Salgados Golf in Albufeira
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Albufeira’s Salgados golf course is located with a natural wildlife reserve providing a challenging game of golf with a real taste of the beauty of the natural Algarve.
This 18 hole, par 72 course was designed by Pedro Vasconcelos and opened in 1994, with the course handicap being 28 for men and 36 for ladies.
The unique setting of the golf course creates a challenge for golfers of all levels with numerous water features pushing players while allowing them to enjoy the spectacular coastal scenery, with the course within walking distance of the beach.
Located close to Gale and Albufeira marina, the Salgados golf course has built a strong reputation for being one of the most scenic and testing courses of the region.
Here is a helpful hole-by-hole guide to this course written by Rob Cheney. Rob is a leading PGA Pro with extensive knowledge of golf in the Algarve and over 15 years of coaching experience.
- Short Par 4 to start requiring an accurate tee shot with water guarding the left side of this fairway. The green is open with no bunkers, so avoid the water and this should be an easy Par to begin your round.
- Dogleg right Par 5 with lots of water to keep your attention. The drive is played to a generous fairway, before you turn right and play your second shot to a smaller landing area which has water to the left and out of bounds to the right. There are 3 bunkers protecting the front of the green.
- Short Par 3 played through water hazards on both sides. There is a small bunker protecting the front right hand side of the green.
- Straightforward Par 4 with no water in play. The tee shot must avoid the out of bounds on the right side, but there is plenty of room to the left as the 5th fairway runs alongside this hole. Once again, there are no bunkers protecting this green, but the out of bounds will catch any shot hit to far to the right.
- Played back in the opposite direction to the previous hole, this Par 4 has a water hazard running along the right side. The approach shot to a large green must avoid the bunker in the front left, as well as more water which horseshoes its way around the back of the green and will catch any wayward shots.
- The longest hole on the course requires great accuracy with every shot. The tee shot must find the fairway as there is trouble left and water all the way along the right. The second shot is played to a fairway that narrows and is protected by a large lake to the right side. The final approach shot is to a large green with a lone bunker on the front right side of the green.
- Long Par 4 with water running along the left side and out of bounds on the right. Play your tee shot just to the right of the fairway bunker. Make sure your approach shot is long enough to carry the two bunkers protecting the front of the green.
- Par 3 played over a stream with a green that is protected by two front bunkers on either side. The green is wide, but shallow so club selection is important.
- Water is everywhere on this dogleg right Par 4 to finish the front nine. Two small lakes flank the right side of this hole, while a larger lake protects the left. Another green with no bunkers, but there is more water behind the green waiting to catch anything hit too strong.
- We start the back nine with a slight dogleg from right to left. There are three fairway bunkers on the corner of the dogleg and your drive should play as close to them as possible to shorten the hole and avoid the water that protects the right side of this hole. The approach to the green is open with only one bunker short left of the green.
- Short Par 4 where your drive must be played short of the water that protects the green. The approach shot must be accurate as the water protects the left side and back of this green. There is also a greenside bunker at the front.
- A short Par 3 hole played entirely across a large lake. Anything short here will find a watery grave. One more club than you think is the safer play.
- A short Par 4 with water on both sides of the fairway. An iron or hybrid from the tee will set-up a short approach shot between the water hazards. Long hitters have the option to try for the green in one, but the water is waiting to catch any shot hit slightly long or to the left.
- Long, straight Par 5 with no bunkers on the hole at all. The water is a feature along the right side of this hole, but there is lots of room to the left side as the 15th fairway runs adjacent and can be used if you play too far away from the water.
- Another Par 5 played back in the opposite direction to the previous hole. Once again, the water is a feature along the right side of the hole, but there is room to the left. No fairway bunkers to worry about, but there are three bunkers protecting the left side of the green.
- Short Par 4 which doglegs from left to right. Your tee shot must find the fairway between the water hazard on the left, and trees on the right. The front of the green is open with the only bunker sitting on the left side of the hole.
- Medium length Par 3 with no water in play. There are three large bunkers protecting the left side of the green, but room to the right should you choose to play safe.
- Dogleg right with water hugging the right hand side of the fairway. The tee shot should favour the left side. The green is large with water on the right, and bunkers on the left.
