Amendoeira Golf Resort

The best British player of the modern era has a distinct design philosophy, as he seeks to present a challenge to every player; however, he achieves this not simply through extreme length, but by demanding that the golfer exercises some strategy and thought.

The Faldo Course at the Amendoeria Resort is a pristine championship layout that deservedly won the “Best Course in Portugal” award. This is an incredible accolade considering how many top courses there are nearby.

Waste bunkers, large fairway/greenside bunkers and water hazards all play a role in protecting this course. You will find some soft terrain changes and luscious vegetation adding interesting visual aspects to the course too. The Faldo is as much fun to behold as it is to play, it is a very visually pleasing golf course.

The 12th hole is one of the most enjoyable holes on the course. It starts strong with a raised tee-shot down over woodland toward exposed boulders in the terraced land. The short par-4 then requires a tee-shot to a raised green perched on the horizon inviting approach shots. The hole is decorated with white sand bunkers and the green is protected by a beautiful cork oak tree.

The undisputed highlight of the O’Connor Course is the designer’s take on Augusta National’s ‘Amen Corner’ – holes 7, 8 and 9 are skirted at various points by a great lake which snakes its way dangerously through three splendid holes.

The O'Connor course is the perfect companion to the Faldo course and sits in a wonderful fertile valley. This course is the same length as The Faldo and provides a slightly different golfing experience. The main features of the course are the various water hazards and the mature palm trees dotted around. You will have to contend with both rivers and large ponds so accuracy is key.

One of the highlights of the course are the large contoured greens, these will test you. The course starts with a nice-length par-5, always a good chance to get your round off to a good start and there is plenty of room from the tee to let you settle into your round.

The final hole on the front-9 is a cracker. A right to left dogleg awaits with water on the left giving you something to avoid from the tee. If this scares you and you bail-out to the right then three small fairway bunkers may gather-up your ball and give you trouble for your second. This is a fairly long par-4 which requires solid golf from start to finish. The water hazard on the left extends the length of the hole and another one awaits approach shots that are over-hit. A testing hole where par is a good score.

Have you ever played golf under floodlights? If not, now is your chance and it is an opportunity not to miss. This par-3 course is the perfect place to sharpen your scoring skills or to play with beginners in your group. Like the other courses at the Amendoeria Resort, you will walk off this course smiling.

The 7th hole features a tee shot over a water hazard. Two teeing options on this hole let you take on the pond or avoid it depending on your skill level. If you don’t have time for a full round or just fancy a bit of practice, this course comes highly recommended. When the dust has settled and you’ve counted up your strokes, the terraces at The Clubhouse give you a great setting to wind down and sip on something refreshing. The lower terrace overlooks the final green so it’s perfect for watching other members of your group finishing their round and putting some pressure on them as they finish.

The Clubhouse is one of the main features of the resort and is a great place to grab some food. With huge windows, the bar/restaurant area is bright and airy making it a great place to sit and eat with friends/family.

The restaurant opens at 7am and serves all-day breakfast, lunch and dinner. Golfers can purchase drinks and snacks from the golf buggy bar which goes around the golf courses regularly and post-golf drinks can be enjoyed on the spacious terrace which has stunning views over the golf courses or at the greenside spike bar.

Inside, you can have all-day breakfast as well as a la carte lunch and dinner options to fuel your relaxation. The Clubhouse is adjacent to the golf facilities and designed so that both courses start and finish at the building.

The spacious changing room facilities in The Clubhouse have everything you need before and after your round. Once you’re all set to play, go and visit the pro shop to stock up on anything you require for a round. Buggies are available and a free driving range gives you the space to warm-up before you head out.

Be sure to make full use of the putting green too as the greens can get pretty quick out there and you don’t want to be taken by surprise. The staff in the shop are on hand to help make sure you have everything you need before you tee it up.