Golf in Algarve

Oceanico Old Course – Weekly Competition Friday 15th July 2011

Posted on by

Course designer Frank Pennink wanted to create a golf course in the Algarve that would remind players of those beautiful, challenging inland British courses. The Oceanico Old Course parkland style layout is one of the oldest and renowned all over the golfing world. ‘Golf Digest’ rank it within the World’s top 100 courses.

Opened in 1969, the golf course was completely renovated and modernised in 1997 and fitted with a new state of the art irrigation system. It is quite simply many players favourite. It is a course where accuracy over distance previals with overhanging pines that often block the trajectory to its small protected greens.

The Society has not played here for over a year so it was high time for a visit. An ensemble of twelve players gathered to take on the ‘Grande Dame’ of the Algarve under perfect conditions; blue skies and a gentle temperate breeze. A special welcome was made to two juniors playing today namely Craig Harkins and Stewart Graham who each played with their fathers in today’s betterball stableford competition.

The winning score of 48pts is impressive as the rest of the field was at least eight points adrift.

1st: Clive Davies (h/c15) & Shane Hall (h/c10): 48pts

Nearest The Pin: Frazer Graham

Vale Do Lobo Royal – Saturday 9th July 2011 Weekly Competition

Posted on by

The Society said it would return back to Vale Do Lobo after playing both its courses in April.

The Royal is characterised by undulating fairways, white expansive bunkers all set amidst pine trees and beautiful lakes it is a true golfing treat. It has altered a great deal in its layout since Henry Cotton crafted it in the 1970’s, however, in 1997 it underwent a remodelling but the cliff hole is still its signature – now the 16th. It is a veritable symbol of golf in the Algarve as well as being reptuably the most photographed hole in Europe and probably is!

It was a busy day with a large corporate golf day on the Ocean course whilst other visitors and members were booked on its sister course. The Society were able to negotiate special terms of just €41.00 – fabulous value for a course as good as this. So unsurprisingly a strong field of 15 players turned up for our singles stableford competition. Congratulations to Rod Griffiths, whose card I marked, and Frazer Graham for some fine scoring whilst the rest of us were sub thirty points.

The Old Course next competition day Friday 15th July.

1st: Rod Griffiths (h/c 18): 37pts

2nd: Frazer Graham (h/c 11): 36pts

3rd: Shane Hall (h/c 9): 29pts

Onyria Palmares Experience – Monday 4th July 2011

Posted on by

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.