Vale do Lobo Ocean – Saturday 8th October ’11- Weekly Competition

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When we last played Vale Do Lobo Ocean in May the Society said it would return back later in the year. October is ‘high season’ and with the closure of the Oceanico Victoria course for the forthcoming Portuguese Masters it is getting busier on resort.

Situated on the very edge of the coastline with fairways running down to the beach it really is a spectacular course. Remodelling a few years ago has seen the course improve and special note must be made of the 9th hole. Crafted from nothing this new hole is a fabulous addition with its cascading water on the right ready to trap any stray ball to a narrowing double tier green.

Perfect weather greeted the ensemble of 24 players made up of many new players and some faces the Society have not seen for awhile. Pace of play was slow but what better place to enjoy the scenery than the spectacular Ocean course. Individual stableford was the format of play with a Nearest the Pin and a 2’s competition this week though only one was achieved on the day.

1st: Carlos Ferreira (h/c 12): 32pts

2nd: Bob Hill (h/c 18): 28pts

3rd: Shane Hall (h/c 8): 26pts

Nearest The Pin: Carlos Ferreira

2’s club: Carlos Ferreira

Salgados – Saturday 1st October. Weekly Competition.

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Salgados is not your typical Algarvian golf course. It is something different blending links style golf on a flat terrain with adundant lakes cross crossed by hazardous ditches. In fact there are very few holes where water does not feature. Added palm trees now line most fairways giving the course that extra definition that it lacked when it first opened. Its wetland setting is picture postcard material with resting migratory birds and shimmering blue waters against protective golden sand dunes.

Blustery conditions greeted us on arrival and continued for most of the day. Salgados’ exposed position and lack of shelter and ever looming expanses of water makes it one of the toughest courses to play when the wind blows and today was a severe test of ball control and flight. It was wisely decided to play a team format of three players with 2 stableford scores to count on each hole apart from the Par 3’s where all scores counted. At least this way if you were having a bad day you can leave it to your playing partners.. hopefully.

After a wind swept game we returned back to Parkies Bar for some well deserved refreshments and nibbles. Thanks once again to Dell.

Next week we return back to Vale do Lobo Ocean

Winners: Doug Mallett, Annie Hallewell & Simon Turner – 89pts

Nearest The Pin (12th ) – Carlos Ferreira

Pinheiros Altos – Saturday 24th September. Weekly Competition

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The Society welcomed two new players this week Debbie Wilson & Clare Daniel who drove up to the Algarve after playing La Manga the previous week so as to make our ensemble to 11 players, at Pinheiros Altos.

Our last visit in May saw the Society play the Oliveiras & Pinheiros loops, on this occasion it was Oliveiras (Olives) & Sobreiros (Pines). For those still unfamiliar with the names ‘Oliveiras ’was the original 1-9 lakes holes whilst the ‘Sobreiros’ holes consist of a re-sculpted 6th & 7th, four of the new holes and finishing off with original 7th, 8th & 9th.

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 apart from a couple of tees and the greens their usual quick pace. ‘We’ll definitely be back!’ says Debbie.

Once again we returned back to Parkies Bar for post drink refreshments and some fresh pizza. Next week we return back to Vale Do Lobo.

1st: Shane Hall (h/c 8) – 34pts

2nd: Robin Prescott (h/c 14) – 32 pts

Nearest The Pin (Oliveiras 8th) – Mary Strutt