Location: Quinta do Lago, Algarve, Portugal | Ranking: #63 — The Global Golfer Top 100
Type: Parkland/Links Hybrid | Designer: William Mitchell (1974), renovated Beau Waddell (2014)
Editor’s Note: Quinta do Lago South Course is the Algarve’s finest test — and Portugal’s most celebrated championship venue. The iconic par-3 15th, requiring a full tee shot entirely over a lake on the Ria Formosa nature reserve, is the most photographed hole in Portuguese golf. Three-time host of the Portuguese Open, South Course combines William Mitchell’s classic Algarve routing with Beau Waddell’s 2014 renovation that added significant challenge without sacrificing beauty.
Contact & Booking
- Website: quintadolago.com | Green Fees: From €245 | Rating / Slope: 73.8 / 135 | Airport: Faro (FAO) — 20 mins.
Championship Scorecard
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | OUT |
| Par | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 36 |
| Yards | 533 | 178 | 405 | 521 | 385 | 430 | 185 | 415 | 440 | 3,492 |
| Hole | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | IN | TOTAL |
| Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Yards | 420 | 430 | 195 | 545 | 400 | 228 | 415 | 545 | 430 | 3,608 | 6,962 |
Par 4Par 3Par 5
Key Notes & 19th Hole
- Hole 15 — Par 3, 228 Yards: The signature hole — the tee shot must carry the entire Ria Formosa lagoon. Flamingos, egrets and spoonbills feed in the shallows below. The carry varies from 185 to 215 yards depending on tee choice.
- The Ria Formosa: A UNESCO natural park flanking the course — the birdlife and lagoon ecology are spectacular. Early morning rounds in March and April offer the best natural light and birding conditions.
- Quinta do Lago Hotel (5★): The Algarve’s most prestigious address — direct access to the South Course. Book via Expedia →