Quinta do Lago North is one of three eighteen-hole courses at the Quinta do Lago luxury resort, alongside South and Laranjal. It has a long past and a distinctly modern playing identity: part of its routing descends from William Mitchell's early work at the resort, later joined by holes associated with Joe Lee and Rocky Roquemore. The North Course golfers encounter today, however, was fundamentally reshaped in 2014 by Beau Welling with Paul McGinley, then Europe's Ryder Cup captain.
The €9 million reconstruction produced a par-72 course whose principal interest is not length alone. Carefully placed bunkers, water hazards, contoured greens and tightly mown Bermuda surrounds create decisions that remain relevant even when a player has plenty of room to drive the ball. North is a modern, thoughtful counterpoint to its older, tournament-tested neighbor South.
Why You Should Play Quinta do Lago North Course
North makes the most of what happens after the tee shot. Welling's reconstruction placed particular emphasis on the approaches and the land immediately around the greens. Closely cut Bermuda provides choices: a golfer who misses in the right place may be able to putt, chip or use the ground, while a miss on the wrong side of a contour can demand far more skill.
This is a welcome change from resort architecture that seems to ask only whether the player can carry a bunker or avoid a lake. North has its share of both, but the more engaging challenge lies in understanding the angle of the next shot. Wide-looking landing areas can conceal a complicated approach, and the direct route is not always the safest one.
The fourth offers a revealing measure of the challenge. Although only 370 metres from the Black tees, this par four carries stroke index one. North's difficulty cannot be read from total yardage alone: the tee shot sets up an approach where angle and control are more valuable than simply advancing the ball as far as possible. The distinction becomes especially interesting when comparing the course with the more traditional South layout.
Undulating putting surfaces maintain the interest once the ball is on the green. A fine drive and acceptable approach can still leave an exacting two-putt, but the short-grass surrounds also provide a chance to recover without an automatic penalty. Strong players can explore the bolder lines; mixed-handicap groups have four sets of tees that preserve the experience at more manageable distances.
North is best suited to golfers who enjoy angles, varied recovery shots and contemporary strategic design. Those looking for the most traditional Quinta do Lago experience may still prefer South and its championship history. North's attraction is different: the course feels deliberately rebuilt around how modern players think through a hole.
The Architecture Behind the 2014 Rebuild
Quinta do Lago's golf story began in the 1970s, when William Mitchell produced the first twenty-seven holes. Part of that work eventually formed North, with later development involving Joe Lee and Rocky Roquemore. The present eighteen-hole course emerged from these successive phases before its comprehensive renovation in 2014.
Welling and McGinley did far more than refresh greenside bunkers. The project rebuilt greens, tees, drainage, irrigation, bunkers and cart paths, rethought vegetation and incorporated tightly mown areas around the putting surfaces. The golf therefore offers choices that earlier generations of the course did not emphasize so consistently.
Water recycling, reduced maintained-grass areas and solar technology also formed part of the redesign. These initiatives belong to the larger architectural story, but they do not need to dominate the golf experience. For the player, what matters most is that the greens, approaches and surrounding hazards work together in a coherent examination of course management.
North ranks fourteenth in the 2026 Top 100 Golf Courses Portugal list. The rank sits below South, but the distinction in style is an argument for playing both rather than choosing one as a substitute for the other.
Completing a Quinta do Lago Golf Itinerary
North and South occupy Quinta do Lago's main golf estate and share clubhouse facilities; Laranjal, the third resort course, lies about two kilometres east in the Ludo Valley and has its own clubhouse. South contributes William Mitchell's Portuguese Open history, North offers a more recent architectural interpretation and Laranjal retains the character of an old orange grove. Together they provide three different answers to what an Algarve resort course can be.
A base around Quinta do Lago or Almancil makes it possible to explore the wider area without repeatedly changing hotels. San Lorenzo and Vale do Lobo add further rounds, while the beaches and wetlands near the Ria Formosa provide a scenic contrast away from golf. North works particularly well as the second or third course in such a trip, when its strategic differences become easier to appreciate.
North Course Green Fees, Tees and Visitor Information
North plays to par 72 and offers four tee sets: Black 6,140 metres (6,715 yards), Gold 5,640 metres (6,168 yards), Silver 4,873 metres (5,329 yards), and Green 4,557 metres (4,984 yards). The range is wide enough to let golfers choose an appropriate length without sacrificing the modern design's interest around the greens.
The 2027 eighteen-hole travel-provider green fee is €172 in January and July–August, €206 in February, June and September 1–5, and €242 in March–May and September 6–October 31. November is €212 and December €179. Winter buggy offers and multi-round packages are separate products.
Quinta do Lago requires an official handicap certificate, with maximum handicaps of 28 for men and 36 for women unless playing with one of its teaching professionals. For golfers who value short-game options and thoughtful contemporary design, North belongs firmly on a well-curated central Algarve itinerary.