Course

Tonys Comment

Score Card

Gallery

Directions

Founded 1991 Architect Donald Steel Holes 27 Length White 8990 Yrds Length Yellow 8765 Yrds Length Red 8565 Yrds Par 72 for 18 holes Golf Director Sean Corte-Real Greenkeeper Manuel Castro Golf Pro Roel Gritter Address Alto do Semino 8125-307 Vilamoura Telephone 289 300 505/522 Fax 289 316 499

Course Description
Vila Sol, close to Vilamoura, near the outskirts of Quarteira, was the first individual creation of the famous English architect Donald Steel, in Portugal.

Donald Steel is an architect who above all likes to preserve nature and native vegetation, reducing earthmoving to the minimum by using undulating terrain to create the type of golf course that is within the English philosophy. This is the counterpoint to the American School where elevated tees and greens are indispensable.

Donald has carefully maintained the original topographical nature of this undulating terrain. Changes when necessary have been kept to a minimum to preserve the natural state of being. The outward nine-holes are testing for a golfer starting with a par-4 of 381 metres. Next an even longer par-4 hole, then another par-4 of 385 metres. The sixth and eighth holes, both par-5s, are awaiting the player with each a little under 500 metres. The back nine has two par-3 holes that are attractively designed. The par-5 on the fourteenth is particularly difficult to achieve with a tricky green awaiting the player.

The course being with a rather complicated 38l-metre par 4, with a very tall pine- tree about 50 metres before the green that makes the line into it more difficult. The green hump backed and fast. A par here is always a good start. Next, there is another par 4, more than 400 metres long, a classic one, in our opinion. Describing it is not worth while; the best thing to do is play it. The third one, another par 4, 385 metros long demands a second shot to a green on raised ground turning this hole into the most difficult on the course. It should be mentioned that this must be the most testing start to any Portuguese course, as can be seen from the handicap stroke given to these three holes: 5, 3 and 1.

The 6th is a somewhat elaborate par 5, including a lake in the middle, so we prefer the 499-metre 8th as a par 5, with a brook crossing the fairway to protect the two-tiered green.

In the second nine, there are two par 3's of excellent design, the 13th and l5th; the 18th has only the drawback that the green is not visible from the tee. Another interesting factor at Vila Sol is the excellent driving-range, but above all very professional maintenance makes this golf course a place where you play with pleasure. The greens are pristine and run true provided one takes sufficient care to read them properly. The course is one of the best kept in the Algarve.
BACK TO TOPˆ

Tony's Comment
Another of my favourites. Possibly the hardest opening 4 holes in Europe, but for you high handicappers you have plenty of shots to very easily accumulate a good start. Another course you will leave with the utmost respect.
BACK TO TOPˆ

Gallery

BACK TO TOPˆ

Directions
27 kms west of Faro airport. Turn south off the EN125 main road west of Almancil at "Quatro Estradas" (crossroads with traffic lights) towards Quarteira and Vilamoura. Vila Sol course is about a five minute drive from the crossroads, on the right.
BACK TO TOPˆ