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Alamos Golf Course 21 July 2021

Our golf fix on 21 July was provided by Alamos Golf Course near Portimao.
The course itself was in great shape for this time of year, better than we have seen it during the hot summer months in the past.
It is apparent that some effort is being made to keep the golf course in playable condition as the fairways are green, well maintained, and proper lies result.
It has been a knock on the course in the past that this was not the case and areas of fairways were dried out and such is not the case this summer season.
Chez Carlos Golf Society played here at Alamos several weeks ago as well and the green were exceptionally quick and dangerous.
This time around, they were slower, ran true and were receptive to approach shots. A few in our group of 12 played some of their better rounds of the season. Louise Graham (39), Gordon Fleming (37) and John Harris (33) finished top 3 on the day.
John Harris also had shot of the day on our nearest the pin hole at #16.
Alamos is a great little course that even though it is short to some degree, provides challenges for all levels of players and makes for a fun day.
On this day if there was a complaint that could be considered relevant, it was that the greenside bunkers had been soaked to the point of unplayable mud in efforts to keep the greens in good nick.
They were bad enough that I would suggest the greenskeeper post GUR signs and deemed that relief from these bunkers was mandatory. Although I did not feel as affected by this as my playing partners, I empathized with their frustration and how it impacted their scoring and their day as well as being splattered with sloppy mud in several situations. The variety of holes and choices when it comes to strategy to play this golf course is always intriguing and keeps it interesting. Personally, I feel the more I play this course, the more it grows on me because it does have nuances that make you think and execute good golf shots to score well.
You can also read other posts about Golf in Portugal:
Amendoeira O'Connor Ocean Course
Trade Circuit at Old Course in Vilamoura
Seniors Golf – Portugal vs Andalusia

Another warm and sunny summer day in the Algarve took Chez Carlos Golf Society to Amendoeira O'Connor Golf Course on 17 July.

We had a group of 20 players all set with intentions of conquering our golf demons and holing putts from ridiculous distances, but the O'Connor Jnr Course had other plans in mind for most.
Aside from a few excellent efforts by a few of our members that deserve commendation, O'Connor defended itself well.
Fraser Graham (39), Ian McAleese (38), and Adrian Fraser Jones (36) were the only 3 that could manage to beat the course and accumulate 36 or more stableford points on the day. Nick Coulson took nearest the pin honours on hole #13.
O'Connor Jnr, as always, was in very good condition tee to green, and the greens themselves were not lightning fast as we have seen them in the past but ran true and consistent and pin placements provided a fair test of skill. As is usual with Amendoeira, the staff and the service they provide from front desk to caddy master is exemplary, efficient, and quite friendly and helpful which is greatly appreciated always by our members.
Included in the special for our group was buckets of balls for the range which has legitimate grass tees and an excellent little practice chipping green for warming up prior to hitting the course.
In my humble opinion, the O'Connor course is a fair test to all levels of talent or lack thereof. Short hitters will be pushed to their limits to get there, and long hitters will be dealt with accordingly for errant tee shots.
Around the greens requires some nifty shot making to produce scores. Measuring by attendance from our membership, it is quite apparent that O'Connor Jnr is one of our group’s favourites in the Algarve.
The course is without a doubt top notch and the service is second to none at Algarve golf courses. If I had a peeve, it is with the GPS on the buggies that restricts their pace in critical areas around the course, which is understandable and acceptable. Having the caddy master explain this to patrons as they assign buggies would be appropriate so they understand their buggy is not dying on them as they proceed to the first tee box when it activates built in slow speed restrictions.
Also, the buggies are coded not to work at all in the parking lot, which makes little sense when players go to load up their clubs from their vehicles and is an annoyance that seemed unanimous amongst our group.
Several times as I wait for our members near the caddy master station, I have witnessed patrons approach the desk upset their buggy died in the parking lot only to have them made aware of the circumstances at that time.
Saying that if this is the only complaint one can make about their Amendoeira O'Connor Jnr experience, it is quite petty.
This golf course is one of Chez Carlos Golf Society's favourites and quality of course and golf experience for value is as good or better than most in the Algarve.
You can also read other posts about Golf in Portugal:
Trade Circuit at Old Course in Vilamoura
Seniors Golf – Portugal vs Andalusia
Vale do Lobo Ocean Course

Trade Circuit at Old Course in Vilamoura

Trade Dom Pedro Circuit at the Old Course in Vilamoura, with a shot gun at 8:30 am in wonderful conditions. I made an interesting score, 37pt including 2 birdies and two blobs. I'm not a player hitting the ball too far but even so I got some greens in regulation and on the other holes some good chipping and good putting make the result. The greens were soft, very smooth and not overly fast and so it was a pleasure to play once again at the Old Course, one of the best golf courses in Portugal and which maintains an unshakeable prestige, precisely because of its wonderful design and which is challenging for all types of players. Dog legs, trees and bunkers oblige the player to place the ball precisely, in order to aspire to a good result, but it is a benefit to spend 4 hours playing that golf course, involved in nature.
There were several prizes, and the winner of the day was Jose Carlos Rodrigues with 43 pt, followed by João Miquelina 38pt and Alexandre Lopes da Cruz also with 38pt.
After 3 rounds the overall classification net is like this:
1st Rosangela Gois representing Tee Times Golf ... 112pt
2nd Manuel di Pietro representing Catering Events ... 111pt
3rd João Miquelina rep. Design Outlet Algarve ... 107pt
4º Carlos Ferreira representing Tee Times Golf ... 105 pt.
The last two tournaments to close the Dom Pedro Trade Circuit will be played at the prestigious Victoria golf course on 28th August and 27 November. Good luck to all.
You can also read other posts about Golf in Portugal:
Seniors Golf – Portugal vs Andalusia
Vale do Lobo Ocean Course
OPEN XIRA Golf & PRO-AM starting days