The Junior Open 2026
The 9th Edition of the Quinta do Lago Junior Open takes place from 27th to 29th December 2026 at Laranjal Golf Course, bringing together young golfers from across four age categories for three days of competitive golf.
Open to amateur players affiliated with a recognised Golf Federation and holding a WHS Handicap Index, the tournament offers young golfers the opportunity to test their skills in a championship setting, with the overall U21 and U16 Championship also counting towards the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), subject to the minimum field size being reached.
Event Dates:
27th to 29th December 2026 – Tournament
Practice round: €30, subject to booking and not included in the entry fee
Schedule:
08:00AM
Location:
Laranjal Golf Course
Registration deadline:
18th December 2026, or when the maximum field of 85 players is reached.
Age group categories:
U21 Boys & Girls: Born between 2005 and 2009
U16 Boys & Girls: Born in 2010 and 2011
U14 Boys & Girls: Born in 2012 and 2013
U12 Boys & Girls: Born in 2014 and 2015
Handicap limits:
U21: Maximum Handicap Index of 12
U16: Maximum Handicap Index of 12
U14: Maximum Handicap Index of 18
U12: Maximum Handicap Index of 23
Entry Fee:
U21, U16, U14 and U12: €195 (Manual trolley included in the price)
Practice round: €30 (subject to booking)
Accompanying person (practice round): €147
Competition Format:
U21: 54 holes, Stroke Play – Gross & Net
U16: 54 holes, Stroke Play – Gross & Net
U14: 54 holes, Stroke Play Maximum Score – Gross & Net
U12: 54 holes, Stroke Play Maximum Score – Gross & Net
All categories play 18 holes per day.
For U14 and U12, the maximum score per hole is 10.
Teeing Areas:
U21: Boys – Black Tees | Girls – Gold Tees
U16: Boys – Black Tees | Girls – Gold Tees
U14: Boys – Gold Tees | Girls – Silver Tees
U12: Boys – Silver Tees | Girls – Green Tees
Prizes:
Overall Championship: Champion Boys & Champion Girls – Gross, applicable to the combined U21 and U16 Championship.
Division winners: U21, U16, U14 and U12 – 1st and 2nd Gross, and 1st and 2nd Net in each age group.
Gross prizes prevail before Net prizes. Only the overall Champion may accumulate a prize with their respective division.
WAGR:
The U21 + U16 Overall Championship is a WAGR counting event. Results will be published for Men and Women, subject to the minimum field size being reached.
Eligibility:
Players must be affiliated with a recognised Golf Federation and hold a WHS Handicap Index.
For players affiliated with the Portuguese Golf Federation (FPG), the Handicap Index from the FPG server will be used. Players affiliated with other Federations must provide their Handicap Certificate. It is the player's responsibility to ensure that their Handicap Index is up to date.
Caddies:
Caddies are not permitted.
For more information please consult:
Terms of Competition
Laranjal Course
The Algarve's most charming and picturesque golf course
Laranjal opened in 2009 and was voted Best Golf Course at the 2011 Portuguese Travel Awards.
Originally an orange grove, the par 72 championship course is situated 2 km east of the resort, in the Ludo Valley. Boasting spectacular fairways and well-defined greens, Laranjal is renowned for its five beautiful lakes, umbrella pines, cork-oaks and orange trees.
At 6,480 metres in length, the challenging course demands the highest level of concentration and accuracy. Its distinctive rolling terrain has been expertly designed and manicured to provide a world-class golfing experience.
Featuring five par 5s, eight par 4s and five par 3s, the course is sown with Bermuda grass on the fairways and Penn A4 on the greens, ensuring excellent putting surfaces throughout the year.
