Which are Tim’s favourite Algarve courses?

“Golf World once asked me to name my favourite ten courses in the world and I put San Lorenzo at the top of my list. Nothing has changed there. The new course, Boa Vista, just west of Lagos, is an absolute peach, winding its way through natural countryside and then revealing fabulous coastal views. Palmares, just east of Lagos, is also a favourite.”

Tim is the author of several humorous books based mainly around golf and his radio and television work

“I do a programme in the UK called Golf Clubs with Tim Brooke-Taylor where I make the professionals look good. I’ve tried to get the producers to take the programme to Portugal but, so far, with no success. My highly amusing book Tim Brooke-Taylor’s Golf Bag is sadly now out of print – so you’ll never know what a feast you’ve missed!”

Portuguese cuisine is another of his passions. He loves to linger over a luscious lunch or delectable dinner

“Restaurant-wise, we tend to go for the delicious and simple. The Adega da Marina is always a favourite spot. It’s a large room with long tables and every age you could think of. There are a lot of tourists, but we are vastly outnumbered by locals. The food is fantastic and very inexpensive. It offers all sorts of fish and for those like me, who don’t like fish (although I do love shellfish), there are good meat courses. You hesitate to order the wine as it’s so reasonably priced, but go for it.”

Another favourite is Bar Quim on the nearby beach of Meia Praia. “Do try the baked, spicy Camaraos (prawns). They’re absolutely delicious!”

Does he speak the lingo and feel like one of the locals now?

“I’m afraid not. Christine’s Portuguese isn’t bad, thank heavens. I don’t get involved in local fiestas or customs, as I’m never here for long enough. But I do feel like a very welcome guest. The language is a bit of a problem, as I’d love to have proper conversations. To be honest, I’ve never been much of a linguist, so I’d probably suffer anywhere.”

Any tips for readers thinking about purchasing a Portuguese property?

“Buying a property isn’t easy, but when has it ever been anywhere? The laws seem to have been tightened up, and better now.”

True to form, Tim has some funny stories to tell from his times here: “An ex-pat living out here once said to me ‘You’re Tim Brooke-Taylor, aren’t you?’ I responded, rather proudly, ‘Yes’, only for her to say ‘Oh dear, that’s giving my age away’!’

“At one time in the 70s, The Goodies was showing on Portuguese TV. I was swimming and suddenly a lovely, young Algarvian beauty rose out of the waves and said ‘goodish’. She followed me up the beach and said to Eric Morecambe, ‘He goodish’ and Eric said, ‘No he very baddish’.”

So, do ‘Goodies’ co-stars, Bill Oddie and Graeme Garden ever pay Tim a visit at his villa?
“Sssh….Don’t tell them I’m here!”