Palmares refreshes all 27 holes in the Algarve with wider fairways and leaner irrigation

ALGARVE, PORTUGAL — On 21 October 2026, golf-course design firm Robert Trent Jones II (RTJ II) detailed a programme of improvements at Palmares Ocean Living & Golf, the 27-hole resort near Lagos overlooking Meia Praia and the Alvor estuary. All three nine-hole loops — Alvor, Lagos and Praia — are included. Beyond improving turf conditions, the project is intended to change how golfers approach and recover around greens.

Wider fairways, more decisions. Enlarged landing areas offer more playing routes to golfers with different swing speeds and shot patterns. Around several greens, closely mown grass provides an alternative defence to sand. That does not remove the challenge: a ball rolling down a tightly cut slope still demands control with a putter, wedge or chip. It does, however, offer a choice of recovery shot where a bunker would typically dictate the response. RTJ II says the guiding principle is more variety and enjoyment without abandoning the strategic identity of the existing course.

The work across 27 holes. The programme covers refreshed teeing surfaces, rebuilt and in some cases repositioned bunkers, wider fairways and expanded short-grass surrounds. Practice facilities are also being improved through a larger putting green and a new dedicated short-game area. RTJ II described the enhancements as approaching completion in its 21 October announcement; individual facility availability should not be assumed without checking with the resort.

What the 20% figure actually means. Palmares and its operator, Details — Hospitality, Sports, Leisure, aim to reduce the total area requiring irrigation by 20%. That is an acreage target, not a measured claim that water consumption has already fallen by exactly one-fifth. Actual savings will depend on weather, grass selection, watering schedules and system performance. Concentrating irrigation on core playing surfaces is expected to make maintenance more efficient and reduce long-term operating costs.

A distinctive setting. Palmares began as an 18-hole destination in 1975. An RTJ II redesign completed in 2011 established the present three-loop layout. The Alvor nine is associated with elevated, parkland-style terrain; Lagos mixes landscape types; and Praia brings play closest to the sandy Atlantic coast. Together they provide very different experiences within the same resort near the city of Lagos in Portugal's Algarve.

For visitors. The architect's announcement does not establish a new resort-wide closure or a confirmed date when every upgraded facility will be playable. Golfers planning a visit should confirm which nine-hole combinations, practice areas and tee times are available directly with Palmares. The central playing consequence is clearer: updated bunkering, more options around greens and a renewed emphasis on short-game practice.

Source: RTJ II's official statement dated 21 October 2026. Image: archival photograph of another golf course near Lagos, not Palmares and not the 2026 works.