Quinta do Lago’s commitment to sustainable golf course and environmental practices has been reaffirmed with the Algarve’s premier resort being awarded GEO Foundation certification following a three-year sustainability push.

An international distinction overseen and managed by the GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation, the coveted industry accolade is presented to clubs and venues across the world who have shown a long-term dedication and priority for green practices across all facets of operations.

Set among 2,000 acres of the picturesque Ria Formosa Natural Park, Quinta do Lago has always looked to follow the best sustainable approach to ensure flora, fauna and wildlife across the destination thrives. Following the South Course’s €7million overhaul in 2021 – which saw several changes including Kikuyu grass installed to make the playing surface more durable – the Algarve resort began the process of obtaining GEO Foundation certification.

Over the last three years, the 54-hole venue has followed guidance from the GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation to implement several on-course and off-course changes.

This includes a range of measures to preserve native species. Several animals requiring assistance at the resort, including two tawney owls, have been cared for and released back into the wild with the help of wildlife partner Centro de Recuperação e Investigação do Animais Selvagems.

More than 70 nest boxes have also been installed on the three golf courses – providing shelter and good conditions for the reproduction of several bird species. During maintenance work in 2022, it was found that 68 per cent of the boxes spread across the North, South and Laranjal courses were occupied. Since the beginning of 2024, a ‘species of the month’ programme has also been introduced to identify and spotlight the most frequently observed species to raise awareness of the golf course wildlife.

In addition, Quinta do Lago has increased the amount of food it grows itself, serving many of its restaurants with farm-to-table produce. Situated in the heart of the resort, Q-Farm contains approximately 2,000m² of raised beds, each with its own drip irrigation network and fertigation system. A second site with a state of art greenhouse has also been introduced to increase yields through the cooler winter months – 5,500kg of seasonal vegetables is now produced each year for restaurant use.

Elsewhere, multiple easy access recycling points have been created, single use water bottles have been replaced by water refill stations, heated water needs at the resort are being moved away from gas and electric to solar heated, and all 200 golf buggies now use electric zero emission technology – estimated to save on excess of 150,000kg of CO2 every year versus petrol-powered buggies.

On the golf course, irrigation methods have been improved and a complementary treatment plant has been put in place to further increase the quality of irrigation water from the local wastewater system. Irrigation pump renovation also took place as part of the South Course improvement project.

On the North Course, areas of native plants away from the fairway have been allowed to grow to encourage wildlife, while on the South Course areas of bark mulch and wood chips have been introduced to reduce the consumption of water, energy and fuel, and the need to apply fertilisers and pesticides.

Sean Moriarty, CEO of Quinta do Lago, said: “Over the past three years, the team have worked incredibly hard to implement so many changes. Situated within the Ria Formosa Natural Park, we strive to meet the highest standards for environmental practices – and this achievement highlights just that.

“To have become GEO Certified is a real testament to the continued efforts of the team and their continued commitment to sustainable golf course operation and management.”

Quinta do Lago
Since its inception in 1972, Quinta do Lago has been at the forefront of international golf, hosting eight Portuguese Opens as well as numerous other international tournaments. Home to three world-class golf courses, the resort also boasts a wealth of cutting-edge practice facilities.

• Quinta do Lago North Course – Opening in October 2014, the totally revamped North Course has been redeveloped by renowned American golf architect Beau Welling in close collaboration with 2014 European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley and is set to become one of the new stars of European golf. The new layout has been built to the highest specifications with a €9.6m investment programme and has been redeveloped with the emphasis firmly on precision and strategy. While many modern-day developments tend to focus on length, Welling and McGinley have been keen to design a golfing experience where accuracy and course management are the key factors, and a course that is playable and fun for golfers of all abilities.
• Quinta do Lago South Course – A favourite among European Tour professionals, the South Course calls for accurate drives and precise shots, but rewards players for their efforts with the stunning backdrop of the Ria Formosa Natural Park. Regularly included in Golf World magazine’s ‘Top 100 Golf Courses in Europe’, the par-72 layout has received widespread praise for its strategically placed hazards and varying difficulty across the 18 holes. Having hosted the Portuguese Open on no fewer than eight occasions, the South Course is regarded as one of Portugal’s premier golfing venues and underwent a €7m upgrade in 2020 to further enhance the playing experience.
• Laranjal – Designed by Jorge Santana da Silva in the grounds of an orange grove, the par-72 course was named as Portugal’s Best Golf Course 2011 at the Portuguese Travel Awards and poses serious tests for players of all abilities. Opened in 2008, Laranjal offers a pure golfing experience right next to the Quinta do Lago estate and features fairways sown with Bermuda grass, providing a challenging playing environment in a picture-perfect setting.
• Paul McGinley Academy – Quinta do Lago is home to the only Paul McGinley Academy in mainland Europe, founded in October 2011 by Europe’s 2014 Ryder Cup captain. With a strong involvement from McGinley himself, who is a regular visitor to the resort, the academy aims to cultivate and improve golfers’ play by providing them with the tools and techniques used on the professional Tours. The academy focuses especially on younger players, working in collaboration with local schools and is the perfect way to follow in the footsteps of the pros.
• TaylorMade Performance Centre – Quinta do Lago’s TaylorMade Performance Centre is the only facility of its kind in Portugal and is located on the resort’s expansive driving range. Opened in May 2013, the centre is operated by trained TaylorMade technicians, offering golfers a custom-fitting experience testing hundreds of club and iron options, ensuring the best combination for every player’s swing. It also has a fully equipped Tour standard workshop and utilises FlightScope X2 radar technology to measure the entire flight of the ball from impact to landing whilst displaying its 3D trajectory in real time.

Set amongst 2,000 acres of the picturesque Ria Formosa Natural Park and located just 15 minutes from Faro airport, Quinta do Lago offers residents and guests an unparalleled location benefiting from a year-round temperate climate, a variety of lifestyle pursuits and a strong sense of community.

For more information on Quinta do Lago and its facilities, call + 351 289 390 700 or visit www.quintadolago.com