There are two 18-hole courses on the Morgado do Reguengo Private Estate. The Morgado course, opened in February 2003 and the second course, Alamos, opened in November 2005. Many golfers are by now familiar with the Morgado layout, which is a very enjoyable course with a reasonably benign first nine and a hillier second nine. Alamos, on the other hand is relatively new and proving to be very popular with golfers desiring a slightly stiffer challenge while on holiday. We travelled in a group of twelve from Ireland and played both courses on consecutive days for four days. Interestingly, despite a wide mix of handicaps from mid to high, Alamos proved to be the more popular course with our group despite some frustrating experiences, on the greens in particular.
Alamos is a good deal shorter than Morgado measuring 5641 metres off the white sticks compared to 6,399 for Morgado. We played off the yellow sticks which measured 5,055 metres compared to 5857 in the case of Morgado. Despite this, the general consensus was that Alamos presents a much tougher test but on reflection was probably far more enjoyable because of the wonderful scenery, the undulating fairways and the nerve-wracking greens. It’s probable that the course would be more enjoyable to play off the back tees. As in the case of Morgado the water and sand hazards are more strategically placed when played from the rear tees. It is interesting that over the last number of years I have never been offered the opportunity of playing off the white tees, which is a pity since they present a truer test of golf not just for low handicappers but also for golfers up to a level of 16-handicap.
We were quite fortunate with the weather conditions when we played Alamos in March. A gentle breeze faced the center of the first hole, which is a relatively short 248 metres. This is a very interesting opening hole with a severely sloping fairway from left to right and a reservoir waiting to welcome your stray shot all the way from tee to green. Certainly the greens at Alamos are not for the faint-hearted. You need a very clear head, something which a lot of golfers very seldom have. Certainly in our case we had a very early wake-up call on the first green, which is precariously placed with a very nasty slope towards the water. Avoiding a three putt on the opening hole is quite an achievement especially if the pins are positioned as they were for our visit.
The second hole is a par five measuring 487 metres off the back tees, 463 off the yellows, with the reservoir on the right waiting to swallow up any severe fades. A real treat, or nightmare as was the case on our visit, awaits when you arrive on the green. The pin position on that day must rate as the most difficult, bordering on the unfair, that any amateur golfer could be confronted with. Having arrived on the green the fun starts and keeping your ball on the slick surface is quite a test. One of my playing partners remarked that it might be easier to pitch onto the roof of a Morris Minor car and then succeeded in having the ball come to rest on the bonnet. Two of our group succeeded in pulling off the green from relatively close distances, thus requiring a deft chip from the valley back onto the green before being confronted with the same nerve-wracking experience. We were told that some professionals had been playing earlier in the day and perhaps pin positions were particularly tough because of this.
The next couple of holes provide the player with some respite as the third is a relatively easy par three measuring 139 metres off the white tees followed by straight par four of 329 metres.
The tee on the par-five sixth hole is at the highest point on the course and offers magnificent mountain views on all sides. Good course management is essential there is out-of-bounds to the right. The green is very well elevated with a generous but testing putting surface.
Our real treat came at the par-three seventh, which measures 150 metres off the yellow tees. My six-iron tee shot found the center of the green. My slopeness was soon shattered by my playing partner Sean who, playing off a twenty-five handicap, hit a five iron which hopped on the front of the green and rolled all the way into the hole for an ace. Many people play golf all their lives without achieving a hole-in-one. Sean, however, has only been playing golf for three years and has plenty of time ahead of him to dine out on his achievement at Alamos. Thankfully we dined out on his success for the remainder of our trip. The front nine finishes with another testing par three measuring 171 metres off the white, or back tees, and 148 metres off the yellow tees.
The back nine can be very deceptive, especially upon reviewing the card, which showed it measuring approximately 200 metres shorter than the outward nine. Despite the presence of six short to medium par fours, it is a serious test of golf. Accuracy off the tee and good course management is essential if a satisfactory score is to be achieved. Once again the greens were precarious, very fast due to their firm construction and tight cups. This makes any good scores achieved all the more enjoyable. Water is also a feature on most of the back nine holes. The tenth is a case in point where an accurate long iron or fairway wood is preferable to a booming drive, which may end up in the cross drain approaching the green. Similar accuracy off the tee is required on the relatively short 12th and 13th par fours.
The 14th is a dogleg left par five measuring 450 metres off the white tees. This hole provides a very real birdie or eagle opportunity if the drive can be successfully placed down the left hand side of the fairway. However, you must be careful not to bite off too much of the dogleg as a water hazard runs parallel on the left. The green is well protected by bunkers but is less undulating than many of the other greens on the course.
The 15th is a potential card wrecker in that at 241 metres off the yellow tees it may encourage the foolhardy to go for the green off the tee. Out-of-bounds awaits on the right for any wayward shot and a drain protects the approach to the green. An iron or fairway wood off the tee may sound very conservative but can be the best option, especially if you are putting a good score together.
The 16th is undoubtedly the most difficult par three on the course with a seriously sloping green protected by a cross drain that will gobble up anything hit short.
The 18th fairway is uphill and is fraught with danger with numerous fairway bunkers that would catch even a slightly wayward drive. The green is also very well protected by bunkers and hills and features frustrating run-off areas which will penalise any approach shot not finding the centre of the green.
Alamos has matured impressively in the last twelve months; it is a very different test of golf to that presented by its sister course Morgado. The scenery is stunning with the Monchique hills providing a beautiful backdrop, however, the lasting impression is one of very slick and difficult greens which penalise any shot not finishing on the correct side of the hole. Unlike so many other courses on the Algarve it is totally unspoilt with no residential development along the course as of yet. The area of ground it covers is vast as is the case with its sister course Morgado. When you play either course you really feel that you are getting away from it all, the only sounds being from the wildlife in the surrounding hills.
Long may it remain like this.