Algarve courses

Reporting back from a great trip (4 nights, 4 rounds). 20 degrees when it was snow back here!!

We played San Lorenzo twice, Pinheros Altos (Corks/Pines) and Laranjal.

As others have said, San Lorenzo was a great layout and has some really nice holes. Just needs a bit of money spent to get it back to the level it should be, such as improving tee boxes , cart paths, and some tweaks to greens (apart from a few they rolled ok, just patchy)
Pinheros Altos is a fairly similar story - again some really nice holes, and a great set up with clubhouse, range etc. Probably in slightly better condition than San Lorenzo too, though probably not as good a layout, but definately better than some of the reviews i read before going.

Laranjal is a significant step above. Place was immaculate and the greens were perfect (no surprise I had my best day putting, and playing). Its quite forgiving so very playable (only really water or OB to lose a ball). Fortunately we played about 12.30 so the worst of the traffic was gone but it was a bit frustrating with the speed of play - odd they allowed several two balls out in the middle of 4s. We played in about 4hr 15. Best course ive played in Portugal so far (also played Aroeria, Praida D'El Rey and Vale do Lobo before this holiday)

Edit - looking at next year, we have a great offer proposed for the 4 Dom Pedro courses (and staying in Vilamoura itself) - any thoughts?
 
Billysboots said:
Monte Rei, more than most courses in the Algarve, really struggled with the drought last year. I can only guess that they still have some legacy issues as a result, because whenever I have played it, and that’s well over a dozen times over many years, it’s been absolutely mint.

That said, it was built with a view to staging a Ryder Cup, with a second course also planned which has never even broken ground. I think they may have planned poorly because there’s no way that place has the infrastructure to stage a major event.

I know a few villa owners who have sold up, one or two back to the club at a significant loss because buyers could not be found, so maybe the problems run deeper.
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I think it suffers from being out the way. People going on a golf holiday will tend to stay towards Vilamoura/Albufeira where there is lots of accommodation and nightlife. An hours journey seems a bit excessive when there are already lots of good courses a shuttle bus away. I think you need to really WANT to play it to make an effort.

Also, i understand its pretty tough - in a lot of golf groups they'll be a few hackers, and they might not like the idea of playing a tough course that costs a lot of money
 
peld said:
I think it suffers from being out the way. People going on a golf holiday will tend to stay towards Vilamoura/Albufeira where there is lots of accommodation and nightlife. An hours journey seems a bit excessive when there are already lots of good courses a shuttle bus away. I think you need to really WANT to play it to make an effort.

Also, i understand its pretty tough - in a lot of golf groups they'll be a few hackers, and they might not like the idea of playing a tough course that costs a lot of money
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We used to stay in a mate’s villa there, and I agree it is very much out of the way. We’d been to Vilamoura and Tavira several times, and whilst the latter is within striking distance of MR for a night out, it means someone having to drive. After several years of staying in the villa, one or two of our group started to drift away from the tour, as they were missing being able to have a stroll round the town in the evening, and playing elsewhere, and the tour broke up.

As for difficulty, I agree. It’s tough, especially when the wind blows. When it’s in good nick, and it sounds as though that’s no longer the case, if you find yourself on the wrong side of the pins the greens can make you look daft. I remember having a downhill six footer on the 4th green on my first trip, and I ended up 30 yards off the green.

I eventually worked the course out, and found it playable. But it is a difficult track. One of the best rounds I have ever played anywhere was the 31 points I had there when I’d first got down to single figures. Pleased as punch I was. But if you’re a group of mixed abilities with high handicap golfers, it’s probably not the best venue. It can beat you up.
 
Monte Rei has just been bought a few days ago by the Arrow Global Group: https://www.portugalresident.com/arrow-takes-over-monte-rei-golf-as-algarve-expansion-continues/

Also recent mention of the South Course development and restrictions thereon: https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2024-02-06/new-algarve-golf-course-restrictions/85766

If you look at reviews of Monte Rei on leadingcourses.com and google reviews, then recent reviews are good, with no reference to the conditioning issues mentioned in this thread. Are golfmonthly users more picky than other golfers? Are other golfers leaving these reviews just hackers who know little about course condition? Who knows? 🤷‍♂️
 
That’s the beauty of golf course reviews its opinion and everyone should form their own opinion. My opinion based on when I payed there it was the most overrated course Ive played and condition was terrible. Hope it’s got better and hopefully arrow will invest the money needed
 
Newnsy said:
That’s the beauty of golf course reviews its opinion and everyone should form their own opinion. My opinion based on when I payed there it was the most overrated course Ive played and condition was terrible. Hope it’s got better and hopefully arrow will invest the money needed
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Agreed. I'm not saying you are wrong in that opinion - I didn't see the course and you played it! Was it just a bad day (my course is horrible some days as the greenkeepers haven't bothered, or notoriously one day (YTS boy) used raw fertiliser on the greens, which didn't end well) or a longer issue. Looking at other sources of reviews helps paint a picture of short term vs long term problems I think.
 
On Monte Rei, and setting aside the course condition which may or may not have been fixed, while it was a truly memorable experience when I played it, there is probably some truth that it is not for everyone. I am an ok golfer, off 12, but I agree with Billysboots, it can do your head in. In fact by hole 14/15, I was close to running up the white flag. I would call it a second shot course (assuming you can reach par 4's in two), there is usually a bail out but you sure won't like what you are faced with when you get there to play your next. And the key is in part, making that second shot a bit easier by putting your drive in the right place. The fairways are relatively generous but if you play safe and don't place the drive in the right place... well you won't like the second shot at all, even with the bail out. I gather this is part of Nicklaus' core design philosophy, every hole is going to require you to hit at least one extremely good shot for your level.

If your handicap is over 20, then unless you have equanimity and a good sense of humour, this course may not be for you. For me, breaking 90 would be a stellar achievement.
 
But that's the case with lots of signature courses. We played Sawgrass from the Blue/White tees (6,500-ish) and had a mixture of handicaps from about 2 to 28. All enjoyed the experience, even if we didn't score brilliantly. Pars recorded were celebrated as keenly as birdies normally would be! Also played the Old Course in such benign windless conditions that one of our group playing off 9 scored a gross 75 and paid to have the engraved scorecard. I don't think anyone in our group would expect to play a tough course and record anything close to net par. It's the experience of being at a great venue as much as it is about scoring. Sometimes you putt off a green and laugh. Sometimes you break your putter and sometimes you chuck your golf bag in the nearest pond. I've seen it all (and only done one of them) but it's about enjoying the experience. I can understand why paying €220 for Monte Rei and finding it in less than stellar condition would be frustrating, however.
 
carled said:
But that's the case with lots of signature courses. We played Sawgrass from the Blue/White tees (6,500-ish) and had a mixture of handicaps from about 2 to 28. All enjoyed the experience, even if we didn't score brilliantly. Pars recorded were celebrated as keenly as birdies normally would be! Also played the Old Course in such benign windless conditions that one of our group playing off 9 scored a gross 75 and paid to have the engraved scorecard. I don't think anyone in our group would expect to play a tough course and record anything close to net par. It's the experience of being at a great venue as much as it is about scoring. Sometimes you putt off a green and laugh. Sometimes you break your putter and sometimes you chuck your golf bag in the nearest pond. I've seen it all (and only done one of them) but it's about enjoying the experience. I can understand why paying €220 for Monte Rei and finding it in less than stellar condition would be frustrating, however.
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Sure, although I haven't played all that many truly signature courses, maybe Royal Liverpool for links and the other one that springs to mind is Yas Links which for an amateur, is almost as challenging as Monte Rei (albeit the pros seemed to eat it alive). I did Royal Liverpool on a fairly windless day so of course it wasn't so tricky, or at least didn't feel like it was.

It sounds like your group has the sort of sense of humour and equanimity that would cope with anything. And you're right, when you play one, the memories last, even if it does do your head in!
 
carled said:
If you look at reviews of Monte Rei on leadingcourses.com and google reviews, then recent reviews are good, with no reference to the conditioning issues mentioned in this thread. Are golfmonthly users more picky than other golfers? Are other golfers leaving these reviews just hackers who know little about course condition? Who knows? 🤷‍♂️
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Hmmm. I’m not sure Monte Rei, given the reputation and green fee, is a place which generally attracts hackers.

As an interesting aside, when I played Ombria last autumn, the caddy master there was a guy who had been the caddy master at MR pretty much from the day it opened, until I played my last round a few years ago. He remembered our party from our many visits to MR, and greeted us like old friends, and we enjoyed a long chat. I suggested to him the rumour I had heard that MR was starting to struggle as an entity and he confirmed the rumours were true. So maybe there is some truth in some of the more negative reviews.

The fact the place has just been bought out would seem to further underline that things were not going well. I sincerely hope the buy out has the desired impact and MR returns to former glories because it remains the best course I have played by a considerable distance.
 
I have Ombria booked in April for our group trip. What was it like? Also booked Quinta North, played twice before, Dom Pedro Millennium and Vale do Lobo Royal, both new for us this year.
 
Wanabe said:
I have Ombria booked in April for our group trip. What was it like? Also booked Quinta North, played twice before, Dom Pedro Millennium and Vale do Lobo Royal, both new for us this year.
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Ombria is really nice. Some huge changes in elevation, especially front nine. And some well thought out holes. Thoroughly enjoyed it, and found it in great condition. We’re going back later in the year.

I’ve not played Millennium for years, but always used to enjoy it. We tended to play it as our first course when we stayed in Vilamoura as it was a gentle introduction compared with the tougher courses. It’s a very playable, typical Algarve course.

I only once managed nine holes at the Royal before we were rained off, but if it’s as good the the Ocean you won’t be disappointed.
 
Billysboots said:
Hmmm. I’m not sure Monte Rei, given the reputation and green fee, is a place which generally attracts hackers.

As an interesting aside, when I played Ombria last autumn, the caddy master there was a guy who had been the caddy master at MR pretty much from the day it opened, until I played my last round a few years ago. He remembered our party from our many visits to MR, and greeted us like old friends, and we enjoyed a long chat. I suggested to him the rumour I had heard that MR was starting to struggle as an entity and he confirmed the rumours were true. So maybe there is some truth in some of the more negative reviews.

The fact the place has just been bought out would seem to further underline that things were not going well. I sincerely hope the buy out has the desired impact and MR returns to former glories because it remains the best course I have played by a considerable distance.
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Just got back from our annual jaunt to the Algarve. We usually do QDL Northa and South and Llaranjal , but this year we played Ombria for the first time.

I enjoyed it but thought a few holes were a bit marmite. Condition was decent.

Llaranjal is still my favourite over there. Their greens were the best I’ve ever played on. Must have been running at 11/12 on the stimp
 
Junior said:
Just got back from our annual jaunt to the Algarve. We usually do QDL Northa and South and Llaranjal , but this year we played Ombria for the first time.

I enjoyed it but thought a few holes were a bit marmite. Condition was decent.

Llaranjal is still my favourite over there. Their greens were the best I’ve ever played on. Must have been running at 11/12 on the stimp
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What was the pace of play like? Frequent mentions of 5hr rounds there.
(Laranjal, that is)
 
Junior said:
Just got back from our annual jaunt to the Algarve. We usually do QDL Northa and South and Llaranjal , but this year we played Ombria for the first time.

I enjoyed it but thought a few holes were a bit marmite. Condition was decent.

Llaranjal is still my favourite over there. Their greens were the best I’ve ever played on. Must have been running at 11/12 on the stimp
Click to expand...

Laranjal was always my second favourite behind Monte Rei. Great track.
 
carled said:
What was the pace of play like? Frequent mentions of 5hr rounds there.
(Laranjal, that is)
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Was fine for us. We got round in 4 hours 20, course was full but moving. We hired power caddies aswell.

It’s not a course you can lose many balls on and there are Marshall’s constantly going round telling people to keep up if they’re losing ground.
 
Friends have just come home 2 days early from a competition week in Quinta da Lago, poured with rain, courses were closed, forecast wasn’t good.
 
So if the first 4 courses on a golf trip were:

Monte Rei
QdL South
Laranjal
Ombria

...then what should sit in position 5? Victoria? Royal? DP Old? Faldo?
 
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