The Golf Courses of the Western Algarve
If you want to explore the most beautiful coastal scenery of the Algarve, these golf courses should be your choice. And, for those wishing to play without full handicap certificates, there are various possibilities. All the below mentionnened golf courses can be reached from Villa Fumone by car in max. 30 minutes drive.
| Course | Holes | Par | Handicap | Description |
| Parque da Floresta | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | Most westerly course, hilly terrain provides a challenge for your golf and fitness. |
| Boavista | 18 | 71 | 27 / 34 | Well designed, challenging new course. (West of Lagos.) |
| Palmares | 18 | 71 | 28 / 36 | A course of contrasts; includes 5 links holes and upper holes with slopes and trees. Breathtaking view! |
| Penina – Championship | 18 | 73 | 28 / 36 | Flat parkland course; host to the 1998 and 1999 Portuguese Open. In the neighbourhood of Villa Fumone. |
| Penina – Resort | 9 | 70 | --- / --- | Attractive 9 hole course with some challenging holes. Very short drive from Villa Fumone. |
| Penina – Academy | 9 | 60 | --- / --- | A 9 hole short course very suitable for beginners or to practice your short game. Very short drive from Villa Fumone. |
| Alto Golf | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | Like Penina, a Henry Cotton designed course with parkland features. |
| Morgado | 18 | 73 | 28 / 36 | Opened this year, this course situated between Silves and Monchique, has wide flat fairways with pot bunkers and large, not so flat, greens. 10 minutes drive from Villa Fumone. |
| Pestana – Pinta | 18 | 71 | 27 / 35 | Takes advantage of its rural landscape and gentle slopes and offers fast greens. |
| Pestana – Gramacho | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | 9 fairways with 18 tees and greens in good condition make a round well worthwile. |
Tennis
The Algarve enjoys a climate that allows the player to be on court most every day and all year round. Tennis is probably the third most practised sport in the country.
Along the length of the Southern Portuguese coast you will find a number of Tennis Clubs with good professional multilingual coaches and each with a friendly welcoming atmosphere. These clubs provide all levels of coaching to all ages and when applicable encourage the visitor to participate in their local club competitions.
Watersports
Surfing and Windsurfing on the Algarve
The Algarve coastal waters provide some acceptable surfing accompanied by the warm climate and reasonable temperature of the sea. Depending upon the time of the year and the current the most attractive and challenging area for this sport is around Sagres (30 minutes drive west from Villa Fumone). However, for the less experienced it is recommended that surfers use the many excellent beaches that are under Life Guard supervision.
In the Algarve there are many windsurfing centres on the beach that will rent equipment.
Scuba Diving on the Algarve
The geographical historical background of the Algarve coast and its importance as a navigational corner point in Europe for many centuries makes it one of the best locations in Europe for scuba diving. The coastline provides many varieties of water in which to dive.
For comfortable diving throughout the year the water temperature along the coastline tends to vary between 16 to 22 degrees. Besides the abundance of different fish species there are also several old wrecks and reefs to explore. A popular dive is at night especially in the many fascinating caves.
Experienced instructors are to be found at all licensed Diving Schools and modern equipment is for hire. These schools are usually staffed by several nationalities, so that communication should not be difficult. Dives are made under the strict regulations associated with the necessary safety aspect of the sport.
Sailing on the Algarve
Portugal has a long tradition with marine voyages and the discoveries in the ancient past have helped to shape the world map.
Along the Algarve coast there are several Marinas. The biggest marina is at Vilamoura, smaller ones are to be found at Lagos, Portimao, Faro and Vila Real de Santo Antonio.
Charter yachts and boats are available from the Marinas in Vilamoura and Lagos (10 minutes drive from Villa Fumone).
Horse Riding
Portugal is the country considered by many as the home of the pure Lusitano breed. This attractive “hot blooded” horse has been bred and developed in the central Ribatejo and upper Alentejo regions (north of the Algarve) for hundreds of years and today it is considered a mix of Arab and the pure English Thoroughbred. The breed is often chosen by riders for the special training to participate in the international competitions of equestrian events.
A choice of Hacking or Dressage, the visitor will normally find that they are both readily available. In the Algarve there are many established Riding Stables to be found.
The variable terrain of the Algarve provides a very varied selection for Hacking. In the area of Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago the soft sandy soil through enchanting pinewoods makes for a very comfortable ride. The inland region of Silves provides small valleys and tracks that take the rider into charming countryside or further up into the dense eucalyptus forests. To the west of Portimao there are seemingly endless rides into virtually uninhabited areas with open rolling hills. A trip further north into the Alentejo region around Evora provides the rider with the freedom of long open countryside riding. The variety of good rides recommends that a visitor tries the different areas.
Enjoyment of Dressage is related to the quality of the mount and the Stable should be carefully chosen. The experience of riding a Lusitanian horse that has been bred and trained for the Bull Ring is sheer magic!
Stables provide selected horses for the nervous or inexperienced rider. When initially discussing with the Stable your mount it is highly important to be honest about your own riding abilities so that the Stable can provide a suitable ride.