Algarve Golf Resorts Revamp Luxury Appeal with Major Investment and New Elite Club

A €17 million overhaul of the former Victoria Course, now the Ernie Els-designed Els Club Vilamoura, marks a push to reposition Portugal’s Algarve as a high-end golf destination.

Arrow Global, a British investment firm, has invested roughly €17 million to completely rebuild the former Victoria Course, launching the private Els Club Vilamoura, an Ernie Els-designed facility that opened with a PGA Tour Champions tournament. Nuno Sepúlveda, co-CEO of Details, which manages Arrow Global’s Algarve assets, describes the project as a restoration of the region’s former status as a premier European golf hub, countering years of underinvestment and mass-market tourism.

The upgrade coincides with a surge in demand for outdoor leisure after the pandemic and a recent Expatsi poll naming Portugal the top relocation destination for U.S. citizens. Sepúlveda emphasizes that the golf upgrade is a catalyst for a wider luxury ecosystem, including a €25 million equestrian centre, a new sports complex, and high-end residential offerings with €100,000 membership fees. Golf champion Padraig Harrington notes the Algarve’s long-standing emphasis on quality courses built before residential development, reinforcing the region’s appeal to affluent buyers. The initiative aims to attract not only golfers but also year-round residents seeking premium amenities and a secure community.