Golf de Montebelo, the
first golf course built in the Beiras region, is a mountain course situated
in majestic landscape, with the Serra da Estrela and Serra do Caramulo
as it's major landmarks.
Text provided by the Portuguese
Tourist Office
Running through 200 hectares,
the Golf de Montebelo is set in a unique landscape with exceptional views
over Serra da Estrela and Serra do Caramulo. It was designed by Mark Stilwell
and Malcolm Kenyon to respect both the terrain's dimensions and its shape,
and the result has been to make the best of the course's landscape qualities.
The mountainous course, spotted
with gorse and heather, runs through pine and oak trees, over 6,300 metres.
It is divided in two parts, named according to their main geographical
landmarks: the Caramulo course (first nine holes) and the Estrela course
(next nine holes). Dog legs, no less than eight of them, are typical of
this course. The final sequence is unforgettable, the last three holes
provide astonishing views over valleys, streams, hills, lakes and well
protected greens.
The most memorable hole,
however, is probably number 12, a long Par 3, running downhill towards
its green, with a bunker on the left and a lake behind. This hole is considered
to be the "soul of the course" because of its challenging physical characteristics
and the unique landscape that surrounds it. |