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The Old Golf Course
Tel: 00351 289 310 341 |
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A challenging Par 73 set in a lush green landscape, which hosted the Portuguese Open in 1979. It has recently been redesigned to match the best European golf courses. The Old Course was designed by English golf architect, Frank Pennink. Opened in 1969, it was completely refurbished in 1996, when several improvements were introduced and a new clubhouse built. The course is renowned for the way the designer skillfully utilised the natural contours of the land, maintaining the native vegetation, consisting mainly of pine woods. This is one of the courses in Portugal that will always stand out in the memory of visiting golfers. The oldest of the Vilamoura courses that form part of a luxury resort development close to fantastic beaches. Frank Pennink wanted to create a course in the Algarve that would remind players of those beautiful, challenging inland British courses. The verdant fairways of the course renovated in 1997 run through surrounding pine trees adding an extra challenge to the game. This is a very attractive course with a great variety of holes, perfectly maintained due to a sophisticated new irrigation system and with well-trained staff. The Par 3 holes are all different and visually very beautiful, representing the toughest challenge on the course. They require careful selection of irons and near perfect ball control. Over the rest of the course trees play a decisive role, lining the doglegs and punishing any careless strokes. The greens are small, especially on the shorter holes, where there is simply no margin for error. A unique feature of this course is that it is a Par 73, but due to the change of position between the holes 5 and 18, there are no longer four Par 5 among the last nine holes. | ||
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Pinhal Golf Course
Tel: 00351 289 310 990 |
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This course, built in the middle of a pinewood brings together two very different architectural concepts – British and American. In 1988 it was selected for the Portuguese Ladies’ Open, an event that forms part of the women’s professional European circuit. Inaugurated in 1976, Pinhal Golf Course was originally designed by the Briton Frank Pennink. Later, 1985 it was partly redesigned by the North-American Robert Trent Jones, who introduced new challenges into the course. As a result different styles are apparent in the layout. The first nine holes wind through umbrella pine woods while the back nine, returning gently uphill, move through terrain that opens up to magnificent sea views. Panoramic views over the sea. One of the main characteristics of this course is the small size of its greens, requiring great precision from the golfer in terms of approach shots. Hole number 17, 502 metres for a Par 5 from a championship tee, offers players the chance of a birdie, or even an eagle for golfers who risk driving off over the out-of-bounds zone to the right, thereby drastically cutting through the fairway accentuated dog-leg |
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Laguna Golf Course
Tel: 00351 289 310 180
Length: North Course 2935 m, East Course
2953 m, South Course 3,180 m |
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Situated very close to the beautiful coastline of the Algarve and with water as a constant presence, this course has three loops of nine holes all of which are enduring challenge for any player. The Laguna Golf Course comprises holes of widely varied playing conditions - a typical trait of American designer, Joseph Lee. This applies to both the opening nine holes, inaugurated in 1990, and the back nine, which were ready to play in 1993. Unlike the other Vilamoura courses Laguna is located on relatively flat, open terrain. The basis of its modern design is strategic placement of bunkers and water hazards which demand accuracy of play. The Laguna Golf Course makes full use of the wet, marshy ground near the sea. It is the most recent of the Vilamoura courses, comprising three loops of nine holes, (north, South and East) for a total of 27 holes. The layout is very different from the two other Vilamoura courses. Here the golfer can drive off more confidently because of the greater width of the fairways. On the North Course strategically placed bunkers are the main difficulty while on the South and East courses water is a nearly permanent obstacle, not to mention the bunkers (88 out of a total of 27 holes). Lee may have designed a course that is visually intimidating, but as it is not very long the golfer may complete it without great difficulty. The result is that the satisfaction for the golfer after finishing his game is even greater. There are several ways to play this course, as one soon discovers at hole number 5 on the East Course, which is 315 metres for a Par 4 with a lake covering the right-handed dogleg. Here the players options for the first shot range from a driver to a number five iron. The player must reflect that by choosing a wood the second shot will be significantly shorter. But this also brings the water into play - so highly increasing the risks. |
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Millennium Golf Course
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Opened on May 13th 2000 the Millennium Golf Course was designed by English architect Martin Hawtree. A great deal of forethought went into the planning and the Millennium course is surely destined to become one of the most attractive courses built to date in Portugal. In a beautiful setting within the pine woods and natural countryside it has a layout that offers variety and interest for the golfer. 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 Old Course and 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 makes Vilamoura one of the main - if not the main - European golf destination. Well established UK golf architects Hawtree & Sons were contracted to plan modification and design work which has culminated in the creation of the new, exciting 18-hole Millennium Golf Course. Refurbishment to the existing nine holes commenced in May 1999 and included the complete rebuilding of the tees, greens and bunkers. Changes were made to the layout or structure of the old nine holes but several new design features were incorporated with a view to simplifying the strategy of the course and in order to make it more golfer-friendly. This applies especially to holes 8 and 9, the only ones on this loop with water hazards. Also, many of the bunkers have been re-shaped and the smaller greens expanded. |
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Victoria Golf Course
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Here, Arnold Palmer and his team designed one of the most spectacular golf courses in Europe. There are 22 lakes with an overall area of 12 hectares and along their banks aquatic plants harbour dozens of species of birds that thrive in this kind of habitat. The putting-green is huge measuring almost 2500 m². The 10th hole is a superb par-4 with a green that seems to float above a lake. This is the start of the fantastic “Victoria corner”, a sequence of four holes skirting a large 600-metre long lake. You need to execute a variety of shots especially those from the “beach bunkers”– a Palmer trademark– where the white sand stands out against the green grassy areas. Following these holes the relatively short par-4 14th has a double fairway to choose from but the green is simply breathtaking - as if suspended over water. The 17th hole is a long par-5, over 500 metres in length and in the right hand rough is a series of waterfalls the beauty of which can easily divert your attention from playing. The first hole with a green framed by a number of olive trees is typical of the difference between the two loops. The clubhouse is another feature to be discovered. The façade is reminiscent of an aqueduct behind which is a vast terrace. There is bar service even in the locker rooms where golfers can order drinks before or after playing. The restaurant is decorated in the style of an 18th century mansion where the leather chair backs are artistically engraved with the letter ‘V’ for Victoria. |
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Vila Sol Golf Course & Country Club
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The great variety of trees adds special charm to a course blessed with excellent facilities. In 1992 and 1993 it was selected for the Portuguese Open, so consolidating its international reputation. Placed at the heart of one of the Algarves most developed resort areas between Vilamoura and Quinta do Lago, Vila Sol is a picture postcard of Portuguese golf. Though only opened in July 1991 the course already shows a considerable degree of maturity as a result of its excellent upkeep. This course winding through an immense pinewood in which fig trees, oaks and almond trees also feature is the work of the famous English architect Donald Steel. It is a typical inland golf course of the British school, posing a test of the golfers strategic skills. Its narrow fairways demand accurate driving. The player has to face several obstacles during the game - lakes and bunkers as well as fast grass on the greens. A low overall score will be the fruit of early successes on the first four holes - reckoned to be the most difficult on the entire course. Vila Sol earned high marks in its most challenging test - hosting the Portuguese Open in 1992 and 1993 ( invigilators were Europe's top professionals). These golf stars heaped praise upon the excellent playing conditions and the quality of the greens which they considered as good as the best in Europe |
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'SuperGolf' Golf Course (inc School/Academy)
Tel: 00351 289 310 230 |
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Supergolf, Vilamoura is one of the best Academies in Southern Europe, providing the total golf experience for all levels of golfers from the complete beginner to the most seasoned player. Comprises the following training facilities: 49 bay driving range with real targets, 3 hole academy course (2 Par 4 and 1 Par 3). Exceptional short game practice area and the Butch Harmon School of Golf with two fully equipped Studios. |
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