PORTUGAL - ALGARVE - CARVOEIRO - GOLF

Text provided by the Portuguese Tourist Office

Quinta do Gramacho was designed by the North-American Ronald Fream and is adjacent to the Vale da Pinta course. It is part of the Carvoeiro Club situated in the heart of Algarve, and close to the fishing village of Carvoeiro, some 60 kilometres from Faro Airport.

The Gramacho course has a nine hole layout, but with 18 double tees and greens. These run through rolling countryside and blend together perfectly the natural vegetation with artificial lakes and bunkers.

Amongst these holes winding through almond groves, olive and fig trees, the one that stands out is hole number 2, a Par 5 that requires an accurate drive to the right of the fairway in order to avoid the high pine trees. And look out for hole number 6, a par 3 that must be played off from elevated tees with a drive over water.

On the second round however, as happens on so many courses the hole is quite different in terms of angle and distance. It is followed by hole number 7, a Par 4 that demands a shot with both distance and precision in order to reach the green in two strokes, for it is protected by a pair of impressive bunkers. Finally, there is hole number 8 (17th on the second round) which also requires great precision as there is a lake to its left and a difficult rough to the right