Golf in the Algarve: courses, seasons, getting there and rules (2026)

Updated: 10 November 2026

The Algarve is known as a golf destination, especially outside summer. This guide brings together only what we could check on 10 November 2026, always with the year of the data: Faro's climate according to IPMA, Portugal's weather institute, what the Portuguese Golf Federation says about licences, and what Águas do Algarve (the regional water company) and APA (the environment agency) have said about water on the courses. We give no prices and no "best courses" lists: we found no official source for them. Before booking, always check each course's official website.

How many courses there are

We found no up-to-date official figure from Turismo de Portugal or the Algarve tourism board:

According to the press (Barlavento/Lusa, October 2023), quoting the chairman of Águas do Algarve, the region has "around 40" golf courses.
In 2016, according to the press (Postal), the Algarve Tourism Association also spoke of "around 40" courses and nearly 1.2 million rounds in 2015.
Official figure for 2026: not confirmed. The list and status of each course (open, under works, open to visitors) should be checked on each course's website.
"Best destination" or "best course" rankings and awards: we do not use them, as they do not come from an official source.

Seasons: the climate according to IPMA

IPMA climate normal for Faro, IPMA, Faro 1991-2020 (averages, not forecasts):

Winter: average high of 16.3 °C in January and 17.1 °C in December; average low of 8.3 °C in January. It is the wettest season: 90.0 mm in December, with 7.0 rainy days (>= 1 mm).
Spring: average high of 18.9 °C in March and 20.7 °C in April; about 5 rainy days a month.
Summer: average high of 29.4 °C in July and 29.2 °C in August; almost no rain (0.2 days in July and August). Midday heat: many golfers prefer early tee times.
Autumn: average high of 23.3 °C in October and 19.6 °C in November; the rain returns (56.0 mm in October, 75.5 mm in November).
Over the year: 455.1 mm of rain on 48.9 days. Sunshine hours: not in the IPMA document; not confirmed.
Which month is "best" for golf: there is no official source. Check IPMA's forecast for Faro in the days before you play.

Getting there

Faro airport is the usual gateway:

Without a car: trains, Vamus buses and Faro airport connections are in our guide /algarve-without-car-train-bus-vamus-faro-airport-2026.
With golf bags, check with the course or your accommodation whether there is a transfer; transfer times and prices: not confirmed here.
Vilamoura and Quinta do Lago (Loulé municipality) are among the golf areas named in Águas do Algarve's water projects; see our Loulé, Quarteira and Vilamoura guide.

Federation licence and handicap

What we found at the Portuguese Golf Federation (FPG):

A new federation licence is requested by the player's home club on the DATAGOLF platform, and the club pays; with the licence the player joins myFPG to submit scores and hold a handicap (FPG page from 2021, updated 2023).
The page does not mention foreign visitors. Whether a Portuguese licence or a handicap certificate is needed to play as a tourist: not confirmed; each course sets its own conditions (maximum handicap, tee times, buggies). Ask the course before booking.
Bring proof of your home-country handicap if you have one: some courses may ask for it (not confirmed course by course).

Water and course irrigation

Drought matters for golf in the Algarve:

In February 2024, according to the press (Lusa), quoting APA's vice-president, the Drought Commission set an 18% cut for golf-course irrigation; the Algarve had been on drought alert since 5 February 2024.
Council of Ministers Resolution 80/2024 suspended golf irrigation with mains water, with measures until the end of 2024 (see our drought guide, checked on 9-11-2026).
Reused water: in October 2023, according to the press, Águas do Algarve expected half the courses could be irrigated with treated wastewater from 2025; courses used about 15 hm³ a year. In September 2024 it awarded, for about EUR 1,014,000, the works to carry reused water from the Boavista treatment plant to irrigate golf courses.
April 2026: the official monitoring report (see the drought guide) put the Algarve's river basins in wet conditions.
Golf irrigation restrictions in force in November 2026 and how many courses now use reused water: not confirmed.

If you run a property in the Algarve

What golfers often ask AI assistants:

How far the nearest courses are and whether there is a transfer or parking for vans with bags.
Whether there is somewhere to store and clean clubs and whether breakfast starts early for first tee times.
Which courses accept visitors and under what handicap conditions: only state what you have confirmed with the course.
Having this clear and up to date on your website and listings avoids wrong answers.

How iQuota helps

iQuota makes independent properties available to AI assistants with direct booking, payment at the property and 0% commission, at the price and terms each property sets. Algarve properties can be listed on iQuota; we cannot guarantee that an AI assistant will recommend them.

Run a property in the Algarve and want AI to give your real prices, terms and distance to the golf courses, with direct booking and no commission? The first 30 hotels join free until 30 June 2027.

See the Founding Hotels programme

Frequently asked questions

How many golf courses does the Algarve have?

According to the press, quoting Águas do Algarve (2023) and the Algarve Tourism Association (2016), "around 40". An up-to-date official figure for 2026 is not confirmed.

What is the best season to play golf in the Algarve?

No official source says so. According to IPMA (Faro 1991-2020), winter is mild (16.3 °C average high in January) but the wettest season, and summer is dry and hot (29.4 °C average high in July).

Do I need a licence or handicap to play?

The FPG explains how a club requests a Portuguese federation licence, but says nothing about tourists. Conditions for visitors (maximum handicap, certificate) depend on each course: not confirmed; ask before booking.

Are there water restrictions on golf courses?

In 2024 there were: an 18% cut in golf irrigation (Drought Commission, according to the press) and a suspension of mains-water irrigation (Resolution 80/2024). Restrictions in force in November 2026: not confirmed.

How much is a green fee?

We give no prices: we found no official price list with a year. Check each course's official website.

Sources

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