Escape the winter chill with a golf holiday to Salgados Golf Club in the Algarve, Portugal – one of the best winter golf destinations for relatively short travel time, warmer temperatures and great golf. 

By the time January settles in across the UK, Ireland, and much of Western Europe, your home course can feel like a distant memory: frozen fairways, waterlogged greens and daylight that barely outlasts a lunch break. The good news is that fresh air, green grass and winter sunshine are only a short flight away. Salgados Golf Club in the Algarve, Portugal is one of the best answers to the question: where to play this winter? 

Short Flights and No Jet Lag

Faro Airport is served by regular flights from major cities across Western Europe, with journey times of around three hours from many of them. Portugal also shares the UK’s time zone, so there’s no jet lag and no adjusting your body clock. You can leave on a Friday morning and be hitting balls on the range by the afternoon, which makes Salgados Golf Club as practical for a long weekend as it is for a week away.

A Course to Enjoy All Winter

Once you arrive, the course delivers. This 18-hole, par-72 layout is relatively flat and a pleasure to play whatever your handicap, especially after weeks of heavy winter ground at home. Lagoons and water features beside the Salgados Lagoon Nature Reserve add just enough bite to reward accurate shots and smart course management, so even low handicappers will want a second go.

Simulators and Clubhouse for Rainy Days

If the weather doesn’t cooperate, the day doesn’t have to end early. On-site simulators let you sharpen your game while the clubhouse serves good food and drinks, ideal for talking through the round that got away and the putt that nearly dropped.

Winter Golf Breaks for Couples, Families and Groups

What makes Salgados Golf Club particularly well suited to a winter golf trip is how easily it works for everyone in your group. Couples can stay at the Algarve Marriott Salgados Golf Resort & Spa, set between the beach and the lagoon, with outdoor pools and a wellness hub for a slower pace between rounds. Families will find plenty to enjoy at Marriott Residences Salgados Resort, where spacious residences, a kids’ club and a choice of pools keep golfers and non-golfers equally happy. Golf groups, from societies to friends on their annual golf trip, can bundle accommodation, multiple rounds and breakfast into one simple stay-and-play package, with the option to add rounds or rooms as plans grow.

Plan Your Winter Golf Break in the Algarve

It all adds up to a winter break that combines great golf, genuine variety and good value, with the beach just minutes away and home just a few hours behind you.

Ready to swap grey skies for Algarve sunshine? Explore our golf stay packages and book yours today. 

Algarve, Portugal (September 16, 2026) – Highgate, the multinational hotel management, investment, and development company, has appointed Albert Docker as its new golf sales manager.

With over 20 years of experience in golf, hospitality, operations management, sales, and relationship management, Albert brings a comprehensive understanding of the golf industry and a strong focus on building lasting relationships with clients and partners.

Growing Highgate’s Golf Business

In his new role, Albert will focus on expanding the golf business across Highgate’s portfolio, strengthening existing partnerships, and developing new opportunities in both established and international markets. Working closely with the wider Highgate team and industry partners, Albert will also explore new ideas and opportunities to further develop the golf offering, while maintaining a strong focus on customer service and the overall golfer experience.

A Growing Commercial Team

Albert will support Esther Marijuan, Vice President Commercial for Highgate Portugal. Esther, who also joined the Highgate team earlier this year, brings extensive golf resort experience, having previously worked at two hotels located at Troon-managed golf destinations.

“Albert’s appointment is an exciting addition to our commercial team and further strengthens our focus on golf as an important part of Highgate’s offering,” said Esther Marijuan. “His experience within the golf industry, combined with his strong relationships and understanding of the international golf market, will be a real asset as we look to grow this segment. I am very much looking forward to working alongside Albert as we build on the opportunities ahead.”

“I am excited to join the Highgate team,” said Albert Docker. “There is a great team and some exciting opportunities ahead, and I look forward to working with our partners and clients to grow the golf business and deliver exceptional experiences for golfers.”

Based at Salgados Golf Club

Albert will be based at Salgados in Portugal’s Algarve, where he will work closely with the Troon managed Salgados Golf Club. With new opportunities on the horizon for Highgate, his role will continue to expand through continued growth, new partnerships, and outstanding golf experiences.

For more information on Highgate, visit www.highgate.com. For information on golf and hospitality opportunities, contact Albert Docker at albert.docker@highgateportugal.pt.

About Highgate

Highgate is a leading hotel management, investment, and development company, and one of the key players in major U.S. gateway cities, including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco, and Honolulu, with a growing presence in Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The hospitality-focused company offers expert guidance across all stages of the asset lifecycle, from planning and development to recapitalization or disposition.

Highgate has a proven track record in developing its diversified portfolio of bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts, supported by a contemporary approach with strong digital capabilities. The company leverages industry-leading management tools that efficiently identify and forecast evolving market dynamics, driving performance and maximizing asset value.

With an executive team composed of some of the most experienced leaders in hotel management, the company is a trusted partner for major ownership groups and the world’s leading hotel brands. In Europe, Highgate operates an expanding portfolio of both branded and independent hotels and resorts, capitalizing on deep market knowledge and extensive experience across strategic destinations throughout the continent. With offices in London, Portugal, and France, Highgate brings its operational expertise to countries such as the United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania. www.highgate.com

Media Contacts

Rob Myers
Troon
480.477.0506
rmyers@troon.com

Clinton Norris
Troon International
+971.56.687.6116
cnorris@troon.com

Algarve, Portugal (August 18, 2026) – Salgados Golf Club on Portugal’s southern Algarve coast will host an EDGA (European Disabled Golf Association) Tour event from 15 to 17 November 2026, welcoming 60 golfers with disabilities from around the world for a week of competitive play.

Event Schedule

The event begins with a practice round on Sunday, November 15, followed by championship rounds on Monday and Tuesday. Participants will showcase their skills on the renowned 18-hole, par-72 course set alongside the coastal dunes.

“It is a great honor for Salgados Golf Club to host this prestigious EDGA Tour event,” said Jon Schauder, Troon Executive at Salgados Golf Club. “We look forward to the players, officials, and visitors experiencing our venue – and together promoting the continued growth of golf as a game that can be enjoyed by everyone. We want to thank the EDGA for this opportunity and wish all the participants a great few days with us.”

About the EDGA

EDGA’s mission is to help individuals with impairments start, stay, succeed, and enjoy golf. The association has defined three categories of international events meeting criteria for golfers with disabilities. All EDGA-approved events are open to players from all disability categories who meet eligibility criteria and can be played in stroke, match play, or Stableford formats.

About Salgados Golf Club

Winner of the “2025 World’s Best Golf Course Renovation” by the World Golf Awards, the Troon-managed Salgados Golf Club is located on Portugal’s Algarve coastline, near Salgados Beach and the Salgados Lagoon Nature Reserve, adjacent to the award-winning Algarve Marriott Salgados Golf & Spa Resort. The 18-hole, par-72 course offers a unique and accessible golfing experience complemented by high-quality hospitality and leisure amenities.

For more information on Salgados Golf Club, visit www.salgadosgolf.com. For more information on the EDGA, visit www.edgagolf.com.

The great thing about playing at Salgados Golf Club is that it’s surrounded by fantastic hotels. The golf course is located within a resort complex that includes three accommodation options, all recently refurbished, and all now part of the Marriott portfolio, meaning golfers can walk from their room to the first tee without factoring in a commute. 

Here’s how the stay and play packages work, and which resort might suit you best. 

Salgados Golf Club Highlights

• Course: Salgados Golf Club, 18 holes, par 72, Albufeira, Algarve
• On-site resorts: Algarve Marriott Salgados Golf Resort & Spa, The Westin Salgados Beach Resort, Marriott Residences Salgados Resort
• Package format: Typically structured as nights + rounds + breakfast (e.g. 3 nights / 2 rounds, 5 nights / 3 rounds)
• Location: between Salgados Beach and Salgados Lagoon Nature Reserve, roughly 15 minutes from Albufeira and around 40 minutes from Faro Airport

Which Resort Suits Your Trip

The three resorts share the same location and access to Salgados Golf Club, but are genuinely different in character, so the right one depends on who you’re travelling with.

If you last played Salgados Golf Club a few years ago, you will find a noticeably different golf course when you return. The golf course underwent a €3.2 million renovation between November 2024 and February 2025 which included a new irrigation system, refreshed bunkers and even a new signature hole. In December 2025 the project was recognised as the World’s Best Golf Course Renovation at the World Golf Awards, an inaugural category created to reward outstanding golf course renovation projects across scope, timeline, budget, and long-term impact on the golf facility.

Here’s how your golf experience at Salgados Golf Club has changed:

Quick Facts

• Course: Salgados Golf Club, Guia, Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal Opened: 1994
• Layout: 18 holes, par 72
• Renovation: November 2024 – February 2025
• Renovation cost: €3.2 million
• Recognition: World’s Best Golf Course Renovation, World Golf Awards 2025 (announced December 2025, Madeira)
• On-site resorts: Algarve Marriott Salgados Golf Resort & Spa, Marriott Residences Salgados Resort, The Westin Salgados Beach Resort

What the Renovation Included

The four-month project included nearly every part of the golfing experience at Salgados
Golf Club:

• New irrigation system. A Rain Bird irrigation system was installed across all 18 holes, improving turf consistency and water management year-round; a meaningful upgrade for a coastal Algarve course exposed to sea breeze and summer heat.
• Bunker refresh. Every bunker on the course was renovated, refreshing both the look and the playing consistency of sand across your round of golf.
• Tees rebuilt. Every tee was levelled and returfed, giving golfers flatter, more even stances and a more consistent surface than before.
• A new signature hole. The renovation included construction of a new par-3 island green, adding a standout, photogenic hole to the round and a fresh strategic test for golfers of all levels.

Award-Winning Renovation

The World Golf Awards created the Best Golf Course Renovation category specifically to recognise projects on their overall execution, not just the finished aesthetic.
The award follows a broader run of recognition for the destination: Portugal itself was named World’s Best Golf Destination and Europe’s Best Golf Destination at the same 2025 World Golf Awards, reinforcing the Algarve’s position as one of Europe’s leading golf regions.

What This Means for You

For golfers planning a visit to Salgados Golf Club, your experience just got better:

• More consistent conditioning. The new irrigation system and returfed tees mean more predictable turf across the seasons, including during the peak summer months.
• A refreshed challenge. The bunker overhaul and new island-green par 3 add both visual appeal and strategic variety to a course already known for its water hazards, lagoon-side holes, and prevailing ocean breeze.

Why Salgados Golf Club Is Your Next Golf Destination

Salgados Golf Club sits on the Algarve coast near Salgados Beach and the Salgados Lagoon Nature Reserve. The course is set among three on-site accommodation options; the Algarve Marriott Salgados Golf Resort & Spa, Marriott Residences Salgados Resort, and The Westin Salgados Beach Resort, all of which underwent their own refurbishments alongside the golf course renovation. 

For golfers researching a Portugal golf holiday, Salgados Golf Club now combines a freshly renovated, award-winning golf course with direct access to newly refurbished resort accommodation, a combination worth factoring into any Algarve golf itinerary.

Ready to experience the renovated course for yourself? Book a tee time or explore our Stay & Play packages.

Launch of The Green Room and refreshed culinary concept elevate off-course experience

Algarve, Portugal (May __, 2026) – Salgados Golf Club in Portugal’s Algarve has further enhanced its guest offering with the introduction of new clubhouse experiences and upgraded food and beverage concepts, continuing its evolution under Troon management.

The Green Room: A New Sports Lounge

Central to the latest enhancements is the launch of The Green Room, a vibrant new sports lounge concept designed to elevate the social experience for visitors, families, members and guests. Featuring two state-of-the-art golf simulators by Foresight Sports plus 6 big screen TV’s, the venue offers an interactive and immersive environment where guests can enjoy golf, games, sports, and hospitality in a relaxed setting off the course.

A Refreshed Culinary Concept

Complementing the new concept is a refreshed culinary direction at Salgados, led by newly appointed restaurant manager, Sofia Rosa. Together with chefs Ana Paula, Pauliene, and Cristiana, the female-led food and beverage team has revamped the menu with elevated presentation, integrating natural, renowned ingredients from Portugal into popular visitor favorites designed to appeal to both golfers and resort guests.

“The introduction of The Green Room and the evolution of our food and beverage offering at Salgados represent an important step in enhancing the overall club experience,” said Troon Senior Vice President Ricardo Catarino. “Today’s golfers and guests are seeking more than just a great round of golf, and these improvements ensure Salgados delivers a complete lifestyle and social destination. By investing in both innovative entertainment concepts and high-quality culinary experiences, we continue to support our client’s vision of positioning Salgados as a leading, modern golf destination in the Algarve.”

With the addition of The Green Room and a revitalized F&B offering, Salgados Golf Club continues to strengthen its position as a dynamic and engaging destination, offering exceptional experiences both on and off the course.

Under Troon Management

Troon, the world’s largest golf and golf-related hospitality management company, was appointed by Highgate Portugal in August 2023 to oversee golf operations, agronomy, and sales and marketing at Salgados Golf Club. Since then, the club has undergone a series of strategic enhancements aimed at improving guest satisfaction, increasing engagement, and driving long-term growth.

About Salgados Golf Club

Salgados Golf Club is set within the natural beauty of Portugal’s Algarve coastline, located near Salgados Beach and the Salgados Lagoon Nature Reserve, adjacent to the award-winning Algarve Marriott Salgados Golf & Spa Resort. The 18-hole, par-72 course offers a unique and accessible golfing experience complemented by high-quality hospitality and leisure amenities.

For more information on Salgados Golf Club, visit www.salgadosgolf.com. For more information about Troon International and its portfolio of managed properties, visit www.troon.com.

Strategic leadership appointment and premium product enhancements reinforce continued growth under Troon

Algarve, Portugal (April 29, 2026) – Salgados Golf Club in Portugal’s Algarve is continuing its strong momentum under Troon management with further strategic investment focused on enhancing the overall guest experience, building on a highly successful 2025 under the global management company.

Strengthened Leadership Team

As part of its ongoing commitment to operational excellence and exceptional service, Salgados has strengthened its on-site leadership team with the appointment of experienced Troon professional Jan Kronus as Operations Manager. Kronus brings a wealth of international expertise, having spent more than five years at the award-winning PGA National Czech Republic, a DP World Tour host venue, where he played a key role in delivering exceptional guest experiences and operational standards.

Algarve, Portugal (December 4, 2025) – Salgados Golf Club part of Algarve Marriott Salgados Golf & Spa Resort has been named the World’s Best Golf Course Renovation 2025 by the World Golf Awards – the leading authority that identifies and rewards excellence in golf tourism. The 12th annual World Golf Awards were announced in Madeira, Portugal on November 13.

This inaugural award is a first in its category and was designed to recognize comprehensive achievements and impact from a renovation project, with benchmark criteria including such factors as: scope of work, completion time frame, meeting budget parameters, and overall facility financial impact from pre-project to post-project.

A €3.2 Million Renovation

Salgados Golf Club’s €3.2 million facility renovation took place over four months, from November 2024 through February 2025, and included the installation of a new Rain Bird irrigation system across all 18 holes, a full bunker refresh, levelling and returfing every tee complex, and the construction of a new par-3 island green signature hole. Completion of the intensive scope of work, on time and under budget, led to the nomination, which was further strengthened by the 29% growth in sales since reopening.

“Highgate Portugal has been reinvigorating the golf and hospitality experiences at Salgados since 2023,” said Jon Schauder, Troon Executive at Salgados Golf Club. “This recognition by the World Golf Awards is an exciting acknowledgement of the Highgate Portugal and Troon collaboration, which springboards Salgados into its next chapter and further cements it as a favorite destination in the Algarve.”

Ben Thomas, COO of Highgate Europe, added, “Having Troon organize and lead these projects was a critical component in achieving success with our investment and ensuring our guests would have a well-planned and thought-out product for years to come. The process and execution were efficient with money well spent; the deliverables speak volumes to the capabilities of Troon and their work with our Highgate Portugal team.”

About Salgados Golf Club

Located on the Algarve coast near Salgados Beach and Salgados Lagoon Nature Reserve, the 18-hole Salgados Golf Club sits among a stellar selection of on-site Highgate Portugal accommodation options, which recently joined the esteemed Marriott Hotels & Resorts portfolio in 2025: Algarve Marriott Salgados Golf Resort & Spa; Marriott Residences Salgados Resort, Algarve; and Westin Salgados Beach Resort, Algarve. All properties have benefited from redesigns and refurbishments across their accommodation, public spaces and food and beverage outlets to offer the exceptional amenities synonymous with Marriott locations.

Troon was appointed by Highgate Portugal to oversee golf operations, course agronomy along with sales and marketing efforts at Salgados Golf Club in 2023.

For more information on Salgados Golf Club, visit www.salgadosgolf.com.

About World Golf Awards

World Golf Awards serves to celebrate and reward excellence in golf tourism, world-class courses and golf destinations. Launched in 2014, World Golf Awards aims to drive up standards within the golf tourism industry by rewarding the organizations that are leaders in their field. Votes are cast by professionals working within the golf industry, the media and by the public (golf tourism consumers). World Golf Awards is the sister organization of World Travel Awards, currently celebrating its 32nd anniversary. For more information about World Golf Awards visit worldgolfawards.com.

About Troon

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon is the world’s largest golf and golf-related hospitality management company providing services at 950-plus locations in 45-plus states and 40-plus countries, including operational responsibility for 575-plus 18-hole equivalent golf courses. In addition to golf, Troon specializes in homeowner association management, private residence clubs, estate management and associated hospitality venues. Troon’s award-winning food and beverage division operates and manages 600-plus food and beverage operations located at golf resorts, private clubs, daily fee golf courses and recreational facilities. Troon’s family of brands includes Troon Golf, Troon Privé, Troon International, Indigo Sports, CADDIEMASTER, ClubUp, Cliff Drysdale Tennis, True Club Solutions, RealFood Hospitality, Strategy & Design and RF DesignStudio, ICON Management and Eventive Sports. For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com, TroonMagazine.com or connect with Troon on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

About Highgate

Highgate is a leading hotel management, investment, and development company, and one of the key players in major U.S. gateway cities, including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco, and Honolulu, with a growing presence in Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The hospitality-focused company offers expert guidance across all stages of the asset lifecycle, from planning and development to recapitalization or disposition.

Highgate has a proven track record in developing its diversified portfolio of bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts, supported by a contemporary approach with strong digital capabilities. The company leverages industry-leading management tools that efficiently identify and forecast evolving market dynamics, driving performance and maximizing asset value.

With an executive team composed of some of the most experienced leaders in hotel management, the company is a trusted partner for major ownership groups and the world’s leading hotel brands. In Europe, Highgate operates an expanding portfolio of both branded and independent hotels and resorts, capitalizing on deep market knowledge and extensive experience across strategic destinations throughout the continent. With offices in London, Portugal, and France, Highgate brings its operational expertise to countries such as the United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania. www.highgate.com.

Check the article on Troon’s website