Golf in Vilamoura

Oceanico Millennium – 12th November. Weekly Competition

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The Society returned back to Central Algarve this week for a game locally at Oceanico Millennium. Blustery conditions greeted us on arrival and prevailed throughout the day but thankfully without rain.

We accessed the twilight green fee rate but had negotiated an earlier tee time thereby ensuring we played a full 18 holes in daylight.The course was in good order and the recent rains have brought new growth to the course. Greens were lush though variable on speed. A handful of the yellow tees were playing forward on the blue boxes making for a shorter course today.

Eight players took part in today’s individual stableford competition and a welcome was extended to Mark Warner playing off an 8 handicap joining us for the first time today. Once again we returned back to Parkies Bar for post game refreshments and nibbles.

1st: Tony McInerney (h/c24): 38pts

2nd: Peter Vaughan (h/c14); 34pts

Nearest The Pin (15th): Peter Densham

Vila Sol – Saturday 15th October ’11 Weekly Competition. Portugal Masters Week.

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Lots of inspiration abound this week as The Masters set up camp for the fifth time at the Oceanico Victoria golf course. This is Portugal’s premier golfing event and many make their way to Vilamoura to come and watch some of the best names in the business apply their trade. Consequently our 20 places at Vila Sol soon filled up and due to the demand we booked an additional slot at Pinherios Altos to take an additional 10 players.

Vila Sol host to two Portuguese Opens when it first opened was operating at maximum itself. A betterball pairs stableford format was chosen so as to keep the game moving so as and to ensure the last group had enough daylight – which it did with time to spare.

October has been hot for this time of year yet the course looked and played well. The Prime & Challenge nine holes (1-18) are some of the best in the Algarve and it is always a delight to play especially when the Society had secured a preferential rate of just 57.50€ probably another reason it was a popular event!

Thanks once again to Dell for putting on an exceptional spread of food on in the bar– well it was his birthday weekend!

1st: Wyn Hughes (h/c: 19) & Clive Davies Carlos Ferreira (h/c 13): 43pts

2nd: John Gibson (h/c: 13) & Shane Hall (h/c 8): 36pts

Nearest The Pin: Clive Davies

Oceanico Faldo – Saturday 3rd September Weekly Competition

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Again, this was another course the Society had not played for two years – 1st August 2009 to be precise.

Opened in September 2008 and designed by Sir Nick Faldo it rates up there with the very best in Portugal. A mighty 6,598mts off the back tee this Par-72 championship course demands careful positioning to return a good card. The intention was always to create an Arizona desert feel with cactus and wild herbs plants in abundance planted against craggy out crops of rock. Terracotta coloured soil contrast to the expansive golden bunkers. The full effect of the course takes shape on the back nine as players wind their way up the hillside. The 15th tee is at the peak and the complex spreads out ahead of you with its sister course, O Connor Jnr, in the distance – a great vista.

All players arrived in good time and many made good use of the superb free practice facilities on offer. Betterball stableford pairs was today’s format off the yellow’s tee (5858mts). For the record behind these are a further two tees! The course was in superb shape and the off fairway bushes, pampas grasses and plants have given the course that extra maturity since last time I played it. Graham Newman found a stead fast partner with Bomber and carded a great 44pts to steal the show from father and son Shane and Shandon.

Once again a fine spread laid on by Parkys Bar in Vilamoura.

1st: Ian O’Malley (alias Bomber- h/c 10) & Graham Newman (h/c 24): 44pts

2nd: Shane Hall (h/c 10) & Shandon Hall (h/c 28): 40pts

Nearest The Pin (16th): Martin Lewis