Off to the Algarve in 5 weeks time in a group of 16 blokes so today I started to try to put together some golf.
Now I was over here at New Year and made a few enquiries at some Central/Western courses who were all pleading poverty and saying the courses were dead so deals should be available come June.......
First call was to Oceanico Group to ask for availability for a 1pm tee time on our first day, we wanted to play here as its close to the airport as we land at 10am but unfortunately the course was fully booked until 4pm but I am not surprised seeing as the price was 60E including a buggy. Next I tried Victoria but sadly this was shut due to work so I didnt try any of the other Vilamoura courses as they arent that great.
So I thought I'd try Quinta do Lago and she says yep we can get you on anytime its absolutely dead on both North and South... that'll be 98E please and that doesnt include a buggy!! Fek that Im no paying 98E for a game of golf so thought i'd try Laranjal as there's bound be deals as its only been open for a year... yep its absolutely dead again, that'll be 108E without a buggy!!
We can get on to the Faldo and O'Connor course for 66E and 63E respectively which is great value considering it includes a buggy, the course and the way the staff treat you there so that is an option.
Next I phoned Penina who said yep we can get you on at 57E so I booked out first day's golf there with a 1.28 tee time. This doesnt include buggys but seeing as its our first day of the tour and we won't have any shabby laddies and the course is an easy flat walk I think that surely everyone will be able to walk it.
The way I see it is the top end courses in the Quinta do lago/Vila Sol end of the Algarve are quoting crazy prices and as a result their courses are dead whereas Oceanico and all the central/western Algarve are pitching their prices at a fairer level and seem to be gaining golfers because of this so surely the high end courses need to be dropping their prices to try and fill the courses.
It is a shame but IMO it is getting way to expensive to golf over there unless you are content in playing shite, runn of the mill courses which we don't want to do........fek this Czech Republic here we come again 2011!!
Now I was over here at New Year and made a few enquiries at some Central/Western courses who were all pleading poverty and saying the courses were dead so deals should be available come June.......
First call was to Oceanico Group to ask for availability for a 1pm tee time on our first day, we wanted to play here as its close to the airport as we land at 10am but unfortunately the course was fully booked until 4pm but I am not surprised seeing as the price was 60E including a buggy. Next I tried Victoria but sadly this was shut due to work so I didnt try any of the other Vilamoura courses as they arent that great.
So I thought I'd try Quinta do Lago and she says yep we can get you on anytime its absolutely dead on both North and South... that'll be 98E please and that doesnt include a buggy!! Fek that Im no paying 98E for a game of golf so thought i'd try Laranjal as there's bound be deals as its only been open for a year... yep its absolutely dead again, that'll be 108E without a buggy!!
We can get on to the Faldo and O'Connor course for 66E and 63E respectively which is great value considering it includes a buggy, the course and the way the staff treat you there so that is an option.
Next I phoned Penina who said yep we can get you on at 57E so I booked out first day's golf there with a 1.28 tee time. This doesnt include buggys but seeing as its our first day of the tour and we won't have any shabby laddies and the course is an easy flat walk I think that surely everyone will be able to walk it.
The way I see it is the top end courses in the Quinta do lago/Vila Sol end of the Algarve are quoting crazy prices and as a result their courses are dead whereas Oceanico and all the central/western Algarve are pitching their prices at a fairer level and seem to be gaining golfers because of this so surely the high end courses need to be dropping their prices to try and fill the courses.
It is a shame but IMO it is getting way to expensive to golf over there unless you are content in playing shite, runn of the mill courses which we don't want to do........fek this Czech Republic here we come again 2011!!
