Penina Golf & Resort

Penina Golf and Resort holds a special place in Algarve golf history as the first major championship course to be built in Portugal, designed by the legendary Sir Henry Cotton and opened in 1966. Cotton sculpted the layout from flat agricultural land near Portimão, planting thousands of trees that now provide mature framing for a course of genuine stature. The Championship Course is long and measured, with wide fairways that nonetheless demand accurate positioning to open up the approach angles. For decades Penina hosted the Portuguese Open and the course retains the authoritative feel of a venue that has seen serious competitive golf. The resort setting, with its landmark hotel, adds a classic atmosphere that newer developments cannot easily replicate.