Pestana Vila Sol

Three nines under the umbrella pines.

Vila Sol sits on the inland side of Vilamoura, in the pine woods at Morgadinhos, and has been one of the Algarve’s steadier choices since it opened in 1991. Donald Steel laid out 27 holes in three loops, so you can play a different 18 on consecutive days without leaving the estate. The course staged the Portuguese Open twice, in 1992 and 1993, and it is now run by the Pestana Group. Published green fees, a clear twilight rate and a five-star hotel on site make it easy to plan around.

Pestana Vila Sol green fees and tee times.

Book online through Pestana Golf’s booking site, by email to info@pestanagolf.com, or by phone to the Vila Sol clubhouse on +351 289 320 370. Pestana publishes one seasonal rate card for its Algarve courses, with Vila Sol priced by month. Buggies are not included: a buggy for 18 holes costs €55, an electric trolley €30 and a pull trolley €10. TaylorMade rental sets cost €45, and a token for 50 range balls costs €7. Twilight starts at 15:30 for €60, with a twilight buggy at €40. A Summer Special for two players sharing one buggy is advertised from €44 per person, with its own prices for Vila Sol in late May, June to August and September. Pestana’s price list does not state a handicap limit and other sources quote different figures, so carry your certificate and confirm the limit when you book.

The courses at Pestana Vila Sol.

Prime (holes 1–9)

The opening nine and the one rated hardest of the three. Pines frame the holes, so a straight tee shot counts for more than length. It forms half of the championship 1–18 combination at 6,393 metres, the longest of the three routes, and pairs with Prestige for the 19–9 loop.

Challenge (holes 10–18)

The nine with the most movement on the greens. It includes the downhill par-3 13th and the par-5 14th, where water protects the approach. Challenge appears in both the 1–18 and 10–27 combinations, so most visitors play it at least once on a short trip.

Prestige (holes 19–27)

The shortest and narrowest loop, where accuracy matters more than power. Combined with Challenge it makes the 10–27 route at 6,274 metres, the shortest full 18, which suits a twilight round or a gentler first day after arriving.

The round, in perspective.

Steel’s three nines are called Prime, Challenge and Prestige. Prime opens the round and Golfbreaks rates it the most difficult of the three. Challenge, holes 10 to 18, is known for hilly greens; its downhill par-3 13th and the par-5 14th, guarded by water, are the holes most often singled out. Prestige, holes 19 to 27, is shorter and narrower, so accuracy decides most holes. Every combination is par 72: holes 1 to 18 measure 6,393 metres, 10 to 27 measure 6,274 and 19 to 9 measure 6,363. Ronan Rafferty won the 1992 Portuguese Open here, and David Gilford took the title a year later.

Know before you go.

Buggies

Not included; €55 for 18 holes

Twilight

From 15:30, €60

Spikes

Soft spikes only

Handicap

Certificate required; confirm limit when booking

Rental clubs

TaylorMade sets, €45

Make the trip work.

The pricing calendar rewards careful dates. On the current list, March, April and October are the dearest months at €200, while December, January and the summer months drop to €130, a saving of €70 a round. November and February sit in between. Because the 27 holes run as three combinations, a three-day stay can cover every loop once without repeating the same 18. Check which combination your tee time is on when you book. The twilight rate from 15:30 works well on arrival day if you land at Faro around lunchtime.

Vila Sol is about 22 km west of Faro airport. Take the A22 motorway to exit 12, then follow the N396 towards Quarteira and turn off for the resort at Morgadinhos. Vilamoura marina and Quarteira’s beachfront are around ten minutes away by car. Lisbon is roughly two and a half hours north by motorway.

Where it is.

Nearby: 1. The Old Course, Vilamoura (2 km) · 2. Vale do Lobo (5 km) · 3. Quinta do Lago (8 km) · 4. Pinheiros Altos (9 km) · 5. Ombria Golf Course (13 km) · 6. Salgados Golf Club (21 km) · Compare all The Algarve tee times

Somewhere to settle in.

The Pestana Vila Sol is a five-star hotel on the estate, with rooms in the main building and around the resort, and it is the base Pestana uses for its golf packages. Apartments and villas within the wider Vila Sol development are let privately and sit close to the fairways. Vilamoura offers the widest choice nearby, from marina hotels to large resort complexes, and Quarteira has simpler seafront apartments a short drive south.

Make a trip of it.

The Old Course at Vilamoura is a few minutes away and pairs naturally with Vila Sol, and the Vilamoura group’s Pinhal, Laguna and Millennium courses are close by. Ombria, in the hills north of Loulé, gives a contrasting inland round. Pestana also operates Gramacho, Vale da Pinta, Silves Golf and Alto Golf further west, all on the same price list. Away from golf, Vilamoura marina has the restaurants and boat trips, and the Roman ruins at Cerro da Vila sit beside it.

Find your season.

Vila Sol is open all year. Pestana’s calendar marks March, April and October as peak golf months and prices December, January and June to August lowest. In July and August an early tee time or the 15:30 twilight slot avoids the hottest part of the day.