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This enjoyable course was designed by the late
Sir Henry Cotton and is the focal point of the resort.
The layout incorporates the most photographed hole in
Europe, a long par 3 7th which stretches from the tee
over two gaping ravines to the green 210 yards away. The
original course, consisting of two nine-hole Orange and
Yellow loops, opened in 1968 and a third Green loop was
added in 1972. Many of the holes, especially on the
Orange and Yellow courses, afford spectacular sea views,
notably the 7th and 8th of the Yellow. Vale do Lobo is a
well undulated course with tight fairways ensuring
penalties for the player whose concentration strays. To
master the famous 7th a full-blooded tee shot of great
accuracy and line is required and despite its daunting
nature more than one golfer has earned a niche in the
Vale do Lobo hall of fame by achieving a hole-in-one
here. The greens generally run fast and true so only the
firmest of approach shots combined with decisive putting
will bring success. In 1970 pro David Ingram shot a
record 66 on the Orange and Green 18-hole course. The
best amateur score stretches back to 1973 when Timmy Koch
de Garynard shot a gross 72. Vale do Lobo was chosen as
the venue for the Portuguese Open in
1976 and the Algarve Open in 1971. The
club also stages the annual Europe's Finest
Amateur Week, one of the major events in the
Algarve golfing calendar, featuring a variety of
match-play competitions. |
