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Ria Formosa
Premier Golf Course Rating

Quinta do Lago is one of the best known golf courses in the Algarve, it has hosted numerous PGA events including the Portuguese Open seven times. Quinta do Lago has now been divided into two courses, The Quinta Course (formally B & C the Championship Course) and Ria Formosa, the notorious A & D nines.

Ria Formosa

This course at Quinta do Lago is set amongst the Ria Formosa nature reserve after which the course gets it's name. Out of the 18 holes all but the par threes have either a dog leg or some sort of bend, to make it harder, on some holes the walk between green and tee is some what long and tiring. If you plan to take a buggy this is the course to do it on. The course meanders through the Quinta do Lago estate and most if not all have tree lined fairways. To say the least on this course you have to be accurate off the tee's.

One of the outstanding holes is the par 4 tenth, 358 meters. Off the elevated tee you look over some of the magnificent villas and houses in this estate, but do not be put off. The tee shot has to be almost perfect, out of bounds lurks on the right and yes "trees to the right" . From the elevated tee you look across deep valleys in the fairway making your drive look impossible, hit a good tee shot and you are rewarded. If you manage a par here you have done well. The twelfth hole is one of those holes you think "I must hit it long here", a tip, take a long iron to the left side of the fairway but not to left a sloping fairway can make the ball run into the water hazard. This will leave you another iron over the lake, You can afford to hit the second a little long as their is a large bank to the back of the green. To finish there is yet another hole you will remember, from an elevated tee you drive off over the lake, keep your head down a good tee shot rewards you with a relatively easy shot round the dog leg. A word of warning for your approach to the green, try and leave it short of the pin. The green on this hole is notorious, it has a big slope from back to front. If you are at the back of this green the putt is horrendous, too hard and you are back on the fairway. Short of the pin with your approach, make sure you hit a positive putt as it is more than likely that your ball will come back to you.


COURSE DETAILS
Built in 1974 - Course architects/ Joseph Lee, William Mitchell and William (Rocky) Roquemore
Par 72 -18 Holes - SSS 72 Length off White Tees 6,205 Meters

PLAYER REQUIREMENTS Current Handicap Certificate Required
Normal Algarve Dress code, Tailored shorts and collared polo shirts.

Last Up Date December 10, 2001
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