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The 18-hole par 72 San Lorenzo championship
course was designed by the American Joseph Lee in
conjunction with William 'Rocky' Roquemore and is
situated in in the 2000-acre Quinta do Lago estate which
is renowned for its pinewoods, lakes and abundant
wildlife. The course has an ever-changing face. A classic
hole is the par 4 6th which offers spectaculars views of
the Ria Formosa nature reserve. Only a perfect drive will
achieve par here with water lapping the edge of the
fairway all the way to the green. Water hazards come into
play on the 7th, 8th and 10th and intelligent plat is
required to cope with a dog-leg right and a green set
into an embankment on the par 4 9th. The par 4 11th
offers splendid mountain views and the next five holes
border the nature reserve. The play is straight forward
until the 16th which heralds a finishing stretch as
unforgiving as any in Europe. The 16th, a long par 3,
needs a wood or a one iron to a green with bunkers back
and front while the par 4 17th demands two accurate shots
over water with a tight finish on the green. The greatest
challenge is surely the 18th. Either a shot up the
fairway with a second shot across a lake to the island
green or a powerful 200-metre drive across a larger lake
to the causeway, leaving a pitching wedge for the second
shot i needed. |
