Know before you go: self-drive golf in Portugal

Portugal is the easy one — and after a links pilgrimage to Ireland or Scotland it can feel like a reward. The golf is superb resort golf, mostly on the Algarve, and it is well organised, buggy-friendly and welcoming to visitors, with English spoken everywhere. The two things that catch people out are the opposite of Britain and Ireland: here you drive on the right, and the motorway tolls are electronic. Sort those and the rest is sunshine.

Portugal drives on the right, like the United States and mainland Europe — a relief for most visitors, and a short adjustment for anyone coming from Britain or Ireland. Automatics are widely available, so hiring one is rarely the battle it is in the UK. Take the first roundabout or two slowly and you will be fine.

The genuine gotcha is tolls. Many Portuguese motorways use electronic tolling, and some (including stretches of the Algarve's A22) have no toll booths at all — cameras read your number plate and bill you. Make sure your hire car has a working toll transponder (an electronic device such as Via Verde) and understand how the rental company charges the tolls back to you, or you can pick up fines weeks later. Ask about it explicitly at the desk; do not assume.

The Algarve is compact and the roads are good: the A22 runs the length of the coast, and no two courses in the Vilamoura–Quinta do Lago–Vale do Lobo triangle are far apart. Faro airport is central and the obvious hub. Drive times are short and predictable — this is not the all-day coastal touring of the Wild Atlantic Way, but a cluster of great courses within easy reach of one base.

Unlike the walking links of the north, Portuguese resort golf is buggy golf: carts are normal, often included in or bundled with the green fee, and the courses are routed with them in mind (some are hilly and hot enough that you will be glad of one). Caddies are rare; a buggy and a GPS are the norm.

Dress is smart-casual and a touch more relaxed than the British clubs, but still a collared shirt and proper golf shoes — no gym wear. Many resort courses request proof of handicap (often a maximum of 28 for men, 36 for women), so carry a handicap certificate to be safe, especially for the signature courses like San Lorenzo and Monte Rei.

Portugal's weather is the mirror image of the north: the challenge is sun, not rain. High summer (July and August) is hot — often too hot for comfortable midday golf — so book early-morning or late-afternoon tee times, carry water, and do not underestimate the sun. Pack sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses rather than heavy waterproofs (though a light rain layer is worth having in winter).

The best golfing weather is spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November): warm, dry and comfortable. Winter is mild and is in fact peak golf season here — plenty of northern Europeans escape to the Algarve for December-to-February sunshine golf.

Because winter is peak season, the calendar is the reverse of Britain and Ireland: the busiest, priciest, hardest-to-book months run roughly October to March, while summer is quieter and cheaper (if hotter). Book the signature courses a couple of months ahead for the winter peak; shoulder months are more relaxed.

Portugal uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted everywhere, and English is widely spoken. Tipping is modest — round up or leave a little for good service. Mobile coverage is excellent across the Algarve.

With the practicalities handled, plan the golf. Use the Portugal trip planner, check when to go, and follow the 7-day itinerary. Then browse the best courses in Portugal and the Algarve golf guide.