Can anywhere rival Portugal’s Algarve when it comes to golfing beneath the bluest of blue skies? The Algarve’s glorious sunshine and stunning coastline, and the warmth of the welcome that visitors receive, have long made the area a mecca for golfers.

Some of the Algarve’s resorts have been welcoming golfers to their fairways since the 1970s and continue to do so to this day. However, recent years have seen some outstanding new resorts spring up, with pristine facilities, beautiful settings and, most importantly, world-class golf courses.

One of the finest is Amendoeira Golf Resort. Construction began in 2006, with the golf courses and other facilities spread over 270 hectares in the sun-kissed area of Silves in the Central Algarve.

The resort includes the challenging Faldo Course, designed by Sir Nick Faldo and the O’Connor Jnr Course, designed by Ireland’s Christy O’Connor Jnr. It is also home to Portugal’s only illuminated nine-hole golf course, meaning that players can take to the fairways day and night.

Amendoeira Golf Resort is set within an area of outstanding natural beauty. The idyllic setting is criss-crossed with a number of scenic jogging paths, which weave through its exceptional landscaped gardens.

A range of other high-end sports facilities are available including a natural grass football pitch for professional teams and two AstroTurf five-a-side football fields. Those who prefer racket sports can enjoy time on the resorts’ six tennis courts and there’s a well-equipped gym for all-round fitness.

Amendoeira is also home to two outdoor swimming pools – perfect for balancing fitness with relaxation and family time.

Under an hour’s drive from Faro Airport, Amendoeira is popular with golfers from across Europe, while transatlantic players have a 2.5-hour drive from Lisbon through wonderfully scenic Alentejo, with its rolling grasslands and gnarled cork trees.

The Algarve, of course, is known for its glorious beaches and picturesque, crumbling cliffs, as well as its abundant flora and fauna. The region was recently named the ‘World’s Leading Beach Destination 2020’ in the World Travel Awards.

Sitting in the midst of so much natural beauty, Amendoeira Golf Resort has been designed to deliver a sense of harmony with the Algarve landscape. The low-density construction celebrates local architectural styles, with homes designed to suit a range of preferences and needs.

Two-bedroom apartments are ideal for couples and young families looking for a second home from which to enjoy Amendoeira and the wider Algarve region, as well as suiting investors looking to pick up a rental property. Two plus one bedroom duplex apartments are also available, with many families enjoying the convenience that this arrangement provides.

Amendoeira is also home to family-focused, three-bedroom villas with their own pools, as well as a select number of superior, four-bedroom villas with pools. All properties are provided fully furnished and equipped, making them ideal both for personal holiday use and as an investment. Year-round residents are also welcome and all owners enjoy a 40 per cent discount on the resort’s golf facilities.

Each property delivers exceptional interior design and amenities, with owners’ every comfort having been considered. The homes have neutral colour palettes and AEG appliances, including dishwashers, washing machines and fridge freezers. There are also Daikin air conditioning units, underfloor heating and central vacuum.

To make life even easier for homeowners at Amendoeira Golf Resort, maid and laundry services are available, along with 24-hour security and a 16-hour reception service. From its services to its amenities, the emphasis at Amendoeira is on providing a relaxed lifestyle and promoting wellbeing, something that so many of us are in need of after the trials of the past year or more.

Visitors to the Algarve can also benefit from its gastronomy. The land is awash with olive, almond and fig trees, as well as rows of citrus fruit that stretch as far as the eye can see (visit in the spring to be seduced by the pervasive scent of orange blossom that blends with the sea breeze!).

Sweet, sticky local honey that’s naturally lavender-flavoured is a must, as are the super-sweet cakes and intensely strong bicas (espressos) that are ubiquitous to the region’s many, many pastelarias.

The Algarve is, of course, also home to a wealth of fish and shellfish, thanks to its coastal location. These local flavours are celebrated at Amendoeira’s on-site restaurant and clubhouse.

Spanish developer Kronos Homes, which owns and operates the resort, has recently overseen an extensive revamp of these facilities, as well as the reception area and the sports bar, where golfers can enjoy well-earned refreshments after spending time on the fairways in the Algarve sunshine.

With over 300 days of sunshine per year, the Algarve is an excellent destination for those who like to play golf in all seasons. The winters are mild, with average temperatures dropping only as low as 12°C in the peak of the cold season.

“The Algarve is somewhere that you can’t just visit once,” said Kronos Homes’ sales and marketing director, Alda Filipe.

“It is a region that fosters a sense of deep connection, from the abundant greenery that delivers peace and relaxation to the soothing sound of the ocean. At the same time, it has all the modern conveniences that families could wish for, from shopping malls to upscale boutiques.

“There’s something for everyone here – coastal areas for beach bunnies and water sports enthusiasts, marinas for yachting folk and endless attractions for families looking for a calmer, quieter pace of life with more emphasis on spending time outdoors.”