Tucked away in scenic hills to the north of Loulé and close to Faro International Airport is Ombria, the Algarve’s newest golf and leisure development with an 18-hole signature course, mixed-use property and a clear passion for the planet.
Opening a new golf resort on Portugal’s Algarve, one of Europe’s most congested golf travel destinations, requires courage and vision.
Pontos Group, the family-owned Finnish investment company behind Ombria, is determined that its newest development be recognised as a leader in a new generation of sustainable resort, existing in harmony with the land and communities around it.
The golf course is the work of Jorge Santana da Silva, who started shaping the 6345-yard course in 2019.
Silva’s commitment to creating a golf experience in harmony with the environment has already earned GEO Certification from the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf, despite only opening for play in Spring 2023.
The Ombria estate winds across 378 acres with the golf course laid out in wild rolling hills full of cork oaks, olive and fruit tree groves. Close by is an organic farming area, where bees are kept and honey is harvested.
The pollinating bees thrive in natural wildflower areas, helping provide a rugged, vibrant beauty to parts of the course.
Pontos Group has partnered with Viceroy Hotels & Resorts to develop a five-star hotel and luxury residences, which are scheduled to open in Autumn 2023.
Guests at the resort will be able to explore cycling and hiking trails, six restaurants, a spa, four swimming pools and an astronomical observatory.
Ombria is blessed with its dramatic hilly aspect and the landscape has provided a rich canvas for golf.
Silva has sprinkled intelligent bunkering, water hazards and integrated free-flowing streams. The focus is more on strategy and clever decision-making than long hitting.
Fairways, carpeted with lush Bermuda grass, wind their way through tall sentinel oaks, leading to finely manicured bentgrass greens.
The front nine winds through a river valley, while the back nine, constructed on the plains of the sweeping hills, offers a less strenuous walk.
The 6th hole at Ombria is only 487 yards long but demands that you avoid large bunkers and water hazards with careful precision.
Where to Stay and Play
Ombria’s own five-star hotel is expected to open in Autumn 2023 but if you are playing the golf course before then, you can stay at nearby Pestana Vila Sol and The Magnolia Hotel. The Algarve already boasts 39 golf courses and a wealth of quality hotels, including Dom Pedro Vilamoura, Conrad Algarve, and Hilton Vilamoura, all within a short drive from Ombria.
How to get to Ombria
Located just 6 kilometres from Loulé City Centre and 22 kilometres from Faro International Airport, Ombria’s location offers convenient access for travelling golfers. Its proximity to other renowned Algarve stop-offs including Vilamoura, Vale De Lobo and Quinta do Lago, makes Ombria a well situated base for a golf tour of the Algarve.