Going for Golf

Four Seasons Fairways

Some things never cease to amaze me. Not many, mind, but a few, and among these is the happy thought that I can take a plane to Faro on the Portuguese Algarve and not much more than an hour after landing be standing on a tee. Even on the grimmest British winter’s day this is guaranteed to bring a smile.

The Algarve has been a favourite British holiday destination for almost four decades now and in the 30-plus years I have been visiting this sunny region it has grown but managed to cleverly retain much of the original charm I first encountered back in 1976 when we rented a villa. This was obvious yet again when I flew last autumn for a short break at the Four Seasons Fairways complex on the ever-growing Quinta do Lago estate.

Some estate. Hundreds of villas and apartments, some grand enough to satisfy even the Rooneys of this bewildered world, have been built in recent years, but such is the spread of this place – 2,000 acres and counting – that rarely do visitors feel hemmed in by concrete. This feeling of freedom is helped by the close presence of the Atlantic Ocean, some stellar beaches and the impressive Ria Formosa National Park into which Quinta tangles. The salt marshes alone are worth the trip for those of you into big, beautiful spaces and bird-life. Meanwhile, the rest of us can play golf...

Much of the Algarve region has been built on the back of golfers keen to flee northern Europe in the dark days. Golf courses are what encourage big spending as well as all those villas. Stay at somewhere like Four Seasons Fairways and there are five courses on your doorstep – Pinheiro Altos, Quinta North, Quinta South, San Lorenzo and, the latest, Laranjal – and a gaggle of others within, at most, an hour’s drive.

On this trip I played two: my old favourite Quinta North and the newcomer, Laranjal or ‘Orange Grove’ and so-named because, well, work it out for yourself. Once again the trip from Faro Airport to resort was made in less than half an hour and once again I marvelled at it.

I stayed in a two-bedroom semi-detached villa that was perfectly adequate, decently furnished and, most important, spotlessly clean. Even these smaller villas come with their own pools. The facilities are good, the full-on English breakfast is cholesterol-busting if you choose to meander to the clubhouse and the staff are, as ever, charming, helpful and attentive.

From here it is a short, 15-minute drive to Laranjal. This is the newest of the Quinta courses and already has a host of fans including some golf-writing colleagues who recently voted it into the top six on the Algarve. Personally, I do not feel it is yet ready for this accolade, but the potential is there and the fact that no villas may be built in the grounds is a definite plus.

A gale-force wind made Laranjal one tough orange grove. It is a good layout with the five par-threes offering a collection of gems although the seventh, at well over 200 yards, is a par-three only in name unless you are very, very good or very, very lucky. I’ll be interested to see how this course matures and suspect it will do so brilliantly.

Next day it was another encounter with an old friend: Quinta North. I have always loved this course and once again I was not disappointed. Pace of play was good, the scenery was terrific and even my own golf improved on greens that were picture perfect. The chicken piri-piri back at Four Seasons Fairways that evening was pretty good too.

Properties at Fairways may be rented or purchased depending on your mood and the size of your wallet. Green fees average out at around the €75 mark but there are so many deals available it is hard to be specific.

Unless the exchange rate improves dramatically it won’t prove cheap, but it will be, mostly, quality as well as, mostly, reasonable value for money.