Stay and play at the Algarve’s finest through the Dom Pedro Experience

Mark McGowan
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Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course

Mark McGowan

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Vilamoura has long been one of continental Europe’s most treasured golfing destinations, and with 2023 coming fast on the horizon, the bustling Algarve town is preparing for another busy year, and the Dom Pedro Hotels & Golf collection is sure to remain a firm favourite for golfers seeking top-quality golf and luxurious accommodation.

Through the Dom Pedro Experience, the resort offers world-class golf at five stunning courses within a 3km radius, and the choice of a trinity of opulent Dom Pedro hotels, all easily accessed from Faro Airport, just a short drive away.

The Dom Pedro Victoria course is seen as the jewel in the crown, a par-72 Championship layout that has hosted the DP World Tour’s Portugal Masters tournament on an annual basis since 2007, with Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington among those who’ve got their hands on the coveted trophy.

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Designed by Arnold Palmer and first opened in 2004, The Victoria is very much a modern-style course, expansive, built for large galleries and with water in play for almost the entirety of the back-nine.

The Old Course, by contrast, is a more intimate setting. As its name suggests, the Old Course was the collection’s first, and the second built course in the entire Algarve region.

Beautifully crafted, the Old Course’s fairways are flanked by stunning, large-canopied pine trees, with the natural undulating terrain making every hole kodak-moment-worthy. The downhill opening tee shot is arguably the most visually appealing in the region, and one of the best round starters to be found anywhere in golf.

Along with their magnificent framing, the high-density of the trees asks strategic questions, but also provides something of a safety net, funnelling wayward drives to the pine-straw below delivering sufficient punitive measures but stopping short of rendering balls unfindable.

While The Victoria and Old Course are comparable quality wise, they are at different ends of the spectrum from a design perspective. The Millennium, The Pinhal and The Laguna Courses complete the line-up at Dom Pedro and fit nicely in between the Old Course and The Victoria.

The Laguna, as its name suggests, has water aplenty, and is similar to The Victoria in many ways, whereas The Pinhal is closer aligned to The Old Course, with The Millennium occupying the middle ground.

Away from the fairways, the coastal destination is a hive of activity, with plenty to see and do between rounds. The popular Marina de Vilamoura is the largest in Portugal and bisects two golden beaches overlooking the vast Atlantic Ocean. Nearby stands the Casino Vilamoura, a vibrant hub combining games, theatre, cuisine and comedy. A diverse range of bars and restaurants await throughout the area, ensuring that visitors can always find their perfect dining option.

Available until October 31, 2023, the Dom Pedro Experience presents an elegant way to experience everything on offer in Vilamoura. The per-person package includes accommodation with breakfast at a Dom Pedro hotel as well as one round of golf per day at Dom Pedro Millenium, Dom Pedro Pinhal or Dom Pedro Laguna. Green fees at the esteemed Dom Pedro Golf Victoria and Dom Pedro Old Course are available as part of a premium package, giving guests the opportunity to sample Vilamoura’s world-class golf for incredible value.

Luis Correia da Silva, CEO of Dom Pedro Golf, said: “We have three hotels in Vilamoura and five golf courses. We also have hotels in Lisbon and on the island of Madeira, but our focus is always here in Vilamoura.

“During all the different seasons, we always have great numbers of incoming tourists. We have a great offering – it’s affordable for them and they can play a different golf course every single day of the week, and we have some of the best golf courses in the Algarve.

“There is great variety on offer for all levels of player. Of course, people are always keen to play a DP World Tour venue and so the Victoria course is very popular.

“Meanwhile, the Old course has long been recognised as one of the very best courses in Europe and its mature, tree-lined fairways offer a very different test from the wetlands players face at Victoria.”

Pietro Dal Fabbro, CEO of Dom Pedro Hotels & Golf Collection, added: “We started the whole process of changing the mindset of golfers, turning golf into an event for everybody – something that people do to have fun.

“Vilamoura offers great qualities both on the course and off it, and that is why it remains one of Europe’s best destinations where visitors can rely on a first-class experience with great golf and accommodation options at Dom Pedro.”

For more information on the Dom Pedro Experience or to book, click here.

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