50 Years of Palmares Golf Resort in Portugal
Palmares Golf Resort marks 50 years of operation in Portugal’s Algarve region. The resort opened in 1975 with an 18-hole course and has expanded into a 200-hectare luxury destination featuring a 27-hole golf course, five-star boutique hotel, and Michelin-starred restaurant.
The anniversary comes as the resort prepares for significant new developments, including a portfolio of villas and apartments launching in spring 2026 and Portugal’s first JW Marriott hotel opening in 2028.
Five Decades of Development in Portuguese Golf
The resort has undergone continuous transformation since its launch.
In 2011, American architect Robert Trent Jones Jnr redesigned the layout into three nine-hole courses: the Alvor, Lagos, and Praia. The courses span the property with views across Meia Praia and the Alvor estuary.
Development accelerated in 2017 with the opening of the Beach House Hotel, a five-star boutique property overlooking the ocean and fairways. The resort added 37 Signature Apartments to its accommodation options, providing residential-style stays for longer visits.
Palmares introduced Signature Rooms this year, expanding the Beach House Hotel’s capacity. These rooms include breakfast service and access to premium resort facilities.
Award-Winning Clubhouse and Michelin-Starred Dining
The resort’s clubhouse, designed by RCR Arquitectes, received recognition as Best Clubhouse in Europe at the 2024 World Golf Awards. The Pritzker Prize-winning architectural firm completed the building in 2020.
Within the clubhouse, AL SUD restaurant earned its first Michelin Star in 2021. The restaurant focuses on seasonal ingredients and regional Algarve flavours.
Nuno Sepúlveda, co-CEO of Details, the company managing Palmares Golf Resort, said:
A resort as special as Palmares, with this golf legacy and the unique signature of Robert Trent Jones Jnr, is a true privilege for us to manage.
He added: “Celebrating 50 years of Palmares Golf is a source of great pride, and we are excited to continue elevating the resort experience, creating many more years of memorable moments.”
Future Expansion Plans Through 2028
Phase three of the Signature Apartments will launch in spring 2026 alongside a collection of modern villas.
The properties will be offered as turn-key solutions for buyers seeking golf course accommodation in the Algarve.
The JW Marriott hotel will open in 2028, marking the brand’s first property in Portugal. The hotel sits 45 minutes from Faro airport and will add international hospitality standards to the resort’s existing offerings.
Sepúlveda stated: “Fifty years after opening, Palmares continues to raise the bar for golf, hospitality, and tourism in the Algarve, and the opening of the new portfolio of villas and apartments will signal the start of a new era in the history of this amazing resort.”
Details Manages Algarve Golf Portfolio
Details – Hospitality, Sports, Leisure manages the resort’s golf course, accommodation, and dining operations. The company, owned by Arrow Global, oversees 23 hotels, 12 golf courses, an equestrian centre, and multiple restaurants across Portugal.
The 27-hole layout at Palmares Golf Resort remains central to the property’s appeal.
The three nine-hole courses can be played in various combinations, offering different challenges and routing options for members and visitors throughout the year.
