Hole 1 (Par 4)
320
300
268
The opening hole is a dog-leg right that requires the tee shot to be aimed for the left side of the fairway due to bunkers on the left to catch the strong hitters. From this area the second shot to reach the green must carry a pine tree that defends the apron of the green. The green surface slopes from back to front and from the right to left and any chip shot from the right onto the green can present a problem.
Hole 2 (Par 4)
373
355
319
This lengthy hole for a par-3 requires a long iron or fairway wood from the championship tee. The surface of the green slopes from the right to left and is defended with a front left large bunker and two smaller right bunkers. The green is made more challenging by being narrow front and back, and a ridge running down the centre. A par will be well earned.
Hole 3 (Par 5)
451
423
371
As this fairway is uphill is best played with a 3 wood from the tee with the approach shot using a lofted iron. The green slopes steeply from back to front with two front defending bunkers, left and right.
Hole 4 (Par 5)
587
542
490
This is a short hole for a par 5 and the first example of the “risk and reward” golf course design. From the tee the downhill slope of the fairway tempts the player to attack the green. A lake plus a large bunker protects the front and right of the green while steep banks at the back of a treacherous green with strategically placed bunkers makes it a real challenge.
Hole 5 (Par 3)
196
185
135
A strong accurate drive is necessary to avoid a lay up with the second shot to the right side of the fairway. However, if going for the green with the second shot it will need to carry the lake and landing softly on a large firm green. Many players will look for their par with a lay up!
Hole 6 (Par 4)
304
282
244
Another “risk and reward” hole from the course architect. A straight tee drive is essential to land in the centre of the fairway as large bunkers are waiting on both the left and right. A second shot to carry the lake onto a two tiered green with bunkers on the back right awaiting too strong an approach.
Hole 7 (Par 4)
293
289
259
An uphill tee drive avoiding the long bunker on the left side of the fairway. The approach shot is challenging for the pin position on this long wandering green is paramount as the bottom of the flag is not visible from the fairway. A large bunker guards the front left side of the green.
Hole 8 (Par 3)
134
116
90
The tee drive must carry the uphill slope avoiding the bunker on the right side of the landing area. The approach shot is to a raised green and with no defending bunkers and an opportunity for a birdie
Hole 9 (Par 4)
325
298
272
An attractive hole over a valley to a two tiered green. If the tee shot is not successfully on the green then the chip approach may prove challenging.
Hole 10 (Par 4)
357
328
271
A demanding drive is required from the tee on this left dog-leg to ideally stay on the fairway and avoid the two long bunkers on the right. The approach shot is by a mid-iron to a green protected in front by an evil pot bunker which may determine the possibility of gaining a par.
Hole 11 (Par 3)
192
166
98
The view from the tee is most attractive but beware of the well defended green with front left and right bunkers. Accuracy will be paramount which will also need to take into consideration the pin position.
Hole 12 (Par 4)
313
289
215
An uphill tee drive with bunkers to the left and right of the fairway landing area. The approach shot is to a difficult undulating green without much depth and with a guarding right bunker.
Hole 13 (Par 5)
436
416
346
A straightforward tee shot leaving a downhill approach shot with a mid to short-iron to carry a stream and onto a green that slopes from back to front. However, the green is generous as it is over 40 metres in length.
Hole 14 (Par 4)
396
389
323
A large lake awaits on the right for any wayward tee drive. This will be onto a split level green which is set at right angles to the incoming ball and with a small bunker on its rear edge. Anything short could be either caught by water on the right or a welcoming placed small bunker on the left.
Hole 15 (Par 5)
453
435
363
This is a lenghtly par-4 hole which requires a well hit drive slightly right of centre and avoiding long bunkers left and right. Players will be left with a four or five iron to the largest green on the golf course. However, the green surface is undulating so pin position will play a part
Hole 16 (Par 4)
379
345
300
This hole bends to the right and the green can be reached in two long and accurate shots avoiding the pine trees on the right. The small narrow bunkerless green is well protected by its severe slopes. Depending on the pin position it is often difficult to successfully chip in close to the pin.
Hole 17 (Par 4)
365
341
296
Considered by many to be a most difficult and demanding par-5 hole. Even professionals require three strategic strokes on this slight right dog-leg to successfully reach the green. Fairway bunkers left and right await in the landing area of the drive. The small green is sloping and has two welcoming bunkers front left. Treat this hole with the respect it deserves in order to protect your scorecard!
Hole 18 (Par 3)
154
144
137
The fairway also bends to the right and needs a faded tee shot to leave a mid-iron approach into the green. This green is well guarded by three bunkers and its surface is three tiered so consider the pin position. Anything long and over the green requires “the touch of a midwife” to let close to the pin.
Hole 19 (Par 4)
381
362
313
A sharp left hand dog-leg that turns in at 220 metres from the tee and leaving a short iron into a long sloping narrow green. Long hitters have a birdie chance beckons as the dog-leg can be cut and the raised green driven. However, it is not a shot for the faint hearted golfer. Beware of the bunker on the right of the green.
Hole 20 (Par 3)
162
141
116
This demanding hole requires a tee drive through a narrow valley to the top of a slope. Out of Bounds runs up parallel to the left of the fairway. The approach shot is down a slope to a green with water behind and bunkers to the left and right of the front. A par is considered a good score.
Hole 21 (Par 4)
323
298
263
A most attractive hole with a lake running initially up the left side of the fairway. The green can be reached in two but requires a long well placed tee shot. For the second shot some players throw caution to the wind and attack the very small green. The approach area to the green is well guarded by three bunkers while anything too long or too left may be in trouble with the more water. Players landing to the right and into a bunker will be faced with a difficult recovery shot looking straight at water. A hole requiring a lot of respect!
Hole 22 (Par 4)
339
325
277
The longest par-5 on the course and another attractive hole. A difficult tee drive with water running along the left of the narrowish fairway with two welcoming bunkers on its right side. A three wood second shot would leave a mid to short iron to a well bunkered green but again another bunker on the left to be avoided. A long narrow green is guarded by bunkers to the left and right. Any par is well won!
Hole 23 (Par 3)
163
143
102
A hole with a lake to carry and often catches the offline tee shot. The difficulty with this hole is the lack of visual definition which makes lining up and judging distance very challenging. Added to this is contours of the green, the pin position and bunkers left and right. It is a challenging hole in many respects.
Hole 24 (Par 4)
424
400
336
An interesting hole with a a long left bunker running up the entire length of the fairway and also the green. The tee shot should be played for a position to leave a wedge into the tricky sloping green. When the wind is following the longer hitters can go for the green. However, the Out of Bounds on the left combined with well placed oleander bushes on the right will punish any wayward tee shot.
Hole 25 (Par 5)
467
458
407
The tee drive is crucial so as to leave an approach shot to carry the water to a green which has left Out of Bounds all the way down the fairway and around the green. The landing area for the drive has bunkers strategically placed both left and right of the fairway. If the tee shot finds trouble it is advisable to lay up short of the water as the green also has defending bunkers both left and right.
Hole 26 (Par 5)
527
497
443
This short hole with an island green is the “signature hole” of Pinheiros Altos and a “must play” hole for any visiting golfer to the Algarve. From the tournament tee on a windy day with a 6 or 7 iron in your hands it is the most intimidating of tee shots. From the other tees the tee shot remains still quite daunting!
Hole 27 (Par 4)
368
333
295
An attractive and interesting hole to finish the round. After carrying the water from the tee the landing area is again protected by bunkers to the left and right of the fairway. The second shot is to a raised undulating and difficult green with a large guarding right bunker. Placed to the rear of the green is another smaller bunker just to make the approach a little more challenging!
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