Monday, 1/Dec/2008
The twelve mixed pairs who qualified from all the regional qualifying events in the UK battled for the 2008 Bader Cup played over the Alamos course and on the Morgado course near Portimao. In the end it was Tony Stamper, who plays off a 10 handicap and his wife Dawn (26) from Keswick Golf Club in the Lake District who eased to victory with a better-ball tally of 46 Stableford points, three clear of fellow playing competitors Adam Winthrop and Lucy Eaton from Skipton in Yorkshire. The Stampers, who won their regional qualifier at Darlington GC, were unaware that this victory earned them entry into next years final, and were naturally overjoyed at their successful campaign.

Alamos Golf Course


Monday, 1/Dec/2008
The 31st TAP Open for amateurs was won by John Coelho from the USA followed by Ettienne van Zyl (South Africa) after a count-back, with John Bernardino (USA) and Luis Sutil (SA) 3rd and 4th respectively. The gross prize went to Nicolas Dincau from Switzerland and the best net score in the Ladies section was Ursula Maisel from Germany. More than 200 golfers took part in the 72-hole stroke-play event which was played over the Pinhal, Millennium, Laguna and Victoria courses in Vilamoura.

Monday, 1/Dec/2008
Another tournament with a strong international flavour held in November was the 36-hole Vila Sol Golf Challenge which involved teams from 13 countries in Europe and North America where a total of 50 qualifying events were staged throughout the year. In addition to Vila Sol Resort. The format for the 2-golfer teams, divided into three handicap divisions, was better ball on the first day and foursomes on the second, and then the twelve teams with the best scores went into a deciding sudden death play-off. In 1st place were UK couple Wendy and Jamie Stewart, followed by Felix Hanneman/Tim Beredsen (Germany) and Jonas Aberg/Sven-Goran Davidson (Sweden). Prizes were also awarded for the best scores from the different nations that took part and the Swedes with an average score of 65 Stableford points edged out the Germans (63.92 pts.) with Canada taking third place (61.66 pts).

Vila Sol Golf Course


Monday, 1/Dec/2008
At the 72-hole European Senior Tour Qualifying School finals at the Vale da Pinta course, 52-year-old Jimmy Heggarty from Northern Ireland came back from a seven shot deficit going into the last round to card a 4-under score of 67 and lead the field, thus gaining his full card to play the Tour in 2009. South African Bertus Smit tied the Ulstermans aggregate score of 277 but the latter earned top honours as Smit post a level par 71 in round four. Alfonso Barrera also escaped with his card, and in fact would have been the outright winner, had he not been penalized two strokes for practicing a putt that he had missed on the third green. While positions seven to fourteen gain cards in Category Nine from the Qualifying School Final, a further 12 players gained playing privileges for 2009 as Allan, Towne and Michael Lord all celebrate their 50th birthdays, and thus gaining eligibility for the Senior Tour, during the course of the 2009 season. The remaining four players to gain full playing privileges were Englishmen Peter Allan and Kevin Spurgeon, Alfonso Barrera from Argentina as well as U.S. pro, Greg Towne who led until scoring an almost disastrous 42 on the last nine holes.

Vale da Pinta Golf Course


Saturday, 1/Nov/2008
Alvaro Quiros - (Spain) Portugal Masters Victoria - Algarve - Portugal - 16th to 19th October, 2008 Spains Alvaro Quiros won the Portugal Masters at the Victoria Golf Course in Vilamoura by three strokes from 1999 Open Champion Paul Lawrie. The 25 year old from Cadiz pocketed the €500,000 winner’s cheque - the largest of his career - after a final round 68 for a 19 under par total. This second win of his career sees Quiros jumped 202 places to No 94.

Victoria Golf Course


Wednesday, 1/Oct/2008
The English amateur team retained the Portugal Nations Cup, sponsored by the Portuguese Government Tourist Board and played at Vale do Lobos par-73 Ocean Course. The English golfers were pushed all the way by the young Portuguese team whose star player, Pedro Figueiredo, came down with a bronchial virus a few days before the tournament. Seventeen-year-old Pedro Figueiredo had won the Boys Amateur Championship in the UK in August after an epic final at Little Aston, by defeating Scottish golfer Fraser McKenna at the 39th hole. English player Eddie Pepperell also fell victim to a virus on the eve of the teams departure from the UK, and his substitute Sam Hutsby was forced to make a last minute dash to catch a flight to Faro to join the team. Englands winning aggregate score for the 54-hole stroke-play event was 413, with Portugal (419) in second place followed by the Netherlands (422) whose team included the current British Amateur Champion, Reinier Saxton. The very young home team comprised 17-year-olds Jose M. Joia (Vilamoura) and Tiago Rodrigues (Oporto), plus Figueiredos replacement, Miguel Gaspar (Estoril) who is aged only 16. The best individual score of 14 under par 205 (70-67-68) was carded by Luke Goddard (England), only one stroke ahead of Dutchman Saxton (67-72-67). Joia (Portugal) came in third with 210 strokes in spite of scoring 77 in the final round. Joia (Portugal) came in third with 210 strokes in spite of scoring 77 in the final round.

Wednesday, 1/Oct/2008
Teams from seven countries took part in the inaugural Taca das Nacoes (Nations Cup), a 3-day tournament organised by Golf Algarve magazine and sponsored by the CS Group, owners of the Salgados, Morgado and Alamos golf courses. The scoring did not match that of the above tournament (perhaps this had something to do with to the special shirts provided for each of the three rounds since the colour was the currently fashionable pink!). However, this did not deter the English team who won with an aggregate score of 475 Stableford points, followed by Portugal (468) and Ireland (447). Each day was played in a different format – four ball better-ball, greensomes and singles - since it was played during the Ryder Cup month.

Wednesday, 1/Oct/2008
Portugals Challenge Tour players Tiago Cruz and Ricardo Santos went to Poland in late September for the 72-hole Omega Mission Hills World Cup Qualifier staged at the Sierra Golf Club in Wejherowo. Thirteen countries took part in this qualifying tournament with two rounds played in foursomes and two in four-ball better ball, the format used for the World Cup. With adversaries such as Switzerland, Norway and Belgium in the mix, the Portuguese duo closed with a tally of seven under par 281 strokes and third place behind the winners Finland (267) and runners-up Canada (275). These three countries have therefore qualified for the main event at Mission Hills in China from 27th-30th November. Portugal last played in the World Cup as host country when it was held in Vilamoura in 2005.

Wednesday, 1/Oct/2008
Imminent official openings are for the two courses at Oceanicos Amendoeira Resort, one having been designed by Nick Faldo and the other by Christy OConnor Jr.

Wednesday, 1/Oct/2008
The Quinta do Vale course is being officially opened on 12th October and the designer, Seve Ballesteros the course architect will attend the festivities which include a Pro-Am on the day. Golfers will have the opportunity to play a competition on this course on Saturday the 11th with the main winners gaining invitations to enter the Pro-Am the following day.

Quinta do Vale Golf Course


Wednesday, 1/Oct/2008
Five of Europes Ryder Cup Team will be here in the Algarve for the upcoming Portugal Masters - Miguel Angel Jimenez, Robert Karlsson, Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood and Oliver Wilson. This prestigious tournament is being played from 16th to 19th October at the Victoria Course, and long-hitting Angel Cabrera, the 2007 US Open winner, nicknamed El Pato (The Duck) and who played the Victoria course in the curtailed 2005 WGC World Cup, will also tee up in the €3,000,000 event.

Victoria Golf Course


Monday, 1/Sep/2008
Portugals Pedro Figueiredo won the The Boy Amateur Champion for 2008, in Birmingham in England. This promising 17 year old shows promise in making a note for himself in the world of golf.

Monday, 1/Sep/2008
The RE/MAX Long Drive Championship of Portugal was held at the Gramacho course in early August. Mariana Martins hit the longest ladies shot, while the 6 foot 7 inch Finn - quite a tall player! Antti Saleva won the main event and Brian McCarroll won the Seniors and they now go forward to the next stage which will be held in the UK.

Gramacho Golf Course


Monday, 1/Sep/2008
The new Seve-designed Quinta do Vale course held a series of summer competitions and was also the venue of a Portuguese PGA tournament sponsored by the Halcon Travel Agency. Antonio Sobrinho was well ahead and even with a poor 4th round of 77 won with a 2-under-par score of 286, four clear of Hugo Santos who has occasionally played on the PGA European EuroPro and Challenge Tours with his brother Ricardo and fellow golfer Tiago Cruz.Antonio Sobrinho established a course record of 67 strokes in his second round.

Quinta do Vale Golf Course


Monday, 1/Sep/2008
Both Nick Faldo and Christy OConnor were here at the end of the month to test the two exciting Amendoeira Resort courses they designed individually, and which are now open on an exclusive basis until the official openings take place in October. Faldos layout has many holes on the arid slopes of an extensive fertile valley and has a Mediterranean semi-desert feel to it, with some expanses of un-irrigated, wasteland areas mixed in with the regular fescue grass rough. The adjacent OConnor one is flatter, stretching through the valley, with palms trees added to the local almond, olive and orange trees, including also several water hazards, not unlike some Florida courses. The resort also boasts a floodlight 9-hole pitch-and-putt course with separate lengths to comply with UK, Irish and international regulations, as well as well-equipped academy and practice facilities, and two bowling greens alongside the magnificent Moorish style clubhouse.

Faldo Golf Course


Monday, 1/Sep/2008
An amateur Nations Cup (Taca das Nacoes) is being staged at Vale do Lobo from the 17th to 21st. Organised by the Portuguese Golf Federation, this follows on from last years inaugural event and is part of the government tourist sponsorship programme called Allgarve. It will involve 14 national teams of three players and each with a captain. It is intended as a European warm-up event for World Amateur Team Championships being held in Adelaide, Australia, in October.

Vale do Lobo Royal Golf Course


Friday, 1/Aug/2008
The Golfe e Comunicacao series of tournaments played throughout Portugal which is now in its 18th year, is run by Mario Carvalhosa. In 2008 it includes eleven 36-hold individual Stableford events, eight of which in the Algarve plus one each at Montebelo in the north, the Azores archipelago (Furnas and Batalha courses), and finally at the Ballesteros designed layout on Porto Santo Island (near Madeira). The net winners in two handicap divisions of these 11 tournaments qualify to play in a grand final that takes place early next year near Capetown, South Africa. An impressive list of sponsors provide support and prizes, names such as Le Meridien, Black & Decker, Europcar, Johnnie Walker, Lacoste, Luso mineral water, Nevada Bobs Golf shops, Sata Airlines and Solverde Casinos, to mention a few. The latest tournament was staged at the Penina Sir Henry Cotton course where several fantastic scores were returned. Pedro Saldanha taking the scratch to 12 handicap division with an aggregate of 78 points, and Joao Navega won the 12.1 to 18 handicap division with the same tally. Other main prize-winners at the event were: Constantin Schmid (best gross), Fatima Pita (best lady) and Antonio Osorio (best senior).

Penina Championship Golf Course


Friday, 1/Aug/2008
We mentioned Alan Shearer in last months newsletter and he remained in the Algarve for the Mackenzie Sir Bobby Robsons 5th Celebrity Golf Classic at Vila Sol on 5th July. This charity event raises funds for the Refugio Aboim Ascensao in Faro that looks after about 95 children up to the age of 5. Many other celebrities supported the tournament and its fund-raising activities, including Portuguese internationals Paulo Sousa and Ricardo, as well as Ron Atkinson, Martin Chivers, Pat Jennings, Alan Brazil, Francis Lee, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Kenny Dalglish, Steve Bruce, Mick McCarthy, George Burley, Ray Clemence, Jonny Gould and Sam Allardyce and others. Several autographed football shirts, memorabilia, etc. were auctioned off during the gala dinner and the total raised for the home was about € 72,000, including a Ronaldo shirt that fetched £ 6,000. As for the tournament, the Optimum Consultancy team captained by former Manchester United player Frank Stapleton scooped the top prize with 88 Stableford points, one more than three teams including the one with afore-mentioned Portuguese players plus other former footballers Carlos Xavier and Frederico Rosa.

Vila Sol Golf Course


Friday, 1/Aug/2008
More famous footballers were in evidence at David Seamans Safe Hands Charity Golf Classic staged for the 7th year running at the Parque da Floresta Resort. Sponsored by Zurich Intl. Solutions and HSBC Global Asset Management, the 36-hole tournament attracted 22 teams captained by sports and entertainment celebrities. Footballers present, apart from host David Seaman MBE, included Martin Peters MBE of World Cup 1966 fame, David Platt, Bob Wilson and Frank Stapleton, and amongst the celebrities were Johnnie Briggs MBE, Bradley Walsh, Chris Fairbrass, Colin Salmon, Dane Bowers, Gareth Gates, Kirsty Gallacher and Ben Sheperd. Many valuable prizes were up for grabs at the auction which raised the phenomenal amount of £145,000 for the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research. The tournament winning team comprised Rugby star Kyran Bracken MBE, Jamie Burton, Craig Young and Tommy Maher representing Johnson Fitness.

Santo Antonio Golf Course


Friday, 1/Aug/2008
The Oceanico Algarve Championship, an event on the PGA EuroPro Tour played on the Victoria Course in Vilamoura, was a huge success, in particular for the local players as two of them – old friends Angolan-born Antonio Sobrinho and Ricardo Santos from the Algarve - were in close contention as from the first of the three rounds. With no other challengers appearing from the chasing pack, and with the advantage of local knowledge, Antonio Sobrinho and Ricardo Santos went to the 54th and final hole with the former only one stroke behind on 12 under par. A playoff seemed imminent when Ricardo Santos drove into a fairway bunker but he recovered magnificently and, like his adversary, got up and down for a par to take the crystal-ware and a cheque for €16,250. Ricardo Santos made a strong move by birdying the 11th to 13th holes, and to his credit, Antonio Sobrinho clawed his way back with birdies at the 14th and 17th but just fell short. Northern Irelands Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge) finished in third spot at eight under par.

Victoria Golf Course


Friday, 1/Aug/2008
In spite of being the height of the summer holidays, there is still some competitive golf being played along the Algarve, such as the local derby between golfers who are Benfica and Sporting fans. A charity event sponsored by Starwood Algarve Hotels & Resorts and to be played over their three Algarve Courses, Penina, San Lorenzo and Pine Cliffs will take place on the 9th, 16th and 23rd of August - entry information can be acquired from any of these three courses.

Tuesday, 1/Jul/2008
Longstanding England and Newcastle United football star, Alan Shearer, was in the Algarve recently for his annual friendly golf challenge. Started a few years ago, Alan and one of his friends both captain their teams in their own Ryder Cup style tournament on the Vilamoura courses – this year they played the Oceanico Victoria course. Alan’s team included Republic of Ireland and Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given, former Newcastle, Everton and Wales midfielder Gary Speed and former England and Liverpool midfielder Terry McDermott. The competing team was from Algarve-based Concept Software Solutions (CSS). The teams enjoyed great conditions and some inspiring play, with CSS winning the event 5 – 3, and now left leading the annual series four to three.

Victoria Golf Course


Tuesday, 1/Jul/2008
This year, Multi Development Corp. held their prestigious invitational team event at the scenic Rocky Roquemore-designed Quinta do Peru course, between Lisbon and Setubal, south of the Tagus, ranked as Portugals second best course by the Peugeot Golf Guide. PGA Master professional Tony Bennett and family helped to organise the event which was played in a friendly atmosphere – as well as some ideal sunny weather. There were several extra prizes, especially at the par-3 holes, and a novel competition off one of the tees sponsored by Old Links Golfs rep for the Iberian Peninsula, David Sutcliffe. Contestants, using antique hickory shafted clubs, tried to play to a target line straight down the centre of the fairway, and one precision shot actually landed on it!

Quinta do Peru Golf Course


Tuesday, 1/Jul/2008
Continuing the trend of the two previous years, the winner of the 2008 Portuguese Ladies Open at the Quinta de Cima course was another French player, Anne-Lise Caudal from Biarritz. This was her first win in her short professional career on the Ladies European Tour - a mere nine days shy of her 24th birthday. After establishing a sensational ladies course record of 64 (9 under par) in the first of the three rounds, she never relinquished her lead, although she finally closed the deal by scoring 203 (16 under par), only a single stroke less than her compatriot and good friend, Gwladys Nocera, and Georgina Simpson from England. Anne-Lise, who was runner-up in the 2006 Portuguese Amateur Championship, took home a €30,000 cheque along with the Trophy.

Quinta de Cima Golf Course


Sunday, 1/Jun/2008
Sir Henry Cooper and his merry band of celebrities played alongside other contributing amateurs in their annual visit to the Penina Golf & Resort for the Sir Henry Cooper Charity Golf Classic and that of the late Mike Reid. A total of 23 four-player teams took part in practice rounds as well as the main 54-hole tournament over the Palmares, Boavista and Penina courses. Martin Herdman and his Sony Walkman team put up a brave defense of their title with 247 Stableford points, but ended up six behind the 2008 winners Agency One comprising actor Kevin Whately, Max Morgan, Andy Parry and Hugh Bush. Comedian Paul Thornleys team, Return of the Red Eye came in 2nd with 250 points, followed by the Penina team (249) captained by actor Nick Burns, and a Bill Goff team led by Graham Bradley, the jockey. The best individual celebrity score over the three rounds was carded by football coach, Brian Kidd, with 112 points, two clear of Nick Burns. Actor J.J. Field scored 109 and actor/comedian Simon Farnaby came in 4th place with a round 100.

Penina Championship Golf Course


Sunday, 1/Jun/2008
The Solverde Casino and Hotel Group 2008 series of golf tournaments which had started at Oporto Golf Club in April, continued at the Palmares course, near Lagos, on 31st May and 1st June respectively. Palmares Golf also hosts the final golf event on 25th-26th October to be played by the best ten players in two handicap divisions in all tournaments of the series. Amongst the 20 golfers who qualified for the final at Palmares was Frederico Rosa, former Benfica and Portuguese international footballer. Two of the three remaining qualifying tournaments are also being staged in the Algarve – at the Quinta de Cima/Quinta da Ria courses and then the Oceânico Victoria and Oceânico Old Course in June and July

Palmares Golf Course


Sunday, 1/Jun/2008
On the 25th, Julio Marcelo won the 2008 Sir Henry Cotton Trophy with 70 strokes net, but only after a tie-break as he bettered Lawrence Harriss score over the back nine holes. Nuno Faustino came in third with a tally of 72 strokes, and the gross prizes went to Jenny Rhodes (75) and Sebastian Crockall (76).

Penina Championship Golf Course


Sunday, 1/Jun/2008
After an absence of some six years Hotel Dona Filipa & San Lorenzo Golf Course has welcomed back the Husbands & Wives Golf Tournament. The Stableford competition at San Lorenzo golf course, over the 6th to 10th May, received a total of 42 players. The winners, Mr and Mrs Peter Samuel, who are members at Hankley Common Golf Club in Surrey, have competed in the Husbands & Wives competition for the first time. Their winning score of 167 Stableford points was achieved over 72 holes and four rounds of the competition.

San Lorenzo Golf Course


Sunday, 1/Jun/2008
Portugals first Golf Show was held in Lisbon during the month and apart from all the demonstrations of the latest golf clubs, accessories and gadgets, there were stands for many current and forthcoming golf complexes such as the Oceanico Amendoeira Resort with its two spectacular courses, the Nick Faldo and the Christy OConnor, Jr., opening in September. Another is the Bom Sucesso complex near Obidos, on the Costa da Prata, about an hours drive north of Lisbon.

Sunday, 1/Jun/2008
Portugals Pedro Figueiredo continues his successful career as the 16-year-old won the Irish Amateur Championship by a margin of seven strokes. After an opening round of 73 he scored 67, 70 and 68 to end 10 under par, well clear of a trio of players, Irelands Connor Doran, Scotlands Keir McNicholl and England’s Billy Hemstock.

Sunday, 1/Jun/2008
The big golfing occasion in June is the Portuguese Ladies Open, one of the Ladies European Tour events and most of the leading players are coming to take part in this 54-hole tournament from the 13th to 15th at the Quinta de Cima course in eastern Algarve.

Quinta de Cima Golf Course


Thursday, 1/May/2008
Gregory Bourdy - (France) Estoril Open de Portugal Oitavos Dunes,Cascais,Portugal - 3rd to 6th April, 2008 Gregory Bourdy, who began the final round in the Estoril Open of Portugal 2008 with a four stroke advantage over his playing partner, had looked down and out as he reached the turn in three over par for the day and allowed a host of players to overtake him at the top of the leaderboard. He was not to be denied though, as he dug deep and rediscovered the swing that had seen him dominate the first three rounds at the Oitavos course. Gregory Bourdy began his recovery with a birdie on the tenth hole, adding another on the 11th before taking advantage of two back nine par fives to pick up a further two strokes and move to 18 under with two holes to play. Alastair Forsyth, meanwhile, staged his own comeback after dropping two shots in his opening six holes. The Scotsman covered his remaining 12 holes in a stunning seven under par, including birdies on the two toughest holes on the course – the 17th and 18th – to set up a three way play-off. All three men made par on the 18th at the first extra hole, meaning they went back to the tee to do it all again. A pulled drive meant Alastair Forsyth could only manage a bogey five at the second time of asking, leaving Gregory Bourdy and David Howell to fight it out for the top prize. The pair halved in four once more before being taken to the 17th to try and determine a winner. Gregory Bourdy left his approach on the front edge of the green, some 30 feet from the hole, while David Howell slightly pulled his four iron second to the left of the putting surface.  The Englishman then played a poor shot leaving himself a 20 foot par putt. With Gregory Bourdy rolling his ball to within 18 inches of the cup, David Howell had to save his par to keep the tournament alive but the Englishman’s effort slipped agonizingly past to allow Gregory Bourdy a tap-in for victory. Its a fantastic feeling, said Bourdy. It was very hard at the start of the day – especially the first nine holes when I was three over. I didnt look at the leaderboards but I knew that the other players were making birdies. But at the start of the day I knew that I had to play under par – if I did that then I would have a good chance to win. So I knew that on the back nine that if I could make four or five birdies then it would be enough.

Oitavos Dunes Golf Course


Thursday, 1/May/2008
To coincide with the recent launch of Pine Hills Residences, a complex being built at Vila Sol, the developers held a team event at this well-known popular golf venue and host to the Portuguese Open back in 1992 and 1993. The winning team comprising Ivan Taylor, David Cummings and Stephen Clare scored 90 Stableford points, and Alex Storm, partnered by Tony and Yvonne Gilbert-Harris, edged out the team of Tony Scott, Lenny McGeoch and Amy Bray after a count-back as both had tied with 85 points.

Vila Sol Golf Course


Thursday, 1/May/2008
The Portuguese Golf Federation announced during the month that the 2011 European Amateur Mens Team Championship is to be staged at the Victoria course in Vilamoura. This is the flagship event organised by EGA, the European Golf Association, and is played by teams of six golfers, with the top 20 countries qualifying for the championship. Until recently, the event was played every second year, but as from 2008, when Ireland will defend the title in Turin, it will take place annually and in 2009 and 2010, the host countries will be Wales and Switzerland respectively. The only other time that this championship was played in Portugal was back in 1973 at Penina.

Victoria Golf Course


Thursday, 1/May/2008
Sir Henry Cooper together with his celebrity friends and other participants are back to western Algarve in May for the annual Sir Henry Cooper & Mike Reid Charity Golf Classic which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary. Mike Reids name will continue in the tournament name in spite of his sudden death last year. The first round of the main event is played at Palmares on 12th May, then play continues at the Boavista course on the 15th May, and culminates at Penina the following day. Many familiar faces will be playing: Johnny Briggs, John Virgo, Willie Thorne, Brian Kidd, Dave Jessup and Alan Wells together with the 2007 winner, actor Martin Herdman. This well supported event is a real fun occasion and raises funds for various charities.

Penina Championship Golf Course


Thursday, 1/May/2008
The popular Vale do Lobo Foursomes Week, now in its 26th year, takes place from 18th-24th May at the resorts Ocean and Royal courses. After initial qualifying rounds the tournament switches to the match-play format to decide the winners.

Vale do Lobo Royal Golf Course


Tuesday, 1/Apr/2008
Alastair Forsyth - (Scotland) Madeira Islands Open - Portugal Santo da Serra - Madeira - Portugal - 20th to 23rd March, 2008 Alastair Forsyth from Scotland added another victory to his European Tour total with his win in the Madeira Islands. The final round ended in a playoff against Hennie Otto from South Africa. Their nearest rival was Gary Clark from England lying another four stokes behind.

Santo da Serra Golf Course


Tuesday, 1/Apr/2008
The first of these is the Ladies Portuguese Open, an official Ladies European Tour event with total prize money of €200,000. It takes place on 13th-15th June at the Quinta da Ria golf resort, the first time this Open is being played in eastern Algarve. Last year, Vale do Lobo hosted the inaugural Nations Cup for amateurs, and it will return to this venue in September. From 16th to 19th October the €3 million Portuguese Masters will again be staged on Vilamouras Oceanico Victoria course designed by Arnold Palmer and where Steve Webster will defend his title won that he in 2007 on the same course.

Tuesday, 1/Apr/2008
Recently announced by its sponsors Oceanico Golf, is an official 54-hole European PGA Europro Tour event being played at their Millennium and Victoria courses from 23rd to 25th July. The competitive Tour is designed to develop young pros aspiring to graduate to the Challenge and main PGA European Tours. Several Europro tournaments have been held in the Algarve this decade and the last being two years ago on the Morgado course. This new event will have a new Pro-Am format similar to the main European Tours Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland, and full details are to be confirmed in due course. However, it is known that 200 professionals will be playing in the tournament.

Victoria Golf Course


Tuesday, 1/Apr/2008
The Penina Golf & Resort has now re-opened its totally refurbished and expanded driving range and practice facilities, with the addition of five target greens on the 4-hectare area. To improve drainage, the site was built up with a 50-cm. layer of soil and it was entirely re-seeded. Apart from a new irrigation system, the facilities include a new putting-green, chipping-green and practice bunker. Up to 70 players can now practice simultaneously at the Penina range from grassed bays, making it one of the largest of its kind in Europe.

Penina Championship Golf Course


Tuesday, 1/Apr/2008
Not since 1990 has the Portuguese Amateur Championship been won by a national player but extremely promising 16-year-old Pedro Figueiredo, a member of the Quinta do Peru Golf Club located south of Lisbon, and who plays off a plus 3 handicap, became champion this year at the Estela links course in north-west Portugal with a 72-hole tally of 282 strokes (6 under par). Pedro, who came in 3rd at the 2007 Boys Junior Orange Bowl Championship in Florida, was also the best placed Portuguese player – pro or amateur – in the recent Madeira Islands Open, where he tied for 27th place. He has also been invited to play in the Portuguese Open at the Oitavos course near Cascais from 3rd to 6th April. Last years winner, Spaniard Pablo Martin – who has since turned pro – was the first amateur to win a PGA European Tour event.

Saturday, 1/Mar/2008
The 9th annual Old Village Classic took place on the Quinta do Lago North Course. Winners in the various categories were, Terry Fox, Fiona Butterly, Manfred Jones and Brett Lidsey.

Quinta do Lago North Golf Course


Friday, 1/Feb/2008
Following awards conferred on the Algarve over the past few years, such as IAGTOs Established Golf Destination of the Year in 2006, and Best Golf Destination in the World by Germanys Rheingolf Magazin in 2007, it is now the turn of another German publication, Golf Magazin to elect the Algarve as the destination with the best courses in Europe, ahead of rivals Majorca and the West Coast of Ireland. Christopher Stilwell, Chairman of the Algarve Golfe association of golf course owners and Vice-Chairman of ATA, the Algarve Tourist Association, traveled to Cologne during the last week in February to accept the award on behalf of the region.

Friday, 1/Feb/2008
The Pestana Vale da Pinta Course and Resort was granted the first Eco-Golf certificate issued by TUV Rheinland Group to be given out in Portugal. In addition to the golf certificate, the resort also received an Eco-Hotel one, the objective of both being to maintain environmentally friendly policies with strict regulations on energy, water, and waste materials issues.

Vale da Pinta Golf Course


Friday, 1/Feb/2008
Further improvements to the Alto Golf & Country Club are taking place, coinciding with considerable restructuring of the resort. In January, the complex announced that Commandant Jose Barroso Pereira and Dr. Nuno Barroso Pereira had acquired a significant stake in the business. More golf course maintenance equipment, re-fitting of the golf shop and major landscaping improvements to the clubhouse surrounds are some of the projects under way. Mr. Ed Edwards has been appointed as the new Resort Director, having previously held senior management positions in golf resorts in the USA, Egypt, Oman and Ireland and consultancy roles with golf developments worldwide.

Alto Golf Course


Friday, 1/Feb/2008
Oceanico Golf have announced that both the Nick Faldo and Christy OConnor Jnr. courses at their Amendoeira Resort will now open simultaneously to a restricted number of players in September this year, prior to their grand opening the following month. The Faldo Course was to be open for limited play as from May, but Faldo Design decided to move the date back to combine the opening with that of the sister OConnor Jnr. Course.

Faldo Golf Course


Friday, 1/Feb/2008
The Portugal Golf Show is being held at the Centro de Congressos in Lisbon from 22nd to 24th May. Apart from equipment, golf property and course construction exhibits the show includes features such as a golf fashion show, driving ranges for adults and children to try out clubs, an artificial putting green where competitions will be staged, golf simulators, etc. to entertain visitors. There will also be three floating target greens in the nearby Tagus River for prize approach shots contest.

Friday, 1/Feb/2008
The Tagus Golf Society staged the annual Ron Newstead Cup in February on the Estoril Course. The winners were Dick Betts and Max Zimmerli with a net 64, whilst, Jimmy Gray and Henk Vaandrager took second place with 67 strokes.

Golfe do Estoril Golf Course


Friday, 1/Feb/2008
The main year-opening golf event involves the annual week-long visit by members of the UK Bartenders Guild, hosted by the Algarve Barmens Association, a tradition that is now in its 29th year. Four daily individual Stableford tournaments were staged at the Castro Marim, Pinheiros Altos, Alto Golf and Salgados courses, with a separate match-play event between the best visiting players and the locals over the last two days. With home turf advantage, the Algarve team usually have no difficulty in overcoming the intrepid visitors, aided by ample servings of local food and beverages, but last year in 2007 this tactic failed and the UKBG then won the crystal bowl trophy for only their third time. Although the ABA team were favourites to regain the upper hand this year, the visitors succeeded in defeating them once more a tightly fought match. After the first days foursomes ended in a tie, it came down to result of the last singles match on the course which gave them an 11-10 points victory, to their obvious delight.

Friday, 1/Feb/2008
Played recently was the inaugural Oceanico Invitation Golf Classic, with golfers competing for a chance to play at Oceanicos new Little River Golf & Resort in the Pinehurst area, North Carolina. A total of 210 players entered the two-day event at the Victoria Course in Vilamoura, won by Stephen Cooper and Howard Crawford with a team score of 51 points on the first day. Cyril Murray and Pat OToole were the second day winners with a tally of 47 points. Oceanico are staging a similar event in October 2008, to be held alongside the Portugal Masters and the John Aldridge Charity Classic.

Victoria Golf Course


Friday, 1/Feb/2008
Another traditional event in January is the popular Vale do Lobo Amateur Week - now in its 15th year. Individual and team tournaments were held every date from 28th January to 2nd February at this resort, over the Ocean and Royal courses.

Vale do Lobo Royal Golf Course


Friday, 1/Feb/2008
The 31st Almond Blossom series of tournaments took place at Palmares. The almond trees dotted around the course, particularly on the back nine were out in their full splendour, thanks to a full week of sunshine with only light breezes. This perfect weather, allied to the fast, true greens and overall fine condition of the course led to some excellent scoring, especially the round of 63 net (8 under par) by Roland Wallace to take the overall net prize on the final day, the Palmares Golf Trophy. Roland Wallace had already won the opening event, an individual Stableford, carding 38 points. The scenic Palmares course which overlooks the coastline just east of Lagos, has been devoid of property development since it opened in 1975. In the near future, this is due to change into a prime €400 million 200-hectare golf resort with a 5-star hotel and villas, and a new nine golf holes are also being built.

Palmares Golf Course


Friday, 1/Feb/2008
The popular golf course manager, Antonio Cavaco, has moved from the Quinta da Ria and has taken up the position of Golf Director at the established Castro Marim Course in the eastern Algarve.

Castro Marim Golf Course


Friday, 1/Feb/2008
The annual Dom Pedro Classic was won outright by Jose da Silva against a strong foreign participation from Ireland and the UK. The Ladies segment was won by Gill Snelson.

Friday, 1/Feb/2008
As mentioned widely in the local press there has been a recent change in the ownership of both the famous Penina and San Lorenzo courses. These courses, including the Hotel Penina and Dona Filipa Hotel are now belong to the new owners of the Pinheiros Altos golf complex, JJW Hotels and Resorts, whose founder and chairman is Sheikh Mohamed Al Jaber.

Friday, 1/Feb/2008
The first competition of the 2008 FPG was held on the Pinheiros Altos Course and the Mens category was won by Ricardo Melo Gouveia with Jose Maria Joia in second position. The Ladies segment was won Marta Vasconcelos followed by Ana Santos Melo.

Pinheiros Altos Golf Course


Friday, 1/Feb/2008
The finals of the Portuguese Seniors Oder of Merit was held on the Estoril course with the winners being Joaquim Pinto de Almeida for the Mens, and Anke Eckardt for the Ladies. The Quinta da Ria Order of Merit 2007 was won by Jorge Rosa.

Golfe do Estoril Golf Course


Friday, 1/Feb/2008
Portugal was represented in the Final of the Audi Quattro Cup 2007 held in Mexico. The pairs team of Joao Fresco and Rui Matos were placed 25th in the Category A which was no mean feat considering that over 80.000 golfers have competed throughout the year. This year the winners were Mike Williams and Edward Greenhalgh from the UK. Meanwhile, in Florida, Pedro Figueiredo and Joana Silva Pinto qualified to participate in the Final of the Junior Orange Bowl, Pedro Figueiredo finished in third place in the Boys category. Joana Silva Pinto finished in 31st place in the Girls category.

Tuesday, 1/Jan/2008
 LUCKY GOLFER 2007 The Grand Draw to choose the one person to be the Lucky Golfer” for 2007 took place at the annual party at the beginning of January in the Algarve. We wish to congratulate the winner Miles Meredith Jones from England. He is now entitled to receive from the Portugal-info Network a credit of € 2.000,00 to be spent in the Algarve during 2008. The money can be spent in an Algarve Hotel of the winners choice, on green fees, car hire, or, a combination. Plans are in already in progress for Miles to play the two latest courses to open in the Algarve, the Monte Rei and the Quinta de Vale Courses.

Tuesday, 1/Jan/2008
Readers could easily be forgiven for thinking that this merry group of golfers were helping the winner of Lucky Golfer 2007, Miles Meredith Jones, to celebrate his good fortune. However, this is really a photograph of happy winning golfers on New Years Eve on the Penina Course, having taken part in the Champagne Piper Heidsiek Golf Tournament. The first place going to a Team consisted of John Philipson and Anoren OLaughton, whilst, close behind was the Team composed of Antonio Castelo and Francisco Brito.

Penina Championship Golf Course


Tuesday, 1/Jan/2008
The Quinta da Ria and the Quinta de Cima was the scene for the battle to chose the pair of golfers to travel to India for the final in February of the Final of the Golf & Communications Trophy. The winners were Abílio Silva and Artur Ferreira.

Quinta da Ria Golf Course


Tuesday, 1/Jan/2008
Carlos Poucochinho was the winner of the 1º Caipimel Trophy which was played on Palmares.

Palmares Golf Course


Tuesday, 1/Jan/2008
The 2007 Tranquilidade Trophy final was played on the Pinheiros Altos Course which went to Pedro Figueiredo for Mens and Joana Silva Pinta for the Ladies.

Pinheiros Altos Golf Course


Tuesday, 1/Jan/2008
The Old Course was the setting for the Blue & Green Tournament which was won by Jose Rodrigues.

Old Course


Tuesday, 1/Jan/2008
The Algarve was once again the location for the 7º Seniors Qualifiers Event, the final being played on the Pinta Course in Carvoeiro. The only Portuguese resident to pass the final phase and qualify with the international names was Brian Evans who hails from Pinheiros Altos course near Almancil.

Vale da Pinta Golf Course


Tuesday, 1/Jan/2008
The closing international event for the Algarve is without doubt the Grand Trophy of Vilamoura which is in its 20th year. 410 golfers from many countries enjoyed excellent weather and the event is divided into two distinct tournaments. The first was won by Maria Augusta Lopes and the second was won by Jose Candido de Oliveira.

Tuesday, 1/Jan/2008
On 7th December the Estoril Course was the home of the annual Alan Jones Trophy which was won by Sally Buxton, the Grand Prix Shield by Peter Rydin and the Dia Evans Trophy by Ron Goddard.

Golfe do Estoril Golf Course


Tuesday, 1/Jan/2008
The Portuguese Architects Golf Association ended their 2007 season on the Montado Course, with Bleck da Silva taking the Trophy and Antonio Segurado in second place.

Golfe do Montado Golf Course


Tuesday, 1/Jan/2008
The only important event recorded in December in the north of Portugal was the 2007 Axis Trophy held at Ponte de Lima Course. It was won by Arthur van der Hart with Fernando Lopes in second place.

Ponte de Lima Golf Course


Tuesday, 1/Jan/2008
The important BPI Golf Teams Cup which is fiercely competed for during the year on different courses was won by the Lanidor Team. They won in the final round in the Azores with one point on the Terceira Course. Second place went to J.M. Castelo Branco P. Ferros Team, and with LD Construcoes in third place.

Golfe da Ilha Terceira Golf Course


Tuesday, 1/Jan/2008
The 10º Sport TV World Corporate Challenge took place on Porto Santo Course in Madeira. The winning team consisted of Salvador Leite Castro, Ricardo Candeias, Rui Gloria and Jose Carlos. The same course held a Sao Martinho event which was won by Harry Wedemeyer.

Porto Santo Golfe Course