Palmares Ocean Living & Golf is officially the home of ‘Europe’s Best Golf Clubhouse’, as announced at the prestigious World Golf Awards 2024.
The Algarve venue’s success was confirmed in Funchal, Madeira, on November 22, at a prizegiving ceremony packed with delegates from the industry’s biggest names.
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning RCR Arquitectes to blend seamlessly into the coastal landscape, the clubhouse is blessed with dazzling views over its nine-hole Praia loop and out to the Atlantic Ocean.
The building boasts unparalleled culinary experiences at one of Palmares’ crown jewels – the acclaimed AL SUD, which earned its Michelin star just five months after opening and is the fastest Portuguese restaurant ever to achieve the feat. Fronted by executive chef Louis Anjos, AL SUD is a fine dining experience that puts fresh-caught seafood in the spotlight in an elegant modern atmosphere, among other delicious dishes.
Nuno Sepulveda, co-CEO at Details – Sports, Hospitality, Leisure, Palmares Ocean Living & Golf’s management company, said: “It’s an honour to see Palmares’ clubhouse named the best in the entire continent.
“Between the incredible design work from RCR Arquitectes, the flair and talent of Louis and his team at AL SUD and the natural beauty of this site, we agree that there is no better place in Europe to relax and dine after a round of golf. We believe that a great clubhouse should be an experience in its own right and go above and beyond in what it delivers to players – and Palmares is a prime example of this philosophy.”
Anjos said: “I think we are in a special, unique location. From the first day that we opened, we have always tried to use our seaside location as the inspiration.”
For the perfect coda to a round on the resort’s acclaimed Robert Trent Jones Jnr-designed course, guests can immerse themselves in AL SUD’s elegant modern atmosphere for the ‘AL SUD Dining Experience’, an exquisite five-course tasting menu inspired by the traditional flavours of the Algarve, for €175 per person.
About the menu inspirations, Anjos added: “We have a rule in AL SUD: a dish’s recipe must be inspired by the Algarve and, if it’s not inspired by the Algarve, then you have to use a local product. That is the rule in our kitchen.”
At the heart of Palmares’ ethos is a reverence for Portuguese tradition and heritage. At the clubhouse, guests can indulge in two wine tastings, including the carefully curated Heritage experience (€150pp) – where six wines are paired with home-crafted snacks – and the three-course Algarvian Flavours Wine Tasting (€35pp).
AL SUD is complemented by the clubhouse’s main restaurant, where local ingredients are the star attraction at breakfast, lunch and dinner – ranging from three-course meals to tapas and light bites with friends.
Anjos added: “One of our values is quality and freshness in the food that we serve. For example, our oyster farm is just 200 metres away, so we have oysters in all our F&B outlets, including at the clubhouse, which is something really nice and unique.
“The guests are happy and that’s the best part of our job – feeling the energy coming from them and turning that into gratitude and motivation to keep delivering something unique, every day.”
Capable of hosting a wide variety of functions and events, the facility includes a pro shop stocked with some of golf’s leading clothing and equipment brands to ensure that players never need to head out onto the course unprepared.
With 27 holes of golf designed by one of the world’s most renowned architects in Trent Jones Jnr, Palmares is one of the stand-out venues in the popular Algarve region. Each distinct nine-hole loop – Praia, Lagos and Alvor – presents a unique environment and challenge to golfers, with holes ranging from picturesque parkland to seaside links.
Guests looking to stay at Palmares can choose from a wide range of luxurious accommodation, including opulent signature apartments and boutique Beach Hotel, the latter of which features a restaurant also managed by Anjos.
As well as Palmares, Details – Hospitality, Sports, Leisure – currently manages nine golf courses in Portugal, including Vilamoura and the newly rebranded PGA Aroeira Lisboa. The group also manages 18 hotels across the country.