A Girls Golfing Trip to the Algarve

Guest Post by Isabella Rose

Whoever said that girls and golf don’t go together was undeniably mistaken. After experiencing a serious case of mid-November blues due to the cold wintery weather, three friends and I decided to book a holiday to the Algarve to lift our spirits. However, rather than our typical holiday breaks involving sunbathing, swimming and very little else, we decided to try something we had never done before – a girls golfing trip.

Full of excitement and the promise of new adventure, we packed our sparkling new golf clubs and headed out to Gatwick airport. After the drive along the stunning Algarve coastline to reach our modest hotel in Vilamoura, we were itching with anticipation to start our golfing adventure. So, fully settled into our hotel and with a little local advice (from our concierge), we made our way to the nearby Vila Sol Golf Course.

On arriving at the golf course, our senses were immediately engulfed by the lush topiary and endless undulating greens. Breathing in the crisp Mediterranean air and soaking up the warm Algarve weather, we succumbed to the sensation of holiday bliss and expected to breeze through the course….

…What a bewildering surprise to find the course a real challenge! Despite never claiming to be golfing professionals, we believed we would be able to meander our way around the course, leisurely enjoying the delights ofAlgarve golf. Oh how the mighty fall! Our front nine holes were unsuccessful to say the least: Amelia lost three balls, Sasha spent more time in the sand than on her usual beach holidays and I, the biggest novice of the group, hit a ball so hard that it rocketed towards an unsuspecting tree and ended up 200 meters behind me! Whilst highly entertaining, this was not the start to our golfing adventure that we had envisioned.

Foregoing the idea that we could go- it- alone, we decided to splash-out on some much needed golf lessons. We spent twenty-five minutes on the putting green running through some basic techniques and the remainder of the hour practising our swings with a local expert who patiently taught us some essential beginner’s basics. Well worth the fifty euros spent, our second round at Vale do Lobo went off without a hitch and continued on with smooth swings and beautifully controlled shots, at least through hole 1 anyway. Ok, so there were no birdies and eagles in our two days but where amateurs are involved, baby-steps are necessary!!

Whilst at first glance it may seem that girls and golf do not go together, beautifully showcased by our early swing-happy attitude; it is well worth taking the time to refine this art as you may find, like we did, it makes for a truly unforgettable holiday experience.

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.