Alto Golf Course

Alto was the last course Sir Henry Cotton ever designed, and it shows a different side of him than the wide, forgiving layouts he's known for elsewhere. Opened in 1991 across two valleys near Alvor, this is a tight, technical test built for golfers who can shape the ball both ways, not muscle their way around.

Small, elevated greens and well-placed bunkers punish anything loose, and the fairways rarely give a second chance on a mis-hit. The front nine opens with sea views toward the bay of Lagos before the course tucks into rolling terrain on the back nine, building toward its most famous moment: the par-5 16th, known as Sir Henry's Challenge, reputed to be one of the longest par 5s in Europe at well over 500 metres. It's a genuine three-shot hole for most golfers, and a fitting climax to a round built on precision rather than power. This isn't a course that overwhelms with scale, it wins you over with craft, and regulars keep coming back specifically because it demands more thought than most Algarve rounds.

Facilities include a driving range, a resident academy, and a clubhouse restaurant with views back over both valleys. Alto sits close to Alvor and Portimão, making it an easy, low-key addition to a wider Algarve trip for golfers who want a proper technical test without the crowds of the bigger resort courses.