Golfers' Paradise:
The villa overlooks the 2nd, 3rd and 4th fairway and greens of the 'Atlantic' course at Castro Marim.
An additional 9 holes (called 'The Grouse') were opened last May to complement the existing 18 holes, making a wonderful addition to the course.
You can now choose which combination of the three nine holes to play - the existing 'Atlantic' and 'Guadiana' courses or the new 'Grouse' course, and Castro Marim offers some of the best value green fees in the whole of the Algarve.
Next door to Castro Marim is the newly opened Quinta do Vale golf course designed by Seve Ballesteros, and a further 3 courses are within a 10 minute drive from the villa. These include Quinta da Ria, Quinta da Cima and Benemor.
Further west you can find many more courses including the famous San Lorenzo and Penina Championship courses.
Plenty of interesting challenges, and hiring our private two seater golf buggy will make the golf even more enjoyable on the Castro Marim Golf course
Castro Marim Golf Course:
Castro Marim itself has one of the best golf holes in the world. That's according to a book called '1001 golf holes you must play before you die' edited by Jeff Barr. The particular hole that 'must be played' is the 4th on the Guadiana Course - a challenging par 5 hole.
The book describes the course as 'one of the most Easterly courses on the Algarve with good views towards nearby Spain'.
We have our own electric 2 seater buggy, which can be hired at very reasonable cost, priced according to your stay, with a minimum of £20.00 for one day.
Beaches & Sights:
Rightly famed for its stupendous beaches and year-round sunshine, the Algarve boasts a diverse range of attractions from whitewashed former fishing villages to ancient walled towns, and from wild mountain scenery to atmospheric wetlands. There is plenty ot see and do, though as the region is relatively small, you can see many of the sights in just a few days.
The Eastern Algarve has enormous stretches of sand, and only 5 minutes drive away is one of the finest beaches in Europe, with golden sands stretching as fas as the eye can see.
Historic Algarve can be discovered in the many museums, churches and castles, and the younger ones will enjoy a visit to the zoo, theme parks and water worlds.
The nearby covered markets offer the best value local produce, and there are many restaurants to sample the local fare.
Golf:
As most golfers know the Algarve is famous for quality golf. There are innumerable courses within easy distance to suit every mood and these include some of the top championship courses in Europe. Listed below are a few to give you a flavour.
Eastern Algarve Golf Courses
Castro Marim - The recently built course is part of a truly exceptional tourist development, designed to provide unforgettable moments of leisure. It has a very special setting in the peaceful atmosphere of the eastern Algarve.
Benamor - This course. designed by Sir Henry Cotton, is the first golf course to open east of the capital of the Algarve, Faro, and lies just outside of Tavira. The course is an undulating one, although not excessively so, offering views over the mountains to one side and the sea to the other.
Colina Verde - The Colina Verde is a small inland 9-hole course situated in Maragota, between the coast and the Algarvian mountain range.
Quinta da Ria - This spectacular 18 hole golf course is in the Ria Formosa Natural Park and spreads along an almost flat surface of 660.000 m2 down to the Ria Formosa itself, hanging over it and with a stunning view of the sea.
Quinta da Cima - A Championship style course of great character. Running through the stunning layout is a series of lakes connected by a stream, which the architect has skillfully incorporated as an added challenge.
You will find a further 17 courses in Central & Western Algarve, and 6 just over the Spanish border.
