Killester

Our top 10 courses in the Algarve...

1. Pinhal:  A course which is distinguished by its pine tree-lined fairways. The first nine holes meander through an exclusive residential complex. The second nine are built on more open and undulating land with occasional glimpses of the sea beyond. Pinhal has also undergone substantial remodelling and the resulting modifications to holes 5, 12 and 15 have greatly enhanced this already popular course.  

2.Laguna:  In stark contrast to its two sister courses, Laguna is without pines and, as the name suggests, incorporates water hazards in its fairly flat layout. It used to have three nine -hole loops. The former east and South loops now form the 18-hole Laguna course. 

3.Millennium:  The par-4 first rises from the tee in a dogleg to the right. Long hitters may be tempted to try to carry the encroaching trees, which form a barrier on the right-hand side of the fairway. At 300 metres it is not overly long, but there are awkwardly placed bunkers to catch a good drive or a wayward approach shot.

4.Old Course:  Built in 1969 to a design by Frank Pennink, this is a classic of course design. However, as time went by, as is not unusual, some subtle changes took place, not the least of which was a change of name. There were signs of wear and tear and it was decided to "give the Old Girl a facelift". So it was that the course was closed. When it reopened, early in 1997, management decided to revert to the original name. The results of the "surgery" are still fresh for all to see. 

5.Victoria:  The fifth of the Vilamoura courses is the real gem and was designed by Arnold Palmer and opened in 2004. Has held the “World Cup of Golf” despite its youth and that tell you all you need to know about the overall quality of this course.

6.Vila Sola:  Vila Sol sprang to fame by hosting the 1992 Portuguese Open only eight months after its official opening - a magnificent achievement. Ronan Rafferty won the tournament with a breathtaking 40-foot birdie putt. Anders Forsbrand, who was the runner-up, was only able to look on in amazement. The greens are pristine and run true provided one takes sufficient care to read them properly. The course is one of the best kept in the Algarve.

7.Quint do Lago – South:  This is the course used seven times for the Portuguese Open.  This course favours the long hitter, but requires the player to pick a particular route to score well. Although both anti-clockwise loops, the first nine favours a draw, while the second favours a fade from the tee. Holes 3, 15 and 17 feature lakes, which must be negotiated. Holes 8, 10, 15 and 18 are the most testing for the scratch player, while holes 2, 3, 5, 12, 13 and 17 offer the best possibilities of birdies.

8.Quinta do Lago – North:  The terrain is superb and typical of the area, sandy and littered with umbrella pines trees. In the spring, the rough is covered with a blanket of wild flowers, heather and gorse. The Fairways and tees are covered with Bermuda hybrid with a cool season mixture of grasses, which provides year-round, top quality swards. The greens are sown with Creeping Bentgrass Penncross, giving a fast, true putting surface, and which provide good all-year round putting surfaces.

9.Ocean Course:  The course combines the former Orange 9 hole course designed by Sir Henry Cotton, and the Green course designed by Robert Trent Jones; the Ocean course has been around since 1996 after a lot of work on the former Orange 9, which included the extension of some holes and the addition of more bunkers.

10.Royal Course:  Vale do Lobo initially developed quite slowly. The course combines the former Yellow 9 hole course designed by Sir Henry Cotton, and nine new holes adapted by Rocky Roquemore from Cotton’s original plan. The course is set amongst rolling pine-covered terrain and incorporates the famous par 37th which is now the 16th.