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.

Onyria Palmares Experience – Monday 4th July 2011

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After an 18 month closure Onyria Palmares officially reopened in June 2011. Designer Robert Trent Jones Jr has totally remodelled the course creating a mixture of parkland with links and an additional 9 holes.

It is now a three nine hole loop – Alvor, Lagos and Paria. The ‘Alvor’ takes the player on a parkland journey with the holes sloping upward and then dropping into a valley – it incorporates the signature hole 4th. ‘Lagos’ starts to blend parkland and heathland together accompanied with views over Meia Praia beach to the Atlantic Ocean and Lagos town – truly spectacular!

It is only till you come to the ‘Praia’ loop that you start to recall the old Palmares layout in the dunes. The two short Par 4’s over the railway line are now a 514mts Par 5 and the long Par 5 running parallel to the coast is still there but sculptured to form a massive 548mts Par 5 followed now by a 198mts Par 3 before traversing over the railway line. Once again, it is these holes that experience the full force of the wind rushing off land to the ocean. It plays harder than before, whatever few trees and shelter that were there have gone.

A match was accepted by the Society to take on some players from Lagos; a few of whom were familiar and had played in our Society events before. Each side arrived with 6 players and we were booked to play at 09.30am for the full 27 holes. After a few introductions and a coffee we partnered up and ventured into the unknown. Format was aggregate betterball stableford matchplay. After the’ Alvor’ and ‘Lagos’ 18 holes opponents were switched. Sadly, the Society was squarely beaten 5.5pts to 3.5pts, if only team Ferreira & Hall had won one its games!

Our thanks go to Rod Yates of ‘Algarve Golf Club Hire’ for raising a team and for afterwards for taking us down to a stunning beach bar on Meia Praia for post drink refreshments.

It truly is an experience to play here with such a variety of holes complimented with arguably the best scenery and views of any golf course in Portugal. Let us hope the planned villa construction will not spoil its magnificence. Play it while you can.

Pinhal Saturday 11th June – Weekly Competition

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It has been nearly a year since the Society last played Pinhal so a visit was long overdue. Remodelled several times since it opened it has now probably got one of the toughest starts in golf on the Algarve. It can sometimes favour you if they are operating a two tee start and that you begin off the 10th – this was not the case today; off the first for us!

Though the greens were on the slow side the course was in superb condition. Next week it closes as part of its summer maintenance schedule and the rough would benefit from a quick trim in places. Once again we played a better ball stableford with four teams battling it out beneath glorious weather. Refreshments and ‘nibbles’ were once again laid on at Parkies.

1st: Fred Holmes & Shane Hall: 39pts

Nearest The Pin: Shane Hall (again)

Pinheiros Altos Friday 13th – Weekly Competition

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Pinheiros Altos was the venue this week playing the Oliveiras & Pinheiros courses and as the player numbers were even in number we decided to play the betterball stableford format.

For those still unfamiliar with the names ‘Oliveiras ’was the original 1-9 whilst the ‘Pinheiros’ holes are 10, 11, 12, + four holes from the new and finishing off with original 13th & 14th. Should you find yourself in the new part of the course take care; it is very easy to play the wrong holes and out of sequence!. In tournament play this would result in disqualification. The course was in fine form and the green fast after a recent dry spell here in the Algarve.

It was a tight game resulting in three teams on 42pts so the back nine ruling came into effect. Congratulations to Shaun & Ric – a good score indeed. As usual we all returned to Parkies Bar in Parque Das Amendoeiras for our post game refreshment – another great day. Next week Vale da Pinta.

1st: Shaun Williams & Ric Lorenzo – 42pts (b/9: 23pts)

2nd: Tony Mullen & Tony Parsons – 42 pts (b/9: 22pts)

3rd: Rod Griffiths & Simon D Turner – 42pts (b/9: 20pts)

Nearest The Pin ( 8th island green) : Marion Parsons