The Algarve's remarkable collection of European Tour venues

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Those who tuned into The Golf Channel a couple of weeks ago to watch The Portugal Masters, could only be impressed. Not only did they see the cream of The European Tour's players, including five of this year's Ryder Cup - Team Europe, battling out a hard fought tournament, they also got a sense of the real test presented by one of Europe's very best courses, Oceanico Club Victoria.

Oceanico Old Course - The best of British Parkland layouts, but under the warm Algarve sun.

The Algarve's Oceanico Victoria Club, venue for the Portugal Masters, would make a perfect Ryder Cup host.

Quinta do Lago's South Course was designed by American, William Mitchell.

Stunning Vale do Lobo's Royal Course.

Vale do Lobo - Ocean Course - A masterpiece from Henry Cotton.

San Lorenzo is ranked # 5 in Europe.

Vila Sol is another gem in The Algarve's golfing crown.

Penina's Championship Course - where The Algarve's golf history began, remains one of the very best courses.

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The setting was Portugal's Algarve Coast and Vilamoura, a unique golf resort that has been part of a small army of outstanding Algarve layouts that have taken this sun-blessed coastline to the pinnacles of not only European, but global golf stardom.

Globalization is everywhere in the 21st century and just as it has come to industry and the business-world, so globalization has also come to golf.

More European Tour players are including participation in American PGA Tour events into their playing schedules than ever before. America's resulting familiarity with these players has garnered a new found interest in European Tour events and exposure to its venue courses. Those who may have previously thought that Scotland and Ireland were the totality of European golf have had their minds changed. But the big surprise to most is how this tiny Portuguese region called The Algarve has earned its way to become a big-time, featured player.

The Algarve is among many other things, a golfers dream come true -- 90 miles of dramatically handsome coastline, containing more than 30 top-drawer golf courses, eight of which have been selected as the venues for important European professional tournaments during recent years. There's no other country or region of the world that can claim such prestigious recognition for over 25% of its entire inventory of golf courses.

The names of these courses may still be unfamiliar to many American golfers, but it's time to make special note of each and everyone, because true world fame is just around the corner for them all.

Oceanico Club Victoria, is one of five championship courses that make their home at Vilamoura. Considered as Arnold Palmer's best design ever, Victoria was selected as venue for the WGC- World Cup Matches in 2005, just a short year after its official opening. Since then it has hosted The Portugal Masters in 2007 and 2008, an honor to be encored again in 2009.

It's been a well deserved rocket-ride to success for this piece of design artistry that was ready for championship play so early and has only improved during the following few years. Imaginative, very testy and packed with variety and ever-changing examinations of golf skills, stay out of the bunkers and the frequent water hazards and you could end the round with an acceptable score.

Oceanico's Old Course is the original Vilamoura layout and still the favorite with many regulars. A two time host to The Portuguese Open, this is a perfectly natural layout, magnificently landscaped and with strong resemblances to the great British parkland courses. There's something very regal about The Old Course that immediately captures the heart of every golf traditionalist and the experience of playing it is nothing less.

This is one for the thinking golfer who combines strategy with accuracy and has the ability to use every club in the bag. The great English architect, Frank Pennink was responsible for the outstanding design, vintage 1969.

Quinta do Lago, South Course is another frequent past host to The Portuguese Open and one more masterly layout, this time by an American, the late William Mitchell. The South Course was inaugurated in 1974.

Generously wide fairways and a well balanced length of holes makes this a layout, that can be tackled comfortably by most experienced golfers of some ability and for the single digit group, a very stern examination from the back tees. Water hazards are brought into play sparingly and the principal hazard will be the mature pine trees that eagerly present navigation problems to those who may have difficulties with flight control. Play within your own limits and this is a course that will remind you why you love this game.

Vale do Lobo, Royal and Ocean Courses. No, this is not a two for one deal, but a pair of eye-dazzlers that combined to make a composite course to host The Portuguese Open in 2002 and 2003, scaring the heck out of the entire field. The killer combo of 5 holes from The Ocean Course and 13 from The Royal proved to be too much for even these touring pros in 2003, when only 8 of Europe's best broke par in the first two rounds.

You have simply got to play both layouts to determine for yourself which is tougher, but be forewarned, neither is a walk in the park -- this is a pair of good lookers with teeth.

Play the Ocean Course first, saving The Royal and its fabled 16th hole, as a grand finale filled with high drama. Running along a cliff-top with the beach and sea far below, the tee shot must carry across not one, but two deep ravines to the green perched precariously on the cliff just 200 yards away -- best pray for a calm day with no wind, or take the conservative route. If nothing else, this one hole will give you material for cocktail talk back home for years to come.

San Lorenzo is ranked among the best in Portugal and Europe and has been called upon to host The Portuguese Open on numerous occasions. Designer Joseph Lee allowed his imagination to run wild when he pulled this one together in 1988 and the result is a rodeo ride that includes practically every difficulty in the book - plus a few extras for good measure.

Low handicappers are in for a treat as they try to break this wild stallion that simply refuses to be broken. You'll not only be using every club in the bag, but using each of them a half dozen different ways. The 19th hole will probably never have seemed so welcoming before, as saddle sore and beaten up, you walk (or are carried) off the 18th green, but with that sense of satisfaction and achievement known only to golfers. Soak it all up and enjoy.

Vila Sol is an, oh so British design, by the noted English architect, Donald Steel and a two time Portuguese Open venue. The very natural flow of the course winds its handsome way through an estate of mature pine, cork oak, fig and almond trees, guaranteed to have a calming effect on even the most hyper. Vila Sol may seem rather tame in comparison to some other Algarve courses, but it provides an extremely enjoyable round that can be approached by all levels of player, just be prepared for a few surprises along the way.

First surprise will be the opening holes, which unusually, are among the toughest on the course and real attention grabbers, especially for the less experienced player. Big hitters will be tempted to spread their shoulders and let it rip, but be wary, unless you are accurate, you will find yourself in big trouble, spending most of the round among the trees making recovery shots.

One outstanding course is missing from this listing, the much revered Henry Cotton Course at Penina. This is The Algarve's Holy Shrine to the game, the pioneer course along this coast and a masterpiece that like a very fine Portuguese wine, has somehow managed to continually improve over each of its 42 years of life. Penina carries maturity very well and holds its head high as still being among The Algarve's very best.

All of these eight champions are conveniently located within a twenty minute drive of each other, only Penina being a little further, but are they the best? They are certainly among the best, but with the standard of courses along The Algarve Coast so consistently high and the separation between them all, so infinitesimal, it's a difficult judgment to make. And these are only the courses that have hosted European Tour events so far. There are even more outstanding layouts that have come on line during recent years and even more on the way. It can only be a matter of time before they have their chance at European Tour fame as well.

For ideas and suggestions on how The Algarve's very best courses can be included in your golf trip, click here.

©2008 David Brice / Golf International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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