Championship VenueBucket List

The Els Club Vilamoura

Vilamoura, Algarve · Designed by Ernie Els (2025 redesign of Arnold Palmer's 2004 Victoria) · Est. 2004

Once the Dom Pedro Victoria — the Algarve's tournament course and host of the Portugal Masters on the DP World Tour from 2007 to 2022 — this Arnold Palmer layout was completely rebuilt by Ernie Els and reopened in July 2025 as The Els Club Vilamoura, the first Els Club in Europe and the Algarve's first private members' course.

Els and his design team stretched it to 6,707 metres (Course Rating 75.5, Slope 137) and reversed the entire back nine, turning Palmer's wide, water-laced championship stage into a tougher, more strategic modern test of five par 5s, five par 3s and eight par 4s. The lakes and grandstand finish that decided so many Portugal Masters remain, and the practice facilities — a vast range and a 2,500 m² putting green — are still among the best in Europe.

It is now a private club: visitors cannot simply book a green fee, but can play it through stay-and-play packages at the adjoining Victoria Golf Resort & Spa. The PGA Tour Champions has chosen it to host the inaugural Portugal Invitational in July 2026.

Holes worth knowing

118th (par-5) — the grandstand finish that decided so many Portugal Masters, a reachable par 5 to a green ringed by water.
2The reversed back nine — Els routed the closing holes the opposite way to Palmer's original, creating a fundamentally tougher, more strategic test.

Highlights

Rebuilt by Ernie Els; reopened July 2025
Formerly the Dom Pedro Victoria — Portugal Masters host 2007–2022
The first Els Club in Europe; the Algarve's first private course
Hosts the PGA Tour Champions Portugal Invitational from 2026

Good to know

→This was the Dom Pedro Victoria until it closed for a full Ernie Els rebuild, reopening in July 2025 as the first Els Club in Europe.
→It is now a private members' club — the way to play as a visitor is a stay-and-play package at the adjoining Victoria Golf Resort & Spa.
→Els stretched it to 6,707m (CR 75.5, Slope 137) and reversed the back nine, so it plays tougher and more strategically than the old Palmer layout.
→The practice facilities are exceptional — a vast driving range and a 2,500 m² putting green — so arrive early to warm up properly.
→It sits in the heart of Vilamoura, with the marina, casino and Falésia beach minutes away, and Faro airport just 20 minutes.