Another early holiday start for everyone meeting as usual at the British Midland end of Heathrow Terminal 1. Quick check in and a big breakfast in the cafeteria set us up for the flight to Lisbon. However, a late departure from London, an aborted landing at Lisbon thanks to our lady pilot and a bad squall on landing, an endless wait for the baggage, time wasted getting the hire car and missing the ferry at Setubal set the clock back so much so that we didn’t make the first tee at Troia until 16-30. Nevertheless, despite rain en route, we managed a very successful 9 hole Texas Scramble in glorious evening sunshine won by BR and KD with 5 points. Notwithstanding an auspicious start (JC in the trees to the right, BR in the rough on the left, KD and KM straight but very short, it was fun and the scene was set for a good week. Troia was in very good condition compared to last year and was assessed as an encouraging 7/10 overall. Drove to the Algarve on completion, checked into the Dom Pedro Marina Hotel and went in search of a meal. The Cataplana Restaurant, an old stamping ground, did us well with vinho verde, plenty of couvert, portuguese steaks for all and stacks of Dao red. Back to the hotel and a well earned kip despite the clocks going forward one hour.
Mother’s Day. Oops most of us forgot! A bit bleary eyed over an early breakfast due to the lost hour but set off for Palmares in a gale and pouring rain for an 8-48 tee time. The course turned out to be empty since most of the Portuguese were still it seems in bed presumably having not put their clocks forward – millionaire’s golf. With teams JC/KD and BR/KM miraculously the weather cleared in time for teeing off and we started albeit a little shakily at first. A very good game was had by all although the glorious sunshine eventually gave way to torrential rain. The course was in magnificent shape with very fast greens, everyone played pretty well and the winners on the day were JC/KD with 29 points. The highlights as recorded were JC having a few teething problems with his overswing, BR’s “badonga” which saw the light of day on the 7th for the first time and worked well, KD going quite well with his 3 iron off the tee having quarantined his driver and KM getting back into the swing of things. General view was that Palmares was most impressive and worthy of an 8/10 assessment. The round was followed by lunch in the new (not very impressive) club restaurant full of noisy American women and a visit to the supermercado on the way back to the hotel. After a kip and a dhobey we met on JC/BR’s balcony for a mavis and/or white port before repairing to the A Broa Restaurant, another known haunt, for a scrumptuous meal comprising secret prawns, sea bass and fillet of pork.
The weather broke again during the night and we were subjected to a tempestuous few hours of rain and wind. Undaunted and after a leisurely breakfast we set off for the Vilamoura Old Course and a 10-06 tee time but not before a quick bucket of balls and putting contest. The weather cleared into a magnificent morning, beautifully sunny and warm. The course was deserted as yesterday - millionaire’s golf again. Teams for the day were JC/KM and BR/KD, and JC set the pace with a glorious birdie on the 4th. In all it was a great days golf much enjoyed by all and won by BR/KD with 36 points and no blobs! The Old Course was in excellent condition and very picturesque, and earned itself a well deserved 7/10 rating. After lunch on the terrace, we repaired to the hotel where JC and BR chose to clean their clubs and balls in the jacuzzi, KM had an abortive trip to the swimming pool and KD fell asleep in front of the TV. Down to the bar for a few more mavis’ before seeking out supper at the Casa do Pescador Restaurant which was very busy and consequently slow. The quality of the meal was a bit mixed and despite the very shapely lady in charge, the general consensus was that it was not a good bet for the future.
Torrential rain again as we set out for the Vilamoura Pinhal Course and a 09-06 start. Fortunately the rain didn’t persist but was replaced by angry clouds, occasional showers and the odd ray of sunshine. The course was not in particularly good condition and overall it needs much money spending on it. JC/BR got off to a good start on the 10th and were striking well but KD/KM were having a pretty turgid time of it thanks to poor driving, several in the water, KD hitting BR’s ball, need I go on ……! By the end of the back nine during which JC got his second birdie on the 8th JC/BR had amassed a creditable 34 points, however KD/KM had only experienced a slight improvement in their fortunes. BR’s “badonga” was firing well all day and has definitely earned more regular airings. Over lunch in the clubhouse, Pinhal was assessed as poor with a rating of 4/10. Afterwards BR, KD and KM retired to the hotel while JC disappeared off to Quinta do Lago and Pinhal to bash some more balls. On reflection I guess that is what we all should have done. More mavis’ and screwdrivers before heading off to the Cataplana Restaurant again for another cracking meal.
Standard 07-30 breakfast and off we went to Palmares via the supermercado to hit some balls and hone our putting skills. A lovely crisp and sunny morning but with quite a lot of wind which would prove to make things quite difficult at Alto, our next port of call. Teed off at 12-00, this time in the JC/KD and BR/KM combo again. KM leapt into contention immediately with a birdie on the 1st, a stunning chip from off the green straight into the hole. Disaster however struck on the 2nd with JC under a tree, BR out of bounds, KD short of the ladies tee and KM in the water. Fast recovery of sorts with everyone striking well but just unable to score. The back nine was much the same and the course generally got the better of us. That said it was in pretty good condition with nice greens. However it was tight and the trees either side of the fairways gave little or no quarter. JC/KD came in with the best albeit unimpressive score of 28 points and the highlight of the day (and probably the tournament) was JC holing the 18th from 70 yards for his 10! In the post match assessment, it was agreed that Alto was a very challenging course made more difficult by the wind, rated above average at 6/10. Back at the hotel it was mavis and white port on the terrace before another visit to the A Broa Restaurant for another taste of the secret prawns and other choices which were as usual delicious.
Early start again and off this time to the David Leadbetter inspired Carvoeiro Pinta course near Lagos. Stopped at the supermercado on the way and after an unprogrammed scenic tour of Carvoeiro we finally found Pinta. Coffee on the terrace overlooking the Gramacho sister course, a bucket of balls on the range and some putting, we teamed up, JC/KM and BR/KD, and teed off at 12-10. The course was in magnificent shape and looked as difficult as ever. The weather while dry was cloudy with occasional sunshine but with lots of wind. The front nine went well for BR/KD who were striking well and realised 18 points; JC/KM did well but not well enough to catch the leaders. During the back nine BR/KD kept their heads and returned 17 points making a grand total of 35 for the day, 5 ahead of JC/KM’s very creditable 30 points. The strong wind combined with tight fairways made the course difficult; performance on the greens was not particularly good and many shots were unnecessarily dropped. The rough was consistently difficult and very stony in places, that is if you were lucky enough to find your ball. Overall an excellent day during which the weather held on a course worthy of its 8/10. Supper again at the Cataplana was as good as ever.
Late breakfast for a change and some shopping for vodka, port and other gizzits prior to setting off for Vila Sol and our last round in the Algarve. A nice sunny day with a few clouds marked a welcome change in the weather which up to this point had been very varied and unpredictable. Some changes were evident at Vila Sol not least an extra nine holes added to make 27. The usual coffee to start followed by a bucket of balls, some lunch and a bit of putting set the scene for the afternoon. Sadly we were not to play the first nine holes but were committed to the 10th for our 14-06 tee time and holes 10 to 27, the latter nine being brand new. Teams for the day were JC/BR and KD/KM. As it happened the golf turned out to be the two extremes. JC/BR stormed round and came in with a fantastic 40 points; KD/KM had a less than satisfactory day and only managed 22 points. The net result turned the order of merit on its head and put BR very firmly in the lead for the tournament with JC a mere 5 points behind him. During the course review the consensus was that the first nine (10 to 18) was very good and challenging; the back nine (19 to 27) was immature, poorly laid out and unnecessarily tight; the result being a meagre 6/10. Supper at A Broa again where the chef excelled himself with the secret prawns and a fantastic chateaubriand steak washed down with the traditional quantity of vinho verde and red plonk.
Checked out of the hotel at 05-30 and KM very skillfully drove us at high speed to Aroiera II for the final nail-biting round. A lovely crisp spring morning developed very quickly into a hot sunny day which eventually dispersed what had been a very heavy dew. We teed off into the mist, this time as individuals. The front nine was in near perfect condition with lots of water to contend with but not badly so. KM kicked off playing a blinder, and JC and BR were doing OK keeping close together. However, after a good week overall, KD’s game took a dive and the front nine was just a nightmare. At the turn JC and BR were still close up and continued to battle against each other. KM’s brilliant start somewhat faded towards the end while KD’s nightmare receded a little. In the end BR won the day and the tournament on the 18th and so ended an excellent week of golf. Back in the clubhouse, we settled down to a welcome beer and a good lunch in scorching sunshine. BR took charge of the trophy after a short ceremony, and the course was adjudged to have been very good with a fantastic layout, well placed water and excellent greens, and worthy of a 7/10. Thereafter it was into the car for the last time and a short drive to Lisbon airport to catch the plane and head home.
Final course order of merit