Course

Tonys Comment

Score Card

Gallery

Directions

Founded 1976 Architect F. Pennink R. Trent Jones Jr Holes 18 Length White 6151 Yrds Length Yellow 5709 Yrds Length Red 5125 Yrds Par 72 Golf Director Troon Golf Management Greenkeeper Eng. Simão de Cunha Golf Pro Manuel Pardal Francisco Pontes Address Pinhal Course 8125 Vilamoura Telephone 289 310 390 Fax 289 310 393

Course Description
The Pinhal Golf Course (ex. Vilamoura 2), inaugurated in 1976, is another one of Pennink's assignments. For urban development reasons Vilamoura 2 was modified in 1985 by Trent Jones, who retained l1 holes of the previous layout.

The different golf design concepts of the English and American schools are easily recognised here. The Americans quietly readjust the terrain at their convenience, while the British have a kind of reserve and sometimes a certain refinement. Although this is an excellent example, we feel that the Pinhal Golf Course should have been re-planned by an architect of the same school to maintain the course character.

This course is laid through the pine tree forest of the area and is set back from the tourist beach area. The outward nine holes wander through the holiday villas that line the fairways. The well-positioned bunkers make the course very enjoyable to the players, testing their choice of clubs and their accuracy. The Par-4 on the fourth hole is difficult to achieve with water waiting for the erring shot. The Par-3 on the eighth of 149 metres is trickier than it appears. The back nine-holes have a more open feel but the slightly altered fifteenth will cause a problem to meet the Par-4 it requires.

Although meandering through rolling countryside with umbrella pine lined fairways, it is more open than Old Course. Smaller greens, however, maintain a requirement to play approach shots accurately.
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Tony's Comment
Very underestimated test of golf. Requires serious thought from the tee and when playing shots into the greens you have to negotiate the frustrating, very cleverly placed trees.
A good course for the chip and run shot.
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Gallery

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Directions
25 kms from Faro airport. Look out for Vilamoura signposts on the EN125 main road between Almancil and Boliqueime. Turn south at signposted entrance to Vilamoura complex by traffic lights. Having entered the complex, turn left at the first T-junction and follow signs to the courses.
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