DESTINATIONGOLF. TRAVEL
ALGARVE
Vila Sol
San Lorenzo
San Lorenzo is famous for its beauty and its unique golfing experience. Situated in the exclusive Quinta do Lago estate, the course runs parallel to the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, which is full of wildlife and alive with the sounds of nature. The course is a very enjoyable 6,238 metre par-72 layout, but golfers are often distracted by the panoramic beach views of the early holes and the beauty elsewhere on and around the course. Designed in 1988 by American golf architect, Joseph Lee, and his partner, W. Roquemore, the cleverly sculpted holes weave their way through lakes, pine wood forests and white sanded beaches dotted along the Algarve coastline. The course is very popular with its club members.
Vila Sol
The magnificent 27-hole course at Vila Sol is surrounded by 150 hectares. The resort is situated in the heart of one of the most highly developed tourist areas in the Algarve, and yet it has stunning natural surroundings with a vast range of trees, plants and wildlife. Here you will find a fabulous Donald Steel design, which stretches through a wide valley naturally sculpted by Mother Nature and divided into three loops, each with a different level of difficulty. These are named Prime, Challenge and Prestige. The course has twice played host to the Portuguese Open, in 1992 and 1993. It was honoured by the Green Globe organisation in 1996 with the Green Flag award, the certification for meeting their high environmental requirements.
Pinheiros Altos
Pinheiros Altos is an enjoyable 27-hole course designed by Ronald Fream and Jorge Santana. The course has an unusual layout with three nines of contrasting character: The Pines, The Corks, and The Olives. The Pines, as its name suggests, meanders through typical Algarvian pine woods with many water hazards to be negotiated coming home. The other two nines are smoother, meandering through a series of lakes. Accurate driving and precise iron play is required. The greens have a reputation for being both difficult to read and difficult to hit because they are small and undulating.
Balaia
Just outside the popular region of Albufeira is the attractive Balaia golf course. This 9-hole par-3 gem will test every golfer, irrespective of your handicap, with holes ranging between 67 metres and 160 metres. It is a great test of your distance control and short game. Holes feature undulating fairways and excellent greens, and from the very start the beauty of this course is on display. The 1st hole boasts two lakes divided by an old wooden bridge. Full clubhouse facilities are available and because it is part of an extensive resort, this makes Balaia an ideal base for the individual golfer or groups visiting the Algarve.
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