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Chez Carlos Golf Society – Laguna Sat 22nd June 2013

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16 players took part in the Society’s day at Laguna Golf Course on a gloriously warm day with a testing breeze.

The course was in fine condition.  The tees and fairways were immaculate, but the greens were really quite superb, being very fast and true.  Those who had played Laguna before will know that it is a very pleasant but difficult course and those that had not found out!

The scores with only three exceptions were in the 20’s, proving that Laguna will test even the best of players.

The winner this week was Peter Densham who informed us that he could not recall the last time he had won anything and so it was a complete surprise to him.  Peter scored a very creditable 33 points.

Second place went to Sinead Murray with 31 points – another excellent score in the circumstances.  Jack Sperey finished 3rd based on his back 9 holes, from Carlos Ferreira and Peter Bell.

Jack also won his bottle of wine for actually getting on the putting surface at the delightful 17th hole, where many players found it easier to land the ball in the lake!  The course is not called Laguna for no reason!

Once again Felipe provided snacks and refreshments at Chez Carlos Restaurant where some players and their partners also had an excellent meal afterwards.

Quinta do Lago Series – Laranjal Sunday 9th June 2013

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Set in a valley of orange groves behind the Quinta do Lago resort, this beautiful golf course was the setting for this week’s Chez Carlos Golf Society outing.  Those who had played the course previously were loud in its praise before we started and those who had not were similarly impressed afterwards.

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The course meanders through parkland with sufficient trees to cause problems for the stray shot, but sparse enough to allow a recovery.  Similarly there is just enough well placed water to make several holes memorable for their design and testing to play.  The greens were fast and true with subtle borrows to make them a test for even the best of putters.  The rest of us just had to accept what happened!  The course was immaculately presented and the staff were friendly, courteous and efficient.  This is a lovely golf course.

Scoring on the whole was excellent with 9 players scoring in the 30’s.  The winner though was David Exley with 38 points, 19 on each 9.  Second place went to Peter Bell with 37 points, who benefitted from his new “official” handicap of 20.  In 3rd place was Nuno Louro with 36, including 22 on the outward 9 where he holed putts from vast distances much to his delight!  Unfortunately the back 9 proved more difficult.IMG_20130609_092533

There were two nearest the pin prizes this week and selecting from the 5 par 3’s was difficult as none is shorter than 155 meters.  Hole 3 was perhaps the most straightforward and Bob Guard won the bottle of wine with a fine shot to within 3 meters.  The testing 11 at 170 metres proved more difficult with Neil Rogerson pipping Ron McLachlan by a few centimeters, but still some way from the flag.

Carlos had two special prizes which were drawn from all the cards, the first a 1 hour physiotherapy massage was won by David Exley, and the second – a free entry to the next match in the series at Quinta North – was won by Peter Bell.  First and second again!

Afterwards we were treated to a superb lunch and wine back at Chez Carlos restaurant.  Thanks go to Felipe and all his staff for their food and their service.  Thanks too to Carlos for organizing such a great day at a truly remarkable value .

Millennium Review

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Oceanico Millennium G C – 25thMay 2013
17 members and guests turned up for another Chez Carlos Society golf day on a bright but breezy day.
Millennium Golf Course is a very pleasant course consisting of easy walking undulating fairways and firm but fair greens.  Its feature is the contrasting 5 holes accessed under the main road which meander through the pine trees, measured against the remaining holes which have a much more open aspect running through parkland.  Many suggest that Millennium is the easiest of all the Vilamoura Golf Courses – but beware – there are many places that can catch you out, particularly through those pine trees!  The course was in particularly good condition.
On the day, we had Nearest the Pin prizes – one each for the men and the ladies.  Unfortunately no lady held the putting surface and so the bottle of wine must wait for another day!  The men, however, did not do much better, but eventually from the last match, Mike Dickson produced a fine shot to pip first time guest, Michael Lowry, by a few feet.
Mike, consistent player that he is, also managed to secure 3rd spot with a score of 35 points beating Peter Bell on the back 9 countback.   David Exley shot a creditable 38 points, but he was beaten for 1st place by Heather Ward’s brilliant 39 points.  Beware the handicap committee for your next outing!
We retired to Chez Carlos restaurant for the prize presentation and nibbles and refreshments were provided by Felipe and gratefully received.  Quite a few stayed on for dinner which was also excellent.