Vilamoura Golf Courses
Oceanico FALDO COURSE
The Oceanico Faldo Course in the Algarve
No. holes 18
PAR 72
Length 6598 meters
Architect Nick Faldo
Opened 1st September 2008
Designed by Sir Nick Faldo with strategic play in mind this 6,604 meters par–72 championship course demands careful positioning to score well.
"The land at Amendoeira is dramatic and the project has the potential to be a real talking point in the Algarve. With so many courses in the region, that’s no mean feat," pointed out Nick Faldo, during his visit in 2007.
In a modern twist of a traditional recipe, cacti and wild herbs replace the role of Sunningdale’s heather, spartan Holm oaks and ancient olive trees take the place of a lush English woodland, and desert scrub bunkers of crushed limestone replace Berkshire’s sandy tracts in a golf course that revels in the classic principles of strategic play.
Nick said: "This was a very exciting project, which gave me a great opportunity to exploit my passion for design the same way I exploited my passion for playing. You have incredible views, beautiful undulating land and any time you have natural terrain like this, it is great fun to work with."
"The real skill is that when you stand on the tee, the golf hole tells you what to do and if you do what it tells you there is reward but if you don’t you’re penalised. The back nine quite hilly, which is fantastic because we’ve got some great views to complement the course."
"I like my courses to be challenging to whoever plays them. There might be easy holes in some places, but they are a challenge because you have to think about them, and that is what I am after. The best compliment you can get in the design business is when players come off the course and say ’wow, that was a challenge,’ and that’s just what I planned at Amendoeira Golf Resort."
Oceanico O'Connor Jnr.
No. holes 18
PAR 72
Length 6708 meters
Architect Christy O'Connor Jnr.
Opened 1st October 2008
Designed by Christy O’Connor Jnr., this course complements the neighbouring Oceanico Faldo Course and also takes full advantage of being situated in a fertile valley. Its varius water features, both lakes and watercourses that are spread throughout the entire course, demand accuracy and test all golfers, and the rich topsoil was skilfully landscaped and planted with mature palm–trees, affording a lush, ornamental setting like an extensive oasis.
This course has tees that are generally connected to the fairways but its greater overall distance, the water hazards and big greens probide its challenge. Golfers must also be prepared to read the subtly contoured putting surfaces that are strong features.
Holes 7, 8 and 9 average length par-fours, offer a particular challenge as all three run alongside lakes, so golfers’ concentration and accuracy of tee-shots as well as approaches are vital. 3rd and 17th holes are both excellent par 3’s.
Two consecutive par-fours, the 14th and 15th with larefe rolling greens, are tough hurdles to overcome at such a critical stage of the round, and then the finishing hole, 356 metres off the white tee, requires a precision drive to set up the approach to a two tier green benched into the hillside.
Oceânico Academy Course in the Algarve
No. holes 9
PAR 27 (par 3p/hole)
Length 700m
Architect Steve Richardson
The 9 hole Academy Course located between the Oceânico Faldo and the Oceânico O'Connor Courses is ideally suited to beginners and those who wish to sharpen up their short game. It has been built to the same high standards as the Oceânico Faldo and Oceânico O'Connor Courses. Three teeing options vary the line of play into each hole and maximize every hazard designed into the green complex. The 7th is the feature hole on the course, where two of the teeing options play over water. The 9th hole Academy Course will become a firm favourite with all the family and a must to play alongside its big brothers.
Oceânico Victoria
No. holes 18
PAR 72
Length 6609
Architect Arnold Palmer
The previous owners invested 18 million Euros in Oceânico’s Victoria Golf Club, designed by Arnold Palmer, one of the greatest legends of the sport. This was the most ambitious golf project in Portugal, and was aimed at being one of the best golf complexes in the whole of Europe.
Oceanico’s Victoria golf club was designed by one of the greatest legends of the sport Arnold Palmer. With an 18 million euro investment and the most ambitious golf project in Portugal the previous owners aimed the course to be one of the best golf complexes in Europe.
The Victoria Clube de Golfe will be the fifth at Vilamoura and the most exclusive one at the resort, making it ideal to become the Algarve’s and Portugal’s major venue for top international tournaments.
Palmer, whose design company has created 500 courses worldwide, designed the Victoria course project, and Southern Golf, Europe’s largest golf course builder, was awarded the construction contract.
Oceânico Victoria course is an 18-hole, par 72 championship layout, measuring 6.609 meters from the back tees. Several man-made lakes provide hazards for the players and also serve as water reservoirs for irrigation.
Oceânico Old Course, Vilamoura
No. holes 18
PAR 73
Length 6254
Architect Frank Pennink — Remodelled and refurbished by Martin Hawtree in 1996
Situated in the heart of Vilamoura a mere 20–minute drive from Faro airport, this Frank Pennink designed parkland style layout is one of the oldest in the region and renowned all over the golfing world.
Often described as the Grande Dame of Algarve courses, it meanders throughout impressive pine trees — the principal hazard - over gently undulating natural terrain. Although it opened in 1969, the course was completely renovated and modernised 27 years later although no major changes were made to the magnificent layout.
In addition to raising the Vilamoura Old Course to new heights of quality, an attractive new clubhouse and adjacent putting green were also built at that time. As with all Vilamoura courses, environmental protection practices are strictly adhered to by means of detailed management systems in line with guidelines established by ISO 14001 standards, Green Globe and Committed to Green programmes.
The Millennium course in Vilamoura
No. holes 18
PAR 72
Length 6176
Architect Martin Hawtree
This conventional Par-72 course opened in the year 2000, although the completely refurbished back nine holes - formerly part of the 27-hole Laguna Course - had been completed in their original configuration a decade before.
The refurbishment and the totally new outward half were both designed by renowned golf architects, Hawtree
Oceânico Pinhal Golf Course in Vilamoura
No. holes 18
PAR 72
Length 6353
Architect Frank Pennink — Remodelled and refurbished by Robert Trent Jones Jr. in 1985
This was the second golf course built in Vilamoura and inaugurated in 1976, having originally been designed by Frank Pennink, the architect of the nearby Vilamoura Old Course.
Several refinements were incorporated over the years, the most significant one by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1985. It is typified by rolling parkland terrain covered with numerous umbrella and Atlantic pines that line many of the fairways and a few even stand out on fairways or near greens.
Ponds and a stream come into play on five holes but are not serious threats to above-average golfers. To keep up with modern technical advances in clubs and balls, several holes have recently been lengthened and the par-72 course now measures 6,353 metres off the white tee markers.
The clubhouse was completely renovated and modernised at the turn of the millennium and from the large verandah one can enjoy a panoramic view over the excellent driving range and practice facilities.
Oceânico Laguna Golf Course in Vilamoura
No. holes 18
PAR 72
Length 6121
Architect Joseph Lee
Laid out over low lying coastal terrain, this course, with its many water hazards and few trees, is considerably different from the other ones at the resort and many of its holes convey a links atmosphere.
U.S. golf architect Joseph Lee designed this course which was opened in 1990 and many previous visitors will recognise it as part of the former 27 hole Vilamoura III course. It has been subject to continual improvements over the years.
Measuring 6,121 metres from the white tees, the par 72 course includes several lakes which influence play on a total of 11 holes. In addition to acting as hazards and emergency water reservoirs, these lakes serve a useful purpose in attracting a variety of aquatic birds, both resident and migratory, as well as amphibians, otters, terrapins etc.
Vilamoura's master developers, Lusotur, have also established an environmental nature park not far from the course.
Apart from the lakes and an impressive total of 79 bunkers, another hazard is the wind that frequently blows over this somewhat exposed location.
Laguna shares a large, welcoming clubhouse with the neighbouring Millennium Course.