Algarve Golf

Tee Times Golf Holidays Algarve – All things related to the region and city of Algarve in the south of Portugal. Great sunny weather, culture, traditions, food and awesome warm sandy white beaches and golf resorts are here.

Pestana Vila Sol – Saturday 17th September. Members Open Day

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On occasions the Society will support an external event. Saturday’s Vila Sol Open Day was one such occasion where invited guests had the opportunity to play alongside members on the Championship course (Prestige & Challenge) followed by lunch in the Clubhouse.

At just 20.00€ this was always going to be a popular day and the Society forwarded nearly a third of the 62 participants. With an early start of 7.48am play got underway to a Gents & Ladies Individual Stableford format played off Vila Sol slope rates – all players enjoyed some form of handicap increase!

New owners Pestana are making gradual improvements to reinstating it back to its former status as one of the finest courses in the Algarve – its layout is simply one of the finest and most challenging. It is 20 years old this year and found fame at an early age when it hosted the Portuguese Open two successive years in 1992 & 1993. Numerous tournaments followed including the famous Johnny Walker Classic, its home for five years and the ongoing Bobby Robson Classic.

Architect Donald Steel built a masterpiece demanding positional play at its very finest. The first four holes have a reputation as being one of the hardest starts in Portugal and deservedly so! Neither nine is any easier according to its members. As with any great course the closing holes are strong from the sloping and narrowing 17th to the 18th for a grandstand finish overlooked by the clubhouse terrace.

A splendid three course lunch with wine awaited us afterwards with a short prize presentation by Vila Sol’s Golf & Commercial Manager. The Society would like to thank all those involved for a great day. Anyone interested in joining the Vila Sol memberships are available at preferential terms.

Best score amongst Society players:
Ladies
Graca Carter (h/c 25): 38pts
Gents
Russ Brittain (h/c 19): 35pts

Oceanico Faldo – Saturday 3rd September Weekly Competition

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Again, this was another course the Society had not played for two years – 1st August 2009 to be precise.

Opened in September 2008 and designed by Sir Nick Faldo it rates up there with the very best in Portugal. A mighty 6,598mts off the back tee this Par-72 championship course demands careful positioning to return a good card. The intention was always to create an Arizona desert feel with cactus and wild herbs plants in abundance planted against craggy out crops of rock. Terracotta coloured soil contrast to the expansive golden bunkers. The full effect of the course takes shape on the back nine as players wind their way up the hillside. The 15th tee is at the peak and the complex spreads out ahead of you with its sister course, O Connor Jnr, in the distance – a great vista.

All players arrived in good time and many made good use of the superb free practice facilities on offer. Betterball stableford pairs was today’s format off the yellow’s tee (5858mts). For the record behind these are a further two tees! The course was in superb shape and the off fairway bushes, pampas grasses and plants have given the course that extra maturity since last time I played it. Graham Newman found a stead fast partner with Bomber and carded a great 44pts to steal the show from father and son Shane and Shandon.

Once again a fine spread laid on by Parkys Bar in Vilamoura.

1st: Ian O’Malley (alias Bomber- h/c 10) & Graham Newman (h/c 24): 44pts

2nd: Shane Hall (h/c 10) & Shandon Hall (h/c 28): 40pts

Nearest The Pin (16th): Martin Lewis

Quinta Do Lago South – Saturday 27th August – Weekly Competition

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It has been two years since the Society last played at Quinta Do Lago South so a visit was long overdue.

Designed by William Mitchell the South course has hosted the Portuguese Open eight times. In 1989, Colin Montgomerie won his first European Tour event setting a course record of 63 and a Tour record of 24 under par. The course is laid out on beautiful undulating terrain with countless shady pines and a few man-made lakes that attract many aquatic bird species. Long hitters can take full advantage of some generous fairways but correct placement of shots is required to score well. The 15th Par 3 is the signature hole demanding a long carry over water. Depending on the wind it could be a driver!

The Society secured a superb rate of just €40.00 for this event so those that played had a truly special day. The course was in fine condition and was well on the way to be being perfect just in time for the start of a new golf season (mid September); all that was needed was the rain – not a common occurence in August.

Clive Davies started with an impressive birdie at the first hole to hand a card in with 36 points after a recent 2 shot handicap reduction by the Society. There was a three way scramble for second place with 29 points.

It was Paul Loerns first time playing golf in Portugal. Quinta do Lago is certainly a course to impress and it showed on his face after the game – welcome to the Society Paul.

Thanks once again to Dell at Parkies for laying on post game nibbles – this time from his newly opened Floyyds Pizzeria.

1st: Clive Davies (h/c 13): 36pts

2nd: Huw Owen (h/c 7): 29pts (c/b)

Nearest The Pin (11th): Clive Davies