Holes worth knowing

1The waste-area carries — Faldo used the rugged terrain to demand strategic, precise driving over scrub and sand, unlike anything on the coast.
2The angled greens — risk-and-reward options and cleverly tilted greens reward the thinking player throughout.

Highlights

Bold desert-style design by Sir Nick Faldo (2008)
Waste areas, rock outcrops and target golf
A striking contrast to coastal Algarve courses
Two-course resort inland near Silves

Good to know

→This is Nick Faldo's Algarve statement — a desert-style, target-golf course quite unlike the lush coastal parklands, so expect a different, strategic challenge.
→The resort has a second course (the O'Connor Jnr layout), making Amendoeira a good two-course base away from the coastal crowds.
→It sits inland near Silves — the old Moorish capital of the Algarve, with a red sandstone castle worth a visit on a rest day.
→Being inland, green fees are keener than the marquee coastal resorts for a course of real championship quality.
→Faro Airport is about 40 minutes; the beaches around Armação de Pêra are 15 minutes down the road.