|
Parque da Floresta is a
course built on hillsides and over uneven ground with views over a
fishing village. With a number of different obstacles such as
bunkers, lakes and rivers, it provides a challenge of greatdiversity.
The course was designed by , one of
Spain’s most famous architects, whose philosophy of golf course
construction involves minimal alteration to the existing terrain.
Parque da Floresta is the centre of a
private residential development and its course runs over hills behind
the fishing village of Salema, which is near the historic town of
Lagos and not far from the Costa Vicentina Nature Reserve.
Its nine widely varying holes run
through valleys and eucalyptus covered ravines while around the course
olive, palm and pine trees are planted.
The first hole, 525 metres for a Par
5, faces toward the sunrise and presents a serious challenge for those
intending to reach its green in just two shots. Hole 5 is a Par
3 over just 108 metres, but here the ball is only playable if it falls
straight onto the green.
These first nine holes end memorably,
for the third shot to the green must go over a river. On the
second round, the highlight is hole 11 whose green is protected by
water. Notable too is hole 18 which ends in an amphitheatre
placed right beneath the clubhouse.
The clubhouse is typically Portuguese
and provides spectacular panoramic views over mountains and sea, and
also a general view over no less than eleven holes
|
