This conventional par 72 course opened in the year 2000, although the original back nine was formerly part of the 27-hole Laguna Course. Refurbishment to the existing nine holes commenced in May 1999 and included the complete rebuilding of the tees, greens and bunkers, particularly for holes 8 and 9, the only ones on this loop with water hazards, with the aim to simplify the strategy of the course to make it more golfer-friendly. The renovated 9 holes were joined together with the new 9-hole loop to offer a layout of different character, style and playing quality. The work was undertaken by the well-established UK golf Architects Hawtree & Sons which culminated in the creation of the new, exciting 18-hole Dom Pedro Millennium golf course.
The course is particularly open, although some holes (the 3rd to the 7th) wind between pine trees and are similar to the neighbouring fairways of the Dom Pedro Old Course and Dom Pedro Pinhal. In this more wooded area, the fairways are narrower and require greater accuracy - while the rest of the course has a clear landscape enriched by lakes at the 4th, 17th and 18th holes. The arrival of the Millennium course made Vilamoura one of the main - if not the main - European golf destinations.