The three-times Open champion is the founding father of golf on the Algarve so a trip to the main holiday area in Portugal seemed like the perfect opportunity to see whether any of the 'family' talent had rubbed off on a confirmed supporter of Mark Twain's view that 'golf is a good walk spoiled'.

But the arcane rules of golfing etiquette put paid to my chance to see if I could follow in the footsteps of 'our Henry' as I joined a ragtag bunch of novice golfers on the Oceânico Old Course in the Vilamoura resort, 20 minutes from Faro airport.

Staff were prepared to turn a blind eye to our shorts (after all it was well over 30C) and had no qualms about giving us 'invisible' socks to wear with our soft-spiked golf shoes that they lent us along with our clubs, but no way was anyone going to set foot on the course wearing a T-shirt without a collar, even if he was a member of Her Majesty's press and England is Portugal's oldest ally.

That's the trouble with the Algarve. It's such a relaxing holiday destination that all thoughts about rules and etiquette go out the window.

You couldn't help but feel relaxed staying at the five-star Tivoli Marina Vilamoura (formerly Tivoli Marinotel). It's in a fantastic spot in the purpose-built luxury resort of Vilamoura, a 20-minute drive along the coast from Faro airport.

On one side of the hotel, which can acommodate 1,200 people, rooms have views over a huge marina, ringed by bars and restaurants (Luis Figo has one here) and on the other there is Nikki Beach, complete with palm trees, yachts scudding on the sea and daredevil parascenders.

But enjoying this idyllic beach scene to the full comes at a price.

In the Nikki Beach Club you can lie back on the cushions on the big four-poster opium beds and soak up the sun, but it'll cost from 80 euros to 100 euros a day to hire one of these beds, depending on whether you want to be served fruit or Champagne!

Two small beers from the bar will set you back 11 euros (nearly £9)… and they come in plastic glasses.

A further half an hour along the coast, Albufeira is a different kettle of fish entirely.

It's the most touristy area in the Algarve and you have to search hard for evidence of the 'real' Portugal.

But there's no denying that the town is dedicated to giving visitors of all ages a good time. Lots of beaches, lots of shops, lots of restaurants, lots of bars to suit every taste.

The town's busiest thoroughfare is known as the Strip, but if you fancy hanging out with the locals rather than fellow Brits head to the unlikely named Snoopy's Bar at Fisherman's Beach for a band playing some halfway decent covers of English hits.

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