njc1973
Head Pro
I recently had the chance to play the Faldo Course at Amendoeira Golf Resort and what an experience, it has shot straight to the top of my favourite courses played list which includes the Old Course St Andrews and Sun City.
A 20 minute drive in the courtesy shuttle bus from Vilamoura up into the mountains brings you to the recently opened resort with its spectacular clubhouse.
The staff at the clubhouse were extremely accommodating and following check-in, at which no handicap certificates were requested, directed us to the buggies and extensive grass practise area which included chipping and bunker sections.
We drove up to the first tee and were all taken aback at the view in front of us, perfectly manicured tee boxes looking over a desert style course with waste areas and orange rocky outcrops which contrasted with the green fairways and white bunkers.
The course meanders through the hills with a number of winding fairways and blind tee shots punctuated by a myriad of bunkers, often right at the landing area and sometimes in the middle of the fairways.
The course plays a lot longer than its yardage due to the elevation changes and unless you are a low single figure handicapper I wouldn’t suggest venturing past the yellow tees and would definitely recommend taking a buggy as there are some long walks between greens and tees.
This is undoubtedly a course you have to plot your way round as the tight fairways, fast greens and well placed bunkers place a premium on ball striking and accuracy.
The highlights for me were the par 3’s which although not long required precise placement and the long winding par 5 13th which has a drop of about 100 yards and plays over 670 yards from the back sticks.
We booked a package through Yourgolftravel and ended up paying well below the advertised rate of €135 with buggies and unlimited range balls included, any tee-off time prior to 9.45 virtually guarantees an empty course in front of you.
A 20 minute drive in the courtesy shuttle bus from Vilamoura up into the mountains brings you to the recently opened resort with its spectacular clubhouse.
The staff at the clubhouse were extremely accommodating and following check-in, at which no handicap certificates were requested, directed us to the buggies and extensive grass practise area which included chipping and bunker sections.
We drove up to the first tee and were all taken aback at the view in front of us, perfectly manicured tee boxes looking over a desert style course with waste areas and orange rocky outcrops which contrasted with the green fairways and white bunkers.
The course meanders through the hills with a number of winding fairways and blind tee shots punctuated by a myriad of bunkers, often right at the landing area and sometimes in the middle of the fairways.
The course plays a lot longer than its yardage due to the elevation changes and unless you are a low single figure handicapper I wouldn’t suggest venturing past the yellow tees and would definitely recommend taking a buggy as there are some long walks between greens and tees.
This is undoubtedly a course you have to plot your way round as the tight fairways, fast greens and well placed bunkers place a premium on ball striking and accuracy.
The highlights for me were the par 3’s which although not long required precise placement and the long winding par 5 13th which has a drop of about 100 yards and plays over 670 yards from the back sticks.
We booked a package through Yourgolftravel and ended up paying well below the advertised rate of €135 with buggies and unlimited range balls included, any tee-off time prior to 9.45 virtually guarantees an empty course in front of you.
