Discover award-winning
Faldo Course

Discover award-winning
Faldo Course

Portugal's Best Golf Course 2016 Winner Shield Gold Awards

Faldo Course

Designed by Sir Nick Faldo with strategic play in mind this 6578m Par 72 championship course demands careful positioning to score well.

"The land at Amendoeira is dramatic and the project has the potential to be a real talking point in the Algarve. With so many courses in the region, that's no mean feat", pointed out Nick Faldo, during his visit in 2007.

In a modern twist of a traditional recipe, cacti and wild herbs replace the role of Sunningdale's heather, spartan Holm oaks and ancient olive trees take the place of a lush English woodland, and desert scrub bunkers of crushed limestone replace Berkshire’s sandy tracts in a golf course that revels in the classic principles of strategic play.

Faldo Course won, in 2016, the title of Portugal’s Best Golf Course, given by World Golf Awards.

18 holes

72 Championship course

6578m

Designed by
Nick Faldo

Faldo Course - Hole 1
Faldo Course - Hole 2
Faldo Course - Hole 3
Faldo Course - Hole 4
Faldo Course - Hole 5
Faldo Course - Hole 6
Faldo Course - Hole 7
Faldo Course - Hole 8
Faldo Course - Hole 9
Faldo Course - Hole 10
Faldo Course - Hole 11
Faldo Course - Hole 12
Faldo Course - Hole 13
Faldo Course - Hole 14
Faldo Course - Hole 15
Faldo Course - Hole 16
Faldo Course - Hole 17
Faldo Course - Hole 18
1
Stroke Index 7 / Par 4

After a drive from elevated tees, keeping right side of the fairway is a better line into a green fringed left by five olive trees. A bunker front right, and bunkers set into the foreground ridge protect against an under clubbed approach, while two gnarled carob trees frame the rear. The intent is to then avoid these varied hazards with either a bump and run from off the right edge of the green or a shot carried full to the receptively sloped putting surface

Tee Metres
415
410
388
362
320
Faldo Course - Hole 1
2
Stroke Index 17 / Par 3

This short hole, the first of the course’s four par 3 holes, is played downhill to a shallow green which poses the player some serious questions, falling steeply off to the right, backed by a rocky outcrop and surrounded threateningly on the left by a large desert bunker studded with clumps of flowering cacti.

Tee Metres
174
169
147
126
96
Faldo Course - Hole 2
3
Stroke Index 11 / Par 4

Here the golfer is presented with a commanding tee shot, filled with strategic options. The most dynamic route is to cut the dogleg to reach the green 300m away in one glorious shot, the other options require varying combinations of precision and length before hitting the approach shot up to a two-tiered green which sits poised over 360 degree views of Amendoeira. An extraordinary row of five intertwined Holm oaks guard the right side of the carry.

Tee Metres
324
319
310
268
214
Faldo Course - Hole 3
4
Stroke Index 3 / Par 5

The length of this hole presents the golfer with another demanding tee shot, which has to be played downhill and downwind to a turn point a full 300m away; a draw is the right shape for your opening shot. The dilemma for the second shot is whether to carry the bunkers and the barranca (a dry ditch filled with rocks) in going for the green in two, or whether to play a "safer" route to a fairway that is threatened only by that barranca.

Tee Metres
545
520
478
433
388
Faldo Course - Hole 4
5
Stroke Index 9 / Par 4

Here, the golfer is presented with a tricky choice of tee shot: a heroic carry across the largest lake on the golf course or, alternatively, opting for strategic fairway positioning. The rationale and reward for pursuing either route will vary depending entirely on the pin location of the day. The carry is over water and a scrub bunker, the safer line is all about precision and position, placing the ball precisely to the right side of the dogleg fairway.

Tee Metres
365
336
309
281
236
Faldo Course - Hole 5
6
Stroke Index 5 / Par 5

Options abound for each shot from tee to green; various sections of fairway are protected or defined by changes in levels and the arrangements of traps. The result presents innumerable strategic subtleties. Similar in length to the 4th hole, it plays in the opposite direction, quartering into an unhelpful prevailing breeze. With the wind up it is a full three shots to a green that slopes to favour an approach from the more evasive left side of the fairway.

Tee Metres
541
517
489
461
414
Faldo Course - Hole 6
7
Stroke Index 13 / Par 3

A variation on the North Berwick's Redan hole, the green can be reached by either a fully flighted ball or a bump and run shot feeding down onto the putting surface from the high right side of the approach ground.

Tee Metres
199
194
181
154
125
Faldo Course - Hole 7
8
Stroke Index 1 / Par 4

Again this tee shot offers options, an arrow straight drive down a narrow channel between the barranca and a central fairway bunker leads to a shorter second shot taking you onto a long, shallow, oblique green. A tee shot to the right leaves a longer approach which carries defending bunkers and asks the ball to be stopped quickly on a surface that slopes away from this direction of approach.

Tee Metres
388
363
335
317
276
Faldo Course - Hole 8
9
Stroke Index 15 / Par 4

A sweeping, rolling fairway rewards a long tee shot which climbs the step to a plateau from which the green is spied on a natural platform beyond a narrow valley.

Tee Metres
355
350
325
264
218
Faldo Course - Hole 9
10
Stroke Index 8 / Par 4

The hole stretches away from the high tees to the plain below, and appears to encourage two long draws to attack the green which is bunkered all along the left approach. The wind helps the draw on the tee shot to set up the best angle into the green. But drawing of the approach shot must not be overdone, for the green, 45m long, is narrow and slopes down to the left. When any cross breeze is blowing a controlled fade is a better option to hold the second shot up on the green.

Tee Metres
458
445
433
418
373
Faldo Course - Hole 10
11
Stroke Index 16 / Par 3

Back into the hills this, the shortest hole on the course, plays up to an angled green. The hole may be short but the green is stretched long - so long that three clubs’ distances cover the front to back pin placements. A waste bunker sprawls down from the right, while a cascading stream runs along the left side.

Tee Metres
149
132
115
105
96
Faldo Course - Hole 11
12
Stroke Index 6 / Par 4

Another spectacular tee shot must fly over a wooded valley to a ridge of fairway still showing the ancient terraces formed by walls of large boulders and hewn rock. The green is perched higher still, guarded by a magnificent cork oak tree.

Tee Metres
319
314
299
286
253
Faldo Course - Hole 12
13
Stroke Index 2 / Par 5

From here, the highest point on the golf course, at 50m above the plain, the view over the entire property is commanding - and the view to the fairway is daunting! Although, as ever, safer and easier alternative routes are available, the temptation is to carry as far across the tree tops in the valley below as possible to a distant section of fairway buttressed by cliff walls. The fairway sweeps down and down with cliffs high to the left and a rock wall low to the right. The second shot carries a large area of scrub and the players must decide whether to be short of, carry, or thread through a pair of offset fairway bunkers in the approach area. The need for precision is heightened by the location of the green which juts out on a thin promontory which falls away on all sides.

Tee Metres
613
591
521
485
449
Faldo Course - Hole 13
14
Stroke Index 10 / Par 4

Traversing uphill, the fairway slopes across from the high right. Waiting below its left edge is a cavernous desert scrub area from where sand was once extracted. The tee shot should be faded into the fairway’s slope to set up a second shot to a green nestled on a terrace beyond the quarry.

Tee Metres
348
343
327
281
259
Faldo Course - Hole 14
15
Stroke Index 14 / Par 4

The ball to the centre or left of the fairway is gathered in benignly, a ball ‘lost’ on the breeze to the right side is deflected down and away from the green. Given that the green is ledged precariously into the hillside with a steep bunker below it is vital that the tee shot has been accurate. There is precious little margin for error for this second shot and every advantage of stance, elevation and lie from the fairway will be repaid in full.

Tee Metres
367
332
303
267
244
Faldo Course - Hole 15
16
Stroke Index 18 / Par 3

This is a lovely par 3. There is no big mounding, and a lake runs along the right hand side guarding the hole because it is quite a wide fairway. Anybody playing up the left hand side is going to have a free run at this golf hole. Just watch out for the lake; it runs all the way along the right hand side and up to the right hand side of the green. So anybody hitting the ball safely must keep it up the left-hand side to keep out of trouble.

Tee Metres
138
124
112
106
83
Faldo Course - Hole 16
17
Stroke Index 4 / Par 4

The split-level fairway is divided by a central bunker 265m from the back tee. This bunker blocks the left channel if hit too long, while a very full drive along the right side climbs to a plateau which then drops down to usher the ball still further up the fairway. Due to the shape and orientation of the green the shorter left side of the fairway can be a preferable position and angle from which to make the second shot, though more often a shorter and easier approach shot is accomplished by staying long and to the right.

Tee Metres
403
372
353
315
286
Faldo Course - Hole 17
18
Stroke Index 12 / Par 5

To stand a chance of getting up in two the drive must thread the pinch point of bunkers left and right at 265m and have enough fade to hold the right edge of the fairway against the contradictory slope. Letting it go left leaves a very awkward angle home. The green sets up in an amphitheatre in the hillside 235m beyond and requires a superb strike to rise up to and settle on the green. Opting only to reach the green in a regulation three strokes brings the barranca into play. Decision time! Lay up short to leave a mid iron in or carry the hazard for a short pitch up to the green. Under clubbing either shot, or over spinning the pitch risks the humiliation of the ball trickling backwards 50m, all the way, down to the lower fairway level. The clubhouse balcony gives a fabulous view of play from tee to green - no pressure then!

Tee Metres
496
465
433
405
373
Faldo Course - Hole 18
Hole 1
1/8
Hole 1
Hole 1
2/8
Hole 1
Hole 4
3/8
Hole 4
Hole 8
4/8
Hole 8
Hole 9
5/8
Hole 9
Hole 12
6/8
Hole 12
Faldo course at dawn
7/8
Faldo course at dawn
Sir Nick Faldo's Statue
8/8
Sir Nick Faldo's Statue

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We are looking forward to welcoming you!

19/03
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Our players experience
  1. Every player must have his or her own bag of clubs.
  2. Single players are allowed on the golf courses during less busy periods, subject to starter's decision.
  3. Club bags and trolleys are not allowed on the greens.
  4. Buggies are not allowed on the tees, greens and avant-greens.
  5. Only two players and two club bags are allowed per buggy.
  6. Dogs are not allowed in the Clubhouse or on the grounds of the golf course.
  7. Softspikes are mandatory at all courses.
  8. Children under 12 are only allowed on the golf course when specifically authorized and after Terms & Conditions have been read, agreed and signed.
  9. Practice is only allowed within the practice areas.
  10. Putting areas cannot be used for pitching.
  11. Handicap Certificate required. Recommended handicaps: 28 for Men and 36 for Ladies.
  1. Bathing attire, jeans, T-shirts, sleeveless tops and training shoes are not allowed in the Clubhouse, on the practice areas and the golf course itself. Shirts must be worn at all times.
  2. Dress code must include trousers or tailor shorts, polo shirts and golf shoes and socks.
  3. Single players should give way to groups.
  4. Any group with a free hole ahead should give way to the next group.
  5. The players looking for a lost ball should give way to the next group if the ball is not found quickly.
  6. During busy periods, the players should mark the ball on greens par 3 so that the next group can tee off.
  7. When finished on a hole the players should leave the green immediately.
  8. In the interest of all, the game should go on without delay. So please:
    • Prepare your ball, tee and tee club in advance.
    • Do not leave your trolley too far from the green or in the wrong direction for the following tee.
    • Do not mark your scorecard on the green.
    • Do not make more strokes than necessary to score when playing Stableford.
  9. Before leaving a bunker please make sure you leave it as smooth as you found it.
  10. Please repair the divots on the fairways.
  11. Please repair the pitch and spikes marks on the greens.
  12. Greens and fairways should not be damaged by clubs tests.
  13. Please follow the instructions for buggies usage.
  14. Buggies and trolleys are not allowed on greens and surrounding areas.

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O'Connor Jnr. Course

Designed by Christy O'Connor Jnr., this course complements the neighbouring Faldo Course and also takes full advantage of being situated in a fertile valley.
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Academy Course

Academy Course

The 9 hole floodlit Academy course located between the Faldo Course and the O'Connor Jnr. course is ideally suited for beginners and those who wish to sharpen up their short game.
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