Faldo, O'Connor take their design talents to The Algarve
By David Brice, Golf International Inc
Portugal's southerly coast is a unique golfing phenomenon, deserving of place high atop every golf traveler's "Must Visit" list. This is The Algarve, a very special piece of golf real estate, well known to Europeans, but only now being discovered by golfers from this side of The Atlantic.
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Measuring just over 100 miles from east to west and barely 25 miles from north to south, The Algarve didn't have a single golf course until 43 years ago, when 5-time British Open champion turned master- architect, Sir Henry Cotton, designed and built the very first. Little did the golfing world realize that this would mark the beginning of a truly remarkable collection of the best designs from the world's top, modern day golf architects.
Penina, Cotton's pioneer course, opened to rave reviews in 1966 and hasn't looked back since, but neither has this sun-blessed coastline. The Algarve has grown into not only one of Europe's most important golf centers, but also a wonderful vacation spot, with as much appeal to non-golfers as the most ardent player.
Henry Cotton quickly followed up on his initial Algarve design at Penina with a pair of gems he created at Vale do Lobo, by which time the international golfing community was awakening to the fact that something special was happening. Sensing an important new golf destination in the making, the world's best golf architects were soon clamoring to get on the band-wagon and make themselves a part of it.
The first to join Cotton was another noted English designer, Frank Pennink, who crafted a stunning layout at Vilamoura, now known as Oceanico Old Course. American architects William Mitchell, Joseph Lee and Rocky Roquemore were not far behind, followed by Robert Trent Jones, Donald Steel, Martin Hawtree, Dave Thomas, Seve Ballesteros, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus -- it's a veritable "Who's Who" of top design talent. Now boasting an impressive 34 world-class courses, The Algarve holds a magical appeal to golfers from around the globe as a unique showcase of golf course excellence -- and the collection only continues to grow.
The crème de la crème of architects are still drawn here, as keen as ever to add their best design work to the showcase, with Nick Faldo and Christy O'Connor Jr., the very latest to join The Algarve's prestigious, Hall of Golf Design Fame. True to the high standards now synonymous with Algarve golf, both have come up with exceptional layouts, of which they and the region can be justly proud.
Both courses are part of the Oceanico Group's new and very plush, Amendoeira Golf Resort, located just outside of the historic town of Silves. This fascinating town was once the center of Moorish culture and served as the regional capital during the 12th century. Intriguing as Silves is, the two new courses are nothing less and both call out to be played, each offering a totally different style and challenge.
The Oceanico Faldo Course occupies the hillier portion of the Amendoeira estate, with a somewhat arid landscape and rocky outcroppings interspersed with a variety of water hazards coming in the form of lakes, ponds and meandering streams. There are serious elevation changes, complicated by the sea breezes wafting in from the Atlantic. The elevated greens are fed by some wildly sloping fairways, always filled with a sea of undulations to be wary of.
Faldo has come up with a masterly layout that is quite spectacular and demands strategy from start to finish. There are options on practically every hole, which are not always obvious and need to be carefully thought out. Once a commitment is made, the decided route must be attacked with conviction and most importantly, accuracy. Risk/reward holes are a Faldo specialty and for the thrill seekers this cracker-jack layout will not disappoint.
The claim has been made that The Faldo Course will appeal as much to the scratch golfer as the high handicapper, maybe, maybe not. For the high-handicapper, frustration just might overshadow the exhilaration and for these folks, the neighboring, Oceanico O'Connor Course could be the wiser choice.
Christy O'Connor Jr., the affable Irishman from Galway, whose playing career earned him four European Tour victories, two British Senior Open titles and places on a couple of Ryder Cup teams, a job change to course design is proving equally successful. With some 30 designs scattered around Ireland and Continental Europe to his credit, his most recent effort at Amendoeira might be his very best to date.
In keeping with Christy's easy-going character, the design caters to the average golfer with no less than six tee positions on each hole, making it eminently playable from the forward tees by high handicappers. But play this beauty from the back tees and it's an entirely different kettle of fish as the test ratchets up considerably, presenting a very serious examination of golfing skills for even the single digit handicapper.
Set in a low lying valley, with lush landscaping, orange groves and lakes, the layout is in total contrast to the hilly, Faldo Course, with its rugged, desert-like setting. The result is two entirely different tracks, both capable of challenging the most talented player to the extreme. The O'Connor showing a greater sensitivity to mere mortals -- providing they play within their limits and stick to the forward tee positions.
Setting out in a gentlemanly fashion, the opening sequence of holes gently eases the player into the test ahead, with generous fairways and water that is far from frightening. By the 5th hole, confidence will be running high and with the 6th, a delightful par-3, you could be believing the hidden golf talents you knew were always within, have at last been revealed. The truth will be brought out on O'Connor's 7th, 8th and 9th, which the man himself has called his "Amen Corner". This is a splendid trio of holes that bring a great lake into play and demand a level of skill and strategy, not previously called for.
From here in it's a tougher layout leading up to the grand finale of four really exhilarating challenges from the 14th on, culminating in a magnificent closing crescendo on the final hole and a befitting end to a round on a course inevitably bound for future glory.
The Oceanico Group, now with seven, truly outstanding courses on The Algarve, has done the region proud with these two latest additions. They have also introduced a pair of top contemporary architects, not previously present here; bringing even greater depth to the unique collection of world-class courses that is The Algarve.
For more ideas and suggestions on how to include the best of The Algarve's magnificent golf on your trip, click here.
©2009 David Brice / Golf International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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