Olives at Pinheiros Altos Golf Resort

Pinheiros Altos Golf Resort sits in the heart of the Algarve, a few kilometers inland from Quinta do Lago and the coastal resort corridor near Faro. Ron Fream designed the Olives course, which opened in the early 1990s as part of a residential golf development. The layout takes its name from the mature olive trees that punctuate the property, remnants of the region's agricultural past. Fream, an American architect known for work across Europe and Asia, routed the course through gently rolling terrain covered with umbrella pines, cork oaks, and Mediterranean scrub.

The course plays through a landscape typical of inland Algarve golf: sandy soil, natural vegetation, and elevation changes that are modest but sufficient to create variety in stance and perspective. Water features appear on several holes, and the design incorporates strategic bunkering around greens and landing areas. The routing moves through corridors of pine and oak, offering a contrast to the more exposed, links-influenced courses closer to the coast.

Pinheiros Altos operates as a resort facility with a clubhouse that serves both members and visitors. The property includes practice areas and dining amenities common to Algarve golf resorts. The course attracts a mix of international tourists and local players, particularly during the region's mild winter months when northern European golfers travel south. It remains one of several established layouts in the Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo area, part of the Algarve's concentration of golf courses developed from the 1960s onward.