Quinta de Cima Golf

Overview: Quinta de Cima is the longer, more expansive 18-hole partner to Quinta da Ria near Vila Nova de Cacela, with the Ria Formosa landscape providing the setting. Rocky Roquemore’s par-72 routing moves through open ground, mature olive and carob trees, broad fairways, and areas of sand and water. It has championship scale, but its interest is not only about length. Changing landing-area width and the need to choose a safe side before the approach give the round a strong positional character.

History: Quinta de Cima opened in July 2002 as part of the Quinta da Ria development. Its early record included the PGA Europro Tour in 2003 and 2004, the European Seniors Tour in 2005, European Tour qualifying events from 2006 to 2008, and the Ladies Portuguese Open in 2008. Those events reflect the course’s intended championship role, while the design remains associated with Roquemore’s use of the coastal plain and existing trees.

Did You Know? The course preserves an Algarvean planting palette, with ancient olives and carob trees appearing as strategic features rather than background scenery. Near the end of the round, open land and tree groups change the visual scale of the holes, so a course that begins with generous horizons can finish with demanding target lines. The setting is part of the strategy, not merely a view.