Golf in Algarve

Chez Carlos Golf Society Tournament 20th January

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Vale da Pinta golf course

Vale da Pinta

Vale da Pinta golf course hosted the Chez Carlos Golf Society this week for a most enjoyable game of golf. It is a beautiful 18 hole par 71 golf course, with a distance of 6,127mts from the white tees. Vale da Pinta golf course has a good layout and all the usual hazards including bunkers and lakes but also a variety of trees including carob, fig and ancient olive trees, making the golf course a challenge for golfers of all abilities.

The golf course is in good condition with firm bermuda grass fairways, good greens and some wonderful holes.

Vale da Pinta golf course

The favourite hole of the day was the 6th, par 4, stroke index 2, with a left hand dog leg which needs a well positioned tee shot to leave the green in view. Nearest the pin was played on the 15th, a downhill par 3 proctected by a large bunker, and that was won by Mair Robinson. Other great holes of golf course are the 4th, par 5 and the 9th, although a bit short it’s a nice hole if you manage to avoid the trees in the left corner. Vale da Pinta golf course has many elevated tee shots, a real pleasure to play, a true test of any golfers skill and well worth a visit. The golf course has been host to the European Senior Tour Qualifying Final for the last 8 years and has been voted one of the best designed golf courses in the Algarve.

Tee Times Golf Agency Open Championship 2018

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Tee Times Golf Agency Open Championship 2018

Tee Times Golf Agency Open Championship 2018 - Michael Ewings - Winner

Michael Ewings – Winner

The 2nd Tee Times Golf Agency Open Championship 2018 amateur competition was played in January 2018 in a Stableford format with a mixture of pairs and individual scores over the 3 day tournament at Salgados, Laranjal and Quinta do Lago South Golf courses. The competition was fully booked, well in advance.

The event began with a meet and greet cocktail party at the Chez Carlos restaurant in Vilamoura on the Thursday evening. The pairs draw was made for the following day.

Tee Times here page

Salgados Golf Course hosted the first round of the competition. Although it was a cold and windy day the atmosphere amoung the players was exciting. Salgados is a very open golf course and as it was a breezy day, scores were definatly affected and not brilliant. It was a two tee start. Salgados Golf Course was in a good condition and well maintained. After the round the group sat at the club house terrace enjoying the sunshine whilst scores were collected. The players later gathered at The Chez Carlos restaurant for dinner, announcing of the days results and to make the draw for the following day.

Tee Times Golf Agency Open Championship 2018

The 2nd round was played at Laranjal Golf Course. It was a beautiful sunny day again with no wind, quoted by the players as “millionaires golf and an absolute pleasure to play”. The greens were true but difficult to read and the scores improved slightly from the previous day. Laranjal have introduced new tees and the players noticed that the golf course was longer but enjoyed the novelty of using Gold Tees.

The group met up later at the Chez Carlos restaurant to have dinner, discuss scores and to be advised of start times for the final round which was in order of merit.

Tee Times Golf Agency Open Championship 2018 - Stephen Draisey - 2º place

Stephen Draisey – 2º place

Quinta do Lago South Golf Course was host to the final round and a favourite course for most. There were 8 to 12 players in with a chance of winning, which created an exciting buzz amoung the competitors. Quinta Do Lago are making some noticable improvements to the South Golf Course and the greens were good but slower then Laranjal Golf Course. Nearest the pin was played every day and on the final day, the longest drive was introduced on the 17th hole, a par 5. Colette Cohen won the Ladies and Peter McMahon won the gents longest drive.

The Tee Times prize giving dinner was held that evening at The Chez Carlos Restaurant with non golfers also attending, there was approximatley 65 people. It was a fantastic evening, a brilliant atmosphere with great food and excellent service.

Doug Smith hosted the prize giving looking very dapper in his red bow tie. The prizes were given for individuals and pairs, nearest the pin and the longest drive. The best dressed players also won prizes, the worthy winners were Roger and Carol Benzie wearing traditional Scottish kilts. Carmel McCarthy received the biggest cheer of the entire evening for the each day lowest score and she embraced this in great style.

Tee Times Golf Agency Open Championship 2018 - Thomas Roberts 3º place

Thomas Roberts – 3º place

Mr Carlos, owner and founder of the Tee Times Golf Agency congratulated the winners and thanked the sponsers for their support and complemented Douglas and Teresa Smith, for their input in the organisation.

Later a raffle took place with a variety of excellent prizes, for a childrens charity here in the Algarve and an amazing total of 1.725,00 euros was raised.

It was a marvellous event, thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. The evening culminated with some live music courtesy of Roger with his guitar and the guests partied until midnight. After a very merry night, some accidental coat swapping even took place. There could not have been a more fantastic group of people and we very much hope to see everyone for the 3rd Tee Times Golf Agency Open Tournament in 2019!

List of Prize Winners

Day 1 Pairs Salgados Pts
1st – Thomas Roberts & Jeff Williams 65
2nd – Rob Brown & Liz Scully 63
3rd – Stephen Draisey & Mair Robinson 58
Nearest the pin – Ken Barnes 8th
Winner of lowest stableford score – Carmel McCarthy
Day 2 Pairs Laranjal Pts
1st – Trevor Ward & Trish Macbeth 56
2nd – Tony Lopategui & Peter Mcahon 55(c/b)
3rd – Marie Harpur & Michelle Roberts 55
Nearest the pin – Neil Johnson 15th
Winner of lowest stableford score – Carmel McCarthy
Day 3 Individual Quinta South Pts
1st – David Harpur 37
2nd – Colette Cohen 33
3rd – Michael Ewings 32(c/b)
Nearest the pin –Bill Hurrel – 1t1h
Winner of lowest stableford score – Carmel McCarthy
Mens Longest Drive 17th Peter McMahon
Ladies Longest Drive 17th Colette Cohen
Open Championship Pts
1st – Michael Ewings 26 33 32 = 91
2nd – Stephen Draisey 32 31 28 = 91(c/b)
3rd – Thomas Roberts 34 30 25 = 89
4th – Trevor Ward 30 26 32 = 88
5th – Jeff Williams 31 26 30 = 87
6th – Michelle Roberts 30 25 31 = 86
Best Ladies Score – Mair Robinson
Best Dressed – Roger Benzie

Portuguese & Spanish golf courses Featured on Tours 2018

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Both Portuguese Spanish golf courses are steeped in golfing history and play an integral part in the European golf tours every year.

Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Club - Portuguese Spanish golf courses

Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Club

You need only look at the players in recent history who have come from both regions, and the golf courses that you can find there, to realize why it’s such an admired part of Europe. With Sergio García winning The Masters in 2017, and Jon Rahm surging through the ranks on the PGA Tour, 2018 is sure to be an exciting year for Spanish golf fans.

Portuguese Spanish golf courses

We’ve put together a list of the golf courses that will be hosting the professional tour or qualifying school tournaments in Spain and Portugal over the coming months. Although some are yet to be announced, the following are confirmed.

European Tour

Portugal Masters

The biggest golfing event in Portugal returns in 2018 to its home course, Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Club, in Vilamoura. The event, which will run between 20th-23rd September will as always host come of the tours biggest names – something the region is familiar with! The golf course was designed by none other than golfing legend, Arnold Palmer, and since 2007 it has been the proud home of the annual Portuguese Masters.

Real Club Valderrama - Portuguese Spanish golf courses

Real Club Valderrama

The Par-72 Championship layout, measuring 6.651 meters (7,273 yards), makes use of the natural wetlands and the typical vegetation of carob, olive and almond trees in the area. Lakes form a formidable hazard throughout the course – even for the skilled professional – hence why it has remained a popular test on the tour for over ten years. The course is also known for its contrasting front and back nine – with each side of the course offering its own type of challenge.

The 2017 edition of the event was won by Lucas Bjerregaard who carded a blistering final round 65 to finish on 20-under par, four clear of his nearest competitor – Marc Warren.

Andalucia Valderrama Masters

The Real Club Valderrama in Sotogrande will host the 2018 Andalucia Valderrama Masters on the 18th-21st October. The tournament was first played here in 2010, and it previously hosted the Volvo Masters.

Gramacho Golf Club - Portuguese Spanish golf courses

Gramacho Golf Club

After being canceled in 2012, the event returned to the region last year when it was hosted by local hero and 2011 champion Sergio García. García went on to win the event last year, and it will return in 2018 for what is set to be an amazing four days.

Valderrama is renowned as a tough Tour course that trails its way through the Sotogrande hills and meanders in between tightly clustered umbrella pine trees which makes for a tight, unforgiving test. Rather than being overly long, or having thick rough, Valderrama focuses on making sure that each shot a golfer takes has to be thought through meticulously – for some this is both the attraction and the fear when they play here.

Staysure Tour (Seniors Tour)

Qualifying School 2018

For the 18th consecutive year, the European Seniors Tour Qualifying School returns to the Pestana Golf Resort on Portugal’s Algarve.

Vale Pinta Golf Course - Portuguese Spanish golf courses

Vale Pinta Golf Course

Taking place over three venues, the 2018 Qualifying School will include the first stage being conducted for 36 holes on Silves Golf Club and Gramacho Golf Club. After that, the Finals will be played over 72 holes of stroke play on the Pinta Course at Pestana Golf Resort.

Silves is a par 70 course nestled into the foot of the Monchique mountains, while Gramacho, a par 72 course co-designed by former World Number One Nick Price, has previously hosted the Portuguese Ladies Open.

Challenge Tour

Challenge de España

Details yet to be confirmed by the Tour. This tournament featured here in 2017 and was won by Victor Perez who claimed a maiden European Challenge Tour title in some style, shooting an impressive 24-under par over the four days and winning by three shots.

Silves Golf Club - Portuguese Spanish golf courses

Silves Golf Club

Andalucía Costa del Sol Match Play 9

Details yet to be confirmed by the Tour. This tournament featured here in 2017 and was won by Aaron Rai who secured his second European Challenge Tour victory of the 2017 season by beating Ireland’s Gavin Moynihan 2&1 in the final match.