The Pestana Vila Sol Golf Resort occupies 150 hectares, within the Vilamoura Nature Reserve, right in the heartland of Algarve golf.
Designed by the architect Donald Steel and built along a natural valley with streams and lakes, in a huge pine forest with fig, almond, and cork trees, Pestana Vila Sol Golf’s championship course features a stunning 27-hole layout, divided into three, 9-hole loops of different difficulty levels: Prime, Challenge and Prestige.
The Prime course, composed of holes nos. 1 to 9, is Vila Sol’s toughest course. The length and narrow width of the fairways on the first four holes lead to its reputation as the Algarve’s ‘most difficult start’, where your score can be made or broken early.
The Challenge course (the ‘second round’) consists of holes 10 to 18, where the difficulties lie in greens which are naturally more undulated than those of the Prime and Prestige courses, meaning greater accuracy is required of players in their green approach shots. The first five holes are accessible and offer players the chance to set up a good score before getting to the final four holes, which comprise a difficult par 3 (hole 15), and three very challenging par 4 holes. Hole no. 18, next to the Clubhouse, finishes off with an approach shot where the players have the chance to excel in front of the audience watching from the terrace. The ball has to land on the fairway in these final holes to avoid high scores, even if this means playing an iron from the tee.
The Prestige course completes the set of 27 holes at Vila Sol Golf. This course is shorter but, to offset this fact, it is narrower. Accuracy and not distance is the decisive factor on this course. The first four holes are ‘friendly’, and they do not prepare the player for the difficulties that lie ahead on reaching tee 23 and being faced with quite a narrow fairway. The course becomes difficult from this tee shot onwards. The ball has to land in the right places so as not to run the risk of ending up behind the trees, out of bounds or in the water hazard beside hole 26, which even provides entitlement to a waterfall shower.
This is a demanding course, most suitable for mid to low handicappers, where precision and strategy is rewarded. A great addition to your golf holiday in the Algarve.
Practice facilities include a large driving range, putting greens, short game and bunker areas. The clubhouse ‘L’Olive’ restaurant features a deck boasting stunning views of the 18th hole, making it the perfect place to unwind after a game.
View the other four Pestana Algarve golf courses – Pestana Alto, Pestana Gramacho, Pestana Vale da Pinta, and Pestana Silves
