The magnificent Vila Sol SPA & Golf Resort, which is located in an estate of some 150 hectares, is characterised by its beautiful natural surroundings with a vast range of fauna, animal and plant life. At Vila Sol Golf you will find a fabulous 27-hole golf course designed by the famous architect Donald Steel, which stretches along a wide valley, naturally sculpted by Mother Nature and divided into three loops with three different levels of difficulty: Prime, Challenge and Prestige.
Vila Sol Golf has twice played host to the Portuguese Open, in 1992 and 1993. It was honoured by the Green Globe organisation in 1996 with the Green Flag award, certification of meeting their environmental requirements. In 2001 it won the prize for Best Golf Development, preented by British MP Sir Eric Pickles.
Against this backdrop, full of trees and wildlife, carefully looked after and protected by specialist staff, golfers can discover an environment par excellence which will envelop them throughout the day. From the 1st tee to the Clubhouse, a large team of professionals are at work, and remain at your disposal to make this paradise a unique, unforgettable experience.
The Clubhouse, with its central location, is the starting and finishing point for each of the three 9-hole loops: the first heads to the East, the second to the West and the third to the South.
You can also practise your game at the excellent driving range or practise course, of around 300 metres, alongside the Clubhouse.
Tips given by professional players and based on white tees:
Prime
1
Keep it right all the way. Your approach shot is better off on the right side.
2
Important to hit this fairway; a driver is not mandatory. Again, keep it right off the fairway.
3
Stroke 1. Long hitters can aim left over the tree. High handicappers must keep it right to a shot at the green. Once on the green, trouble is not over; keep the ball below the hole to have a chance to make a putt.
4
Long Par 3, with the safe side being the right-part of the green.
5
Long hitters cannot flirt with the lake beyond the fairway. Cutting off the dog-leg leaves a shorter shot to the green. But beware of the lake on the right.
6
Hit the Tee-shot as close to the lake as possible to have a chance to clear it for the higher handicappers, or a chance to go for it for the longer hitters. Keep it left on the approach shot to avoid the bunker on the right.
7
First you need distance, and then you need accuracy. Good luck.
8
Unless you are Tiger Woods, play this as a 3 shot hole. Aim at the cork tree off the tee, and then lay-up short of the creek in front of the green.
9
Short Par 4; no need for long shot off the tee. Crucial to hit the fairway to have an easy approach shot.
Challenge
10
Dog-leg left, but keep it right off the tee for a full view of the green. Accuracy is important on the approach shot to avoid a bunker and a slope around the green.
11
Keep it left off the tee to avoid rolling into the trees. Approach shot is better off left to avoid trouble on the right. Birdie hole if played correctly.
12
Dog-leg left; hit the middle of the fairway to avoid trouble left. The approach shot always plays longer than expected.
13
Aim for the centre of the green, this will leave you with an easy putt, regardless pin position.
14
Hit tee shot towards the left side of fairway. Lay-up short of the lake in front of the green with your second shot. Keep ball below the hole for an easier putt.
15
Tough Par 3; for the bold go for the pin, for the less bold hit it short or left. Don’t flirt with the green-side bunker.
16
Dog-leg right; aim for the right side of the fairway to avoid rolling off the left. Approach shot plays a little longer than expected. Hit an extra club.
17
Narrow fairway, and the longer you hit it, the narrower the fairway becomes. Big bunker on the left-side of the fairway, and small green for the approach shot.
18
Dog-leg left; where long-hitters can cut the corner, and short-hitters must keep it right to have a clear view to the green. This green slopes left to right.
Prestige
19
Hit it straight all the way! What you see is what you get.
20
Big green, but the centre of the green is a must regardless of the pin position.
21
Short hole; aim it at the green. Very long hitters beware of the water hazard on the left side short of the green.
22
Very short Par 4, but if you walk away with a par, your mission is accomplished. The challenge is to hit this narrow fairway.
23
Long Par 5, and a definite 3 shot hole. Use a drive if you are sure of hitting it straight. Keep the second shot left of the fairway, to have a better view of the green.
24
Short Par 4, but require accuracy, and any shot hit left of this fairway will roll out of bounds.
25
Avoid the bunker on the left, and this hole is conquered.
26
Tough dog-leg left, with the fairway sloping towards the right side. Keep tee shot as close to the left as possible. Keep ball below the hole with your approach shot.
27
Dog-leg left, with plenty of room to the right, but the more you can cut off the left side, the closer you are to the green. Approach shot has water left and bunker right.
Information:
Founded
1991
Architect
Donald Steel
Proprietor
Vila Sol II Empreendimentos Turísticos, SA
Director
Sean Corte-Real
Professional
Peter Lester
Green Keeper
Manuel Castro
Main events on this course
Portuguese Open 1992 and 1993. Troféu Lancôme 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996. Johnnie Walker Euro Classic 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998.
Map:
Vila Sol - Alto dos Morgadinhos 8125 307 Vilamoura, Portugal
Directions:
GPS
37º05'13.78"N 8º05'37.84"W
Head in drection of the A22/ EN125. After aproximately 3km turn right, in direction of 'Lisbon/Portimão/Loulé' After 4km turn right in direction of 'Almancil'. Continue on the EN125 for 8,5km until you reach a crossroad with traffic lights, after a BP station. Turn left towards 'Quarteira/Vilamoura' until you reach Vila Sol, approximately 1,5km after Aquashow.
'Umbrella pine tree lined course which has hosted the Portuguese Open on 2 occasions. The whole course is exceptionally well maintained all year round and one we recommend to all our customers, as a must to play for quality and value.'
