The Resident: Portugal crowned world’s best golf destination

Thu 12 November 2026

Portugal has been crowned World’s Best Golf Destination 2026, heading an impressive haul of 17 distinctions for Portuguese destinations, courses, resorts and golf businesses at this year’s World Golf Awards.

The country took the top global destination prize at the 13^th edition of the awards, held at Madinaty Golf Club in Cairo, Egypt – the first time the ceremony has been staged in Africa.

But Portugal’s success went well beyond the headline award, with seven distinctions at world level alone.

The Silver Coast – a stretch of coastal region along central western Portugal, running roughly from just north of Lisbon up toward the southern borders of Porto – was named World’s Best Emerging Golf Destination, while Algarve resort Quinta do Lago won World’s Best Golf Academy Venue.

Terras da Comporta picked up the title of World’s Best Eco-Friendly Golf Facility, while Madeira secured two global honours: Club de Golfe Santo da Serra won World’s Best Par 3 Hole and Palheiro Golf was named World’s Best Panoramic Clubhouse.

Completing Portugal’s world-level haul, DETAILS received the award for World’s Best Contribution to Golf Tourism Hospitality.

Together with Portugal’s overall destination title, that brought the country’s tally to seven awards at the highest international level.

Algarve shines in European awards

Portugal added another six European distinctions, with the Algarve particularly prominent.

The Old Course Vilamoura was voted Europe’s Best Golf Course, while Quinta do Lago followed its world academy award by also being named Europe’s Best Golf Venue.

Palmares Ocean Living & Golf, near Lagos, won Europe’s Best Golf Clubhouse, while Vilamoura Golf collected the title of Europe’s Best Golf Real Estate Venue.

Elsewhere in Portugal, PGA Aroeira was named Europe’s Best Eco-Friendly Golf Facility, while Portuguese operator Tee Times was voted Europe’s Best Golf Tour Operator.

Four more national winners

A further four awards were presented in the Portugal categories.

Monte Rei, near Vila Nova de Cacela in the eastern Algarve, was named Portugal’s Best Golf Course 2026.

Praia D’El Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort, on the Silver Coast, was voted Portugal’s Best Golf Hotel, while InGolf won Portugal’s Best Inbound Golf Tour Operator.

Tee Times added a second award to its European success by taking Portugal’s Best Outbound Golf Tour Operator.

In total, the Portuguese haul therefore comprised seven world awards, six European awards and four national awards.

Golf’s importance to Portugal

The results provide another boost for a sector regarded as strategically important to Portuguese tourism.

Portugal has 98 golf courses spread across its seven tourism regions, supported by a wide network of hotels and other tourism infrastructure.

Golf is particularly valuable because it helps attract visitors beyond the peak summer season, bringing tourism activity to destinations such as the Algarve during traditionally quieter periods.

“The recognition reaffirms golf’s strategic importance to Portuguese tourism. The segment helps diversify the country’s tourism offering, raise the quality of the destination and promote tourism activity throughout the year and across the country,” said Turismo de Portugal, the country’s tourism board.

“Sustainability is also an important part of improving Portugal’s golf offering. Golf courses in Portugal have increasingly adopted responsible practices, particularly in the efficient management of water and energy, waste reduction and the sustainable use of natural resources,” it added in a press statement.

The World Golf Awards are decided through voting involving golf industry professionals, media representatives and consumers around the world.