On occasions the Society will support an external event. Saturday’s Vila Sol Open Day was one such occasion where invited guests had the opportunity to play alongside members on the Championship course (Prestige & Challenge) followed by lunch in the Clubhouse.
At just 20.00€ this was always going to be a popular day and the Society forwarded nearly a third of the 62 participants. With an early start of 7.48am play got underway to a Gents & Ladies Individual Stableford format played off Vila Sol slope rates – all players enjoyed some form of handicap increase!
New owners Pestana are making gradual improvements to reinstating it back to its former status as one of the finest courses in the Algarve – its layout is simply one of the finest and most challenging. It is 20 years old this year and found fame at an early age when it hosted the Portuguese Open two successive years in 1992 & 1993. Numerous tournaments followed including the famous Johnny Walker Classic, its home for five years and the ongoing Bobby Robson Classic.
Architect Donald Steel built a masterpiece demanding positional play at its very finest. The first four holes have a reputation as being one of the hardest starts in Portugal and deservedly so! Neither nine is any easier according to its members. As with any great course the closing holes are strong from the sloping and narrowing 17th to the 18th for a grandstand finish overlooked by the clubhouse terrace.
A splendid three course lunch with wine awaited us afterwards with a short prize presentation by Vila Sol’s Golf & Commercial Manager. The Society would like to thank all those involved for a great day. Anyone interested in joining the Vila Sol memberships are available at preferential terms.
Best score amongst Society players:
Ladies
Graca Carter (h/c 25): 38pts
Gents
Russ Brittain (h/c 19): 35pts
