| Carvoeiro Pinta Golf Course - Algarve - Portugal | ||
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Pinta Golf Course | |
| Vale de Pinta, one of two courses located near Carvoeiro towards the western Algarve. Carvoeiro used to be a small fishing village until tourists discovered it back in the late sixties and early seventies, now it is one of the major holiday and golfing areas of the Algarve. Carvoeiro has two golf courses, Vale de Pinta an 18 hole course and Gramacho a double 9 layout designed by Ronald Fream. | ||
Vale de Pinta, this 18 hole masterpiece is located in one of the Algarve's natural golf terrains when Ronald Fream first encountered the area he acknowledged it to be "God's Given Land" for golf. Pinta is one of the Algarve's musts for any golfer, but you must be fit to walk it during the hotter periods. Your introduction to this course is gently with 3 par 4's, not to daunting until the 4th. The 4th is a par 5 with out of bounds on the left and waist areas to the right, the drive is towards a marker in the fairway but take care, to the left and right are carefully placed bunkers. The second is around or over a dog-leg with the fairway falling away to the left and down hill to a valley, if you can reach the top of the valley around 120 meters from the green you are left with one of the most daunting approaches. The approach to this two tiered green that is well protected by bunkers, and a lightning fast green three puts here are very common. The next is a par 3 and a bit of relief after the 4th, but as with this course you still have to take care, this hole can be deceptive. It is difficult to pick the holes with which to describe this course due to them all being different, challenging and rewarding once finished, but one that sticks in the mind for a quite a while is the par 4 13th. From the tee you look over a large lake, daunting enough but on the other side is a large fairway bunker. The fairway runs lengthways to the lake, which makes it into a dog-leg. If you have a long drawing dive in your repertoire this is the time to pull it out, a good drive over the widest part of the lake leaves you with a short pitch to the green. The safe way is to the left of the bunker, but this makes the second shot very difficult. Your approach shot to the green is made difficult due to well placed bunkers in front and to the left, yet again this is a fast green and slopes up, to bold and you could be off the green. The next is a par 5, the tee shot is made harder as you have the lake infringing at the front a firm drive and second leave you with a short pitch to a large green. After two par three's and a dog-leg right par four up hill, you are on the 18th. This 18th hole is long straight to start then has a dog-leg right to the green. If you can get your tee shot centre fairway you will have a chance of par, the second may have to be played left of a bunker and trees to give you a chance of reaching the green in three. The green is again protected by bunkers on the left, but a good pitch to this tiered green leaves you feeling good…. Hopefully you are still fit as you have a long walk to the car park (New Clubhouse soon to open) until then it is a car drive to get that refreshing drink, you deserve it. 18 Holes Par (SSS) 71 (72) Length in Meters 6,152 Maximum Handicap 27, Ladies 35 Facilities: Clubhouse, putting green, pro shop, bar and restaurant
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