Vilamoura's Victoria Club hosts the Portugal Masters  Golf International, Inc. Anyone with doubts regarding the continued growth in the popularity of golf in the world, need only take a look at the PGA European Tour's schedule of events for 2007. A record breaking 54 tournaments will take place around the globe and with venues including Australasia, Africa, The Americas and Asia, as well as Europe; the only continent missing seems to be Antarctica.  Vilamoura's Victoria Club - a touch of genius from Arnold Palmer hosts The Portugal Masters. Europe remains the focus of more than half the events, but only just and this thanks to a few important new tournaments being introduced for the first time in 2007. Perhaps the most notable of these is The Portugal Masters, scheduled to be hosted at Vilamoura's Victoria Golf Club, on The Algarve Coast, between October 18 and 21. This will be the third European Tour event to be held in Portugal in 2007 and a well-deserved acknowledgement of this small country's growing role in the world of golf. Full credit however must be given to Portugal and its tourism promotion board, Turismo de Portugal, for not only understanding the importance of golf on a global basis, but more importantly, understanding how essential it is that they develop and maintain their own, impeccable golfing infrastructure. Little Portugal (population just 10.5 million people) has become a shining example to other countries in this regard, with 14 of Europe's Top 100 Courses within its borders.  The Victoria Club offers elegance and top ranked golf. Now with a golf product, the envy of most other European nations, Portugal is investing a significant 50 million Euros (about $72 million) in the international promotion of its golf product -- and with golf this good, Portugal inevitably becomes a must visit destination for golf travelers, the world over. The Portugal Masters, offering a purse of over 3 million Euros (approximately $4.5 million) will be among the richest on The European Tour, assuring it of attracting an impressive field. As Portugal's top ranked course and one of the best on Continental Europe, Victoria Golf Club will be delivering on a promise made when this stunning layout first opened in late 2004. The Vilamoura golf complex, already with four championship courses in its inventory, including Frank Pennink's outstanding Old Course, had an established reputation for quality golf development and a particular sensitivity to protecting the environment. Expectations were high that the fifth layout, designed by our own Arnold Palmer, would be special, but not even the most optimistic anticipated the masterpiece that resulted.  Water and shrewd contouring are all a part of Victoria's defenses. Any new golf course needs time to mature and develop - any new course that is, other than Vilamoura's Victoria, a notable exception to the rule. Mr. Palmer's best design ever, literally shot out of the starting gate and skyrocketed to overnight fame. Within little more than a year it was hosting the WGC World Cup Matches and golf aficionados from around the globe saw through television what a spectacular layout had been produced. Only two years later Victoria has been brought onto the European Tour, hosting The Portugal Masters, a new 2007 event that promises to become one of Europe's most important. It took just two years for Vilamoura's Victoria Club to rise to the very top of the prestigious Peugeot Golf Guide's ranking of Portuguese courses and earn a place among the top ten on Continental Europe, but where from here? Things are only going to get better.  Victoria's 14th. Victoria is still only a youngster, albeit a very special youngster, still to celebrate its third birthday. Despite displaying maturity far beyond its tender years, further maturing is gradually taking place and will continue to do so many years to come, bringing with it a unique level of character and personality. As good as the layout is today, even better days lie ahead - this beauty is destined for celebrity afforded only the select few. At just shy of 7,200 yards from the tips, Victoria is among the longest layouts on the Iberian Peninsula and well prepared to take on the very best professionals and all of the latest advancements in equipment technology. Yet still a resort course at heart, the selection of tee positions, brings Victoria within the playing abilities of more average talents. Fairness has always been the mantra of any Arnold Palmer design and he has not failed with Victoria's clever and thoroughly professional layout. The fine contouring of what was originally a piece of very flat terrain, brings hazards shrewdly into play, but they are always clearly visible, making strategy a relatively straightforward matter. Water is brought into play on seven of the holes and with most of these occurring on the back 9, even the water fearing player is given plenty of time on the front half to prepare.  Vilamoura's Laguna Course. Avoid the distraction of Victoria's strikingly handsome good looks, paying full attention to each hole's individual challenge and golfing ability will carry you through what can only be a thoroughly enjoyable round. It will be testing no doubt, but arriving at the distinguished clubhouse, you will have the sense of accomplishment that can only come from playing a truly world class course. Vilamoura's Victoria Club provides a special treat for any golfer eager to have their abilities put to the test. But before taking on the challenge considered good enough for the European Tour at The Portugal Masters, take a couple of warm up rounds on one or two of Vilamoura's other four courses.  Vilamoura Old Course.
The Old Course remains a tough challenge, which many consider the equal of Victoria. The Laguna Course runs close to the Atlantic and presents an abundance of water hazards in its very open design, irresistible to the big hitters. Vilamoura's Pinhal Course is packed with variety and another Frank Pennink design with more recent modifications by Robert Trent Jones and Frank Hawtree. The Millennium Course offers rolling parkland combined with a back 9 that wanders through impressive stands of umbrella pines, the narrow fairways demanding accuracy from start to finish. Vilamoura is undoubtedly one of the world's premiere golf resorts and with five quality courses, each presenting a totally different challenge, a place to be savored, enjoyed and taken full advantage of. To get a better idea of the golfing wonder that is Vilamoura's Victoria Club, tune into The Golf Channel between October 18 and 21, where you will find 3 hours coverage of The Portugal Masters each day. It will be a chance to get up close and personal with one of Europe's best layouts and see just what you have been missing. For more ideas and suggestions on playing the best courses of Portugal's sunny Algarve Coast, click here. © 2007 David Brice / Golf International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Golf International -- Providers of quality golf travel arrangements since 1988. |
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