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1st Hole - 367 metres - Par 4
Not a long par-4 to start with, but requiring precision
from the tee. A bunker on the right at 215 metres catches
many drives as do the trees eating in to the fairway on
the left. The right to left and downhill slope rewards a
well-struck draw shot, hit down the right half of the
fairway.
The second to a green, which falls slightly front to back
and left to right, must be flown over bunkers at the front
both left and right.
2nd Hole - 180 metres - Par 4
A straightforward par-3 with a long or mid iron, requiring
a good strike to fly the trap at the front of the green.
Another bunker on the left catches the player who tries to
bounce in off the left to right slope near the green
3rd Hole - 150 metres - Par 5
A very well designed driving hole. The fall of the land
is left to right and bunkers on the right at 215-240 metres
catch the ball hit in the centre of the fairway. Driving
too far left makes a very testing second shot across the
left to right lie of the land. The perfect tee shot
finishes just left and past the bunkers leaving a
straightforward second.
The approach is uphill to an elevated green with bunkers
on the left and right.
4th Hole - 380 metres - Par 4
Following the same contour lines as Hole 3, this hole has
a left to right slope on the tee shot. A ball started a
little too far left catches a fairway bunker. Yet one too
far right (while it will lie well), is blocked out by a
clump of pines on the right.
The second is to the green with bunkers left and right and
severe slope from the right side of the green.
5th Hole - 345 metres - Par 4
A slightly uphill tee shot has a very well placed trap at
the corner of the left-hand dogleg. Trees on the right catch
the player who dislikes the look of the sand on the left.
The slightly uphill is a little longer than it looks, bunkers
at the front left and rights catch those who under club.
6th Hole - 319 metres - Par 4
Great examples of the short, yet testing par-4. The drive
must be struck between a cluster of fairway bunkers on the
left and pines on the right. The fall of the fairway is left
to right. Many do not attempt the driver here.
The second shot to a green-bunkered front and back and with
another tantalising tier running across it is a test of length
judgement. It is easy to over hit the green . A safe entrance
is on offer on the left side, which then leaves a testing putt.
7th Hole - 504 metres - Par 5
One of the best par-5 holes in the world of golf. The drive
across a shallow depression with the beautiful Loulé hills
as a backdrop, is an ever-narrowing gap the further you hit.
Bunkers left and right at 220 metres demand accuracy from
the tee.
The second shot, slightly uphill, is to a long green, bunkered
left and right and with another tier running across the centre
of the putting surface. Three good shots are necessary to make
an "easy" par-5 here.
8th Hole - 153 metres - Par 3
A slightly downhill par-3, usually against the wind. The green
is raised slightly above fairway level and is surrounded by
bunkers left, right ant at the rear. Less testing than Hole
14, this still demands a well struck accurate shot.
9th Hole - 380 metres - Par 4
A testing par-4, usually against the wind. The drive from an
elevated tee must be placed between fairway bunkers on the
left at 200 metres, and tree on the right positioned on a
ridge which can leave an uphill lie for the second shot.
The green has an easy approach, but is bunkered to the back
left and has a fall from the back edge. A slight tier across
the centre of the green adds zests to the putting.
10th Hole - 358 metres - Par 4
A friendly tee shot with bunkers to the right at 200 metres
and a fall slightly away to the left, sets up a test of
distance judgement for the second, with a short iron.
A large trap at the front of the green, another on the left
and a bank on the right, make a high soft approach a must.
The green has subtle interesting contours.
11th Hole - 465 metres - Par 5
Driving through a winding, picturesque avenue of pines
towards the Loulé hills, this is fine par-5, just in range
of two long well placed shots. Bunkers left and right at
210 metres make accuracy a must on the drive.
A generous fairway offers plenty of room for the second
shot, but clusters of bunkers left and right catch the
wayward strike. The green is surrounded traps in front,
left and rear, and has a 2-metre bank to the right.
The green has a tier running from 8 o'clock, left to right
across the green, necessitating an approach from the
correct angle to get near the flag.
12th Hole - 361 metres - Par 4
A spectacular hole with a three-acre lake around the
left-hand side of this 90-degree dogleg. The lake begins
at 150 metres out from the tee and extends along the
left side of the fairway and along the left edge of the
green. A bunker at the right centre, extreme end of the
fairway is the driving line - usually with a fairway wood
or long iron.
The second shot is intimidated by the water hazard on the
left and a large trap along the right of the green. Aqua
phobia often makes the unwary over hit the second, leaving
a long putt across a large undulating green.
13th Hole - 374 metres - Par 4
A drive of over 200 metres is needed to see the bottom of
the flag on this testing driving hole. A bunker on the right
(at 210 metres) makes length and accuracy a must to set up
a short iron approach.
A trap on the left hand banking to the right make this long
green no "give-way" to hit.
14th Hole - 154 metres - Par 3
A great par-3 hole played from an elevated tee, giving
exposure to the wind. This medium length par-3 features a
figure "eight"- shaped green with a tier across the waist.
Bunkers left and right, and banks front and rear, make this
very good test wherever the flag is positioned.
15th Hole - 370 metres - Par 4
A 90-degree right dogleg which does not always require a
full drive shot. A bunker centre left at the corner of the
dogleg catches the over hit drive.
The second uphill to an elevated green with trap on the
right is, again, slightly further than the player sees.
16th Hole - 160 metres - Par 3
A slightly downhill par-3 from an elevated tee. The green
is set in a bowl on a bank and once enough length is
achieved, many balls will roll onto the green from the
left, right and rear.
17th Hole - 345 metres - Par 4
A short dogleg left par-4 that again demands a precise
shot. Many hitting a drive slightly right or too long end
up in semi-rough. Those going too far left can catch a
bunker or roll over the banking left of the fairway into
an amphitheatre of pine trees.
The second to a green bunkered left and right needs to be
well flighted and, woe betide the player who is long or
left.
18th Hole - 480 metres - Par 5
Again a demanding drive. This time across a lake which
is a 190 metres carry from the Championship tee. The
fairway, sloping right to left, can lure the player into
the left-hand fairway traps at the point of the right-hand
dogleg.
The second down into a dip and onto the steep slope up to
the green offers a generous fairway but trees catch those
who miss it. The approach up a steep bank to a sloping
double tier green, must be well thought out as putting down
the slope is never easy.
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