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 great diversity.
The course
was designed by , one of Spain’s most famous architects,
Pepe Cancedo, whose philosophy of golf course construction
involves minimal alteration to the existing terrain.
Its 18 holes are widely varying and they 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.
(Information provided by the Portuguese Tourist Office) |
