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Vilamouras' fourth course is a combination of a remodelled nine holes
from the Laguna course, together with nine newly uilt holes, to form the
Millennium Course - opened on May 13th, 2000.
The course
is particularly open, although some holes (the 3rd to the 7th) wind
between pine trees and are similar to the neighbouring fairways of the
Old Course and Pinhal. In this more wooded area, the fairways are
narrower and require greater accuracy - while the rest of the course has
a clear landscape enriched by lakes at the 4th, 17th and 18th holes.
The arrival of the
Millennium Course makes Vilamoura one of the main - if not the main -
European golf destinations.
A well-established UK
golf architects Hawtree & Sons were contracted to plan this modification
and design work which has culminated in the creation of the new,
exciting 18-hole Millennium Golf Course. Refurbishment to the existing
nine holes commenced in May 1999 and included the complete rebuilding of
the tees, greens and bunkers.
Changes were made to
the layout or structure of the old nine holes, but several new design
features were incorporated with a view to simplifying the strategy of
the course and in order to make it more golfer-friendly. This applies
especially to holes 8 and 9, the only ones on this loop with water
hazards. Also, many of the bunkers have been re-shaped and the smaller
greens expanded.
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