Central Algarve
This star-studded part of the region has some of the
most famous names and finest courses in European golf
Vilamoura is to golf on continental Europe
what St Andrews is to golf in Britain.
It attracts golfers like a magnet, eager to
see what millions of players from all over the
world have found so engaging about this
glitzy coastal resort in southern Portugal.
One key similarity with the Auld Grey Toun
in Fife, is that success has bred success, so
the success enjoyed by exisiting golf courses
has enocuraged others to follow suit. It is now
a seriously well-populated area, with the
crucial element that the standard remains
very high across all of them. Quite simply,
anyone building a course in the area knows
anything sub-standard will not prosper.
The benchmark was set high back decades
ago with the Old Course, which remains one
of the finest in all of continental Europe.
But before we talk about this design
masterclass and its neighbours, a word about
the off-course delights of Vilamoura, which
genuinely rival the golfing attractions.
It is impossible to imagine a visiting golfer
coming to this part o the world and not being
charmed by the intoxicating mix of old and
new, elegant and striking, traditional and
modern. Bars, hotels, shops and restaurants
suffer in comparison with no area of Europe in
their allure, but as well as the swish and the
stylish, there are also plenty of opportunities
to explore the less flashy examples hidden
among the charming back streets.
This is, though, the star-studded heart of
the Algarve, with the entrance to superstar
courses almost literally around every corner.
None are more statesmanlike than the Old.
Situated in the heart of Vilamoura, this Frank
Pennink design opened in 1969 and is known
as the Grande Dame of the Algarve’s courses.
It meanders through mighty pine trees over
gently undulating natural terrain. It was
spruced up in the mid ‘90s but thankfully
such modernising has not affected what
Pennink intended. Thus it remains one of the
Algarve’s and the continent’s finest. The
relatively narrow fairways slither between
avenues of pines towards slick, small greens.
Like the Old, it is also part of the Dom
Pedro stable – formerly Oceanico – and has
plenty of company. Victoria is one, which
burst onto the world scene when it hosted the
World Cup in 2005 just a year after opening.
It remains high profile as a result of hosting
the European Tour’s Portuguese Masters.
It was created by Arnold Palmer and he
ensured the preservation of the wetlands as
well as the typical vegetation of carob, olive
and almond trees. Several lakes, occupying 13
of the 90 hectares, provide mirrors of water
and strategic reservoirs for irrigation.
Elsewhere in the Dom Pedro stable in the
central region is Pinhal, the second course
built in Vilamoura. Pennink finished work on it
in 1976 having already designed the Old.
It has been upgraded a few times down the
years, with the most significant by Robert
Trent Jones Snr in 1985. Laid out on rolling
parkland terrain, numerous umbrella and
Atlantic pines line many of the fairways. A few
even encroach into fairways or near greens.
Ponds and a stream come into play on five
holes but are really for aesthetic appeal.
The distinguished English architect Martin
Hawtree revamped the new-look Millenium. It
opened in, unsurprisingly, the year 2000 with
the original back nine formerly part of the 27-
hole Laguna course. These renovated nine
holes, including totally new 8th and 9th, were
joined together with a new loop to offer a
layout of different character, style and playing
quality. It is open, given it is laid out over low
lying terrain on the coastal side of the Old.
The final course in the stable that are
grouped together north-west of the bustlingtown of Quarteira is Laguna, which boasts
many water hazards and few trees, so is
different from other Vilamoura courses.
American architect Joseph Lee designed
this course in 1990 and water affects 11 holes.
As well as acting as hazards, these lakes
attract a large variety of aquatic birds, both
resident and migratory, as well as
amphibians, otters and terrapins.
Hawtree also designed Pine Cliffs – whose
bright orange cliffs are one of the best known
sights in the world of golf. Built among pines
but also with an amazing clifftop stretch, this
is one of the most breathtaking courses in the
Algarve despite boasting only nine holes.
It allows golfers to drink in breathtaking
views along the Algarve coastline and
Hawtree has done a nice job of maximising a
small but spectacular plot. The short 6th,
Devil’s Parlour, is an absolute stunner and
makes you immediately want to grab your
clubs and your passport...FOCUS ON THE ALGARVE
Dom Pedro Old CourseQuinta do Lago SouthPine Cliffs