|
Situated very close to the
beautiful coastline of the Algarve and with water as a constant
presence, this course has three loops of nine holes all of which are
enduring challenge for any player
Opened in 1990 and designed by Joseph Lee, the Laguna Golf Course
makes full use of the wet, marshy ground near the sea. It is the
most recent of the Vilamoura courses, comprising three loops of nine
holes, (north, South and East) for a total of 27 holes.
The layout is very different from the
two other Vilamoura courses. Here the golfer can drive off more
confidently, because of the greater width of the fairways. On
the North Course strategically placed bunkers are the main difficulty,
while on the South and East courses water is a nearly permanent
obstacle, not to mention the bunkers (88 out of a total of 27 holes).
Lee may have designed a course that
is visually intimidating, but as it is not very long, the golfer may
complete it without great difficulty. The result is that the
satisfaction for the golfer, after finishing his game, is even
greater.
There are several ways to play this
course, as one soon discovers at hole number 5 on the East Course,
which is 315 metres for a Par 4, with a lake covering the right-handed
dogleg. Here the player's options for the first shot range from
a driver to a number five iron. The player must reflect that by
choosing a wood the second shot will be significantly shorter.
But this also brings the water into play, so highly increasing the
risks.
|
