A truly international field attended the lovely Quinta do Lago South Course on a fine day which had a light breeze to enable a pleasant round in cooler conditions than had been experienced during the week. Host of the Portuguese Open eight times and included in the Golf World’s Magazine’s ‘Top 100 courses in Europe in 2012’ the South is beautiful as it meanders through the Quinta estate. Some of Europe’s finest properties are also to be found here touching the lush fairways but without intruding on play. It is an example of how construction can be in harmony with a golf course.
The course was immaculately presented with fast, true greens and rolling fairways. The stage was set!
28 players from as far afield as Holland, France and Italy as well as our expatriate friends from over the border in Spain joined our local Portuguese, English, Irish and Scottish members and guests and an enjoyable day was spoiled for some only by the quality of their golf!
Scoring proved tough as the pins were placed in tricky positions on many holes, but a fine round of 35 points by Mick Brown won the day. 2nd was new member Richard Moore who had made his debut the previous week at San Lourenco and was loud in his praise of the society as he had made many new friends during his holiday. We look forward to seeing him again.
3rd Place went to Malcolm Maxwell who equalled Richard’s score of 34 points but lost out on the back 9. 4th was Chris Banner with 33 points winning by virtue of his score on the last 6 holes. 5th was Rodrigo Ulrich, Course Director at Boavista Golf Club in Lagos, also on 33 points. The Society intends to visit Boavista at Rodrigo’s invitation in the near future.
Rodrigo also was nearest the pin at the 11th hole and kindly donated his bottle of wine for consumption! Apologies to Bert Carroll who was nearest the pin at the 7th hole but who I think I overlooked and awarded his bottle of wine to Malcolm Maxwell instead. I hope the matter has been rectified but if not please see me next time!
Our thanks are extended to the Hilton Group and Dom Pedro Hotels in their sponsorship of this event and to Tee Times Golf Agency in securing a great rate and tee time (something they are rather good at!). Playing partners Eamonn Kerr and Cathy Matthews were also very appreciative as some prizes came their way too.
The players and their guests were again treated to a lovely buffet meal with wine and Sangria back at the Chez Carlos Restaurant. Thanks go to Felipe and his staff for their excellent food and service.
This was the 3rd event in our Quinta do Lago Series this year and has been proven to be as popular as last year. It is not too be missed.
Our next game is at the Old Course in Vilamoura and we look forward to another friendly occasion.
Ron McLachlan
Quinta do Lago North Golf Course – The terrain is superb and typical of the area, sandy and littered with umbrella pines trees. In the spring, the rough is covered with a blanket of wild flowers, heather and gorse. The bunkering is incomparable, both on the fairways and surrounding the greens and gives the course an advantage over many of similar quality and design. The course is an anti-clockwise loop and favours that can draw the ball.
