Golf Guide: Sheraton Pine Cliffs Resort

As good fortune would have it, many beautiful spa locations also happen to stand alongside some pretty impressive golf courses, adding another dimension to a getaway or short break.  Here, Your Golf Travel (who know about these things) explain everything you need to know about Sheraton Pine Cliffs Resort  … 

Getting there … The Sheraton Pine Cliffs Resort is located in the city of Albufeira in Portugal’s southern Algarve region. The hotel is a 35 minute drive from Faro International Airport, so you can either book a hire car in advance or simply catch a taxi. Faro is roughly a three-hour flight from most parts of the United Kingdom and is serviced by most of the low cost airlines.

When to Go … With mild winter temperatures and just 50 days of rain each year, the Algarve is truly a year round destination. While northern areas of the country are bunkering down amidst snow and negative temperatures, in the Algarve, sun beds await. The summer season attracts your typical flock of tourists, so golfers are advised to take advantage of the gorgeous winter and spring months (not to mention the ‘out of season’ prices). If taking the family, the ocean is still particularly warm from August through until early November - perfect for an autumn jaunt across the Channel.

What to do … There’s the legendary nine-hole Pine Cliffs golf course on site, not to mention five tennis courts, a full service Water Sports Centre, and the luxurious Estética Spa. The unspoiled Falésia Beach is the only one in the Algarve to be awarded the EU’s Golden Flag, and is the ideal place to enjoy the region’s reliable sunshine. If you’re a seafood lover, the hotel’s O Pescador restaurant is an absolute must!

Who to take … Why not take the family? As one of Portugal’s leading family resorts, the Sheraton Algarve caters for kids of all ages, with a whopping 7000 square metre kids club called Porto Pirata Children’s Village. They offer everything from a bouncing castle, to a mini racetrack for scooters and bikes, a kids swimming pool and an 18-hole mini-golf course. Plus it’s all supervised by an experienced and well-qualified staff, so mum and dad can enjoy some R&R on their holiday too! There are also junior golf clinics, family tennis lessons and a range of water sport activities during the summer season.

Favourite feature … Many golfers will turn their noses up at the prospect of playing a nine-holer, but in the case of Pine Cliffs Golf Course it is certainly worth making an exception. Star attraction is the awe-inspiring 6th hole, dubbed the ‘Devil’s Parlour’ - a challenging par 3 crossing the chasm below the cliffs and offering sumptuous views over the Atlantic Ocean.

Top Tips:

• It’s worth parting with a few extra quid for one of the hotel’s Sea View rooms. The garden views are nice, but nothing quite compares with the spectacular panoramas of the cliffs and ocean.
• Be sure to have a drink at the Mirador Bar. You can stare over your cocktail out to sea while the sun sets… and perhaps enjoy one more upon nightfall just for good measure!
• Golfers, take your camera! The views from holes 8 and 9 on the Pine Cliffs course are simply breathtaking.