Alto Golf was opened in June l99l, in the presence of the Portuguese President. It is located between Alvor and Praia da Rocha, about 5 kilometres from the city of Portimão.
Alto Golf was the last course layout designed by the legendary Sir Henry Cotton. The old man shows an evil streak with some of the holes, using the lie of the land to punish any wayward shot. On a bad day it can be a monster, but on a good day a pleasure to play. The course is 6,125 metres long and is built between two valleys. Trees and bushes, combined with Mr Cotton’s placement of bunkers and some beautiful dog-legs, result in a true test of golf. Club selection when playing to elevated greens will constantly play on your mind.
At the opening hole, a par 3 of 162 metres with no apparent danger, you may be fooled into thinking you’re in for an easy day. But after this easy start, almost every hole will need precise planning for each shot. Study the card for tips about shot placement – this will help you gain some satisfaction from playing this great course well. The second, a 348 metre par 4 which slightly dog-legs to the left, features the old bread oven pictured on the front of the scorecard; your tee shot needs to aim in that direction to the left side of the fairway, because the fairway slopes gently away to the right. A good drive will leave a mid-iron to get you onto the slightly sloping green.
The first of five
The third was originally the first of five par 5 holes on Alto and plays across one of the valleys. It has now been reclassified as a par 4 and measuring nearly 400 metres, it’s now one of the hardest holes on the course. Aim your drive to the right centre of the fairway – not too far right though, as water lurks around the corner. The approach to the green is uphill all the way, be careful of the bunker at the front and rear of the green which means most your third will be a sand shot. The green slopes from back to front and is normally very fast, a real test of nerves.
The par 4, 400 metre fourth requires a precise tee shot, aimed to the right hand side of the fairway over the trees. This gives you the perfect line, up hill into the green, which is guarded by one bunker. A water hazard on the right will also test the nerves and your driving skill.
You are faced with a choice on the next, a par 5 double dog leg, called A Serpente. You can either fade a driver aimed at the bunker on the left or hit a fairway wood or long iron along the tree line. The fairway is wide, but there’s an out of bounds area down the left. The large green is hidden to the left behind a large bunker and the palm tree.
Stroke Index 1, and this hole – the 377 metre par 4 sixth – is worthy of the honour. Select placement over power with your tee shot and aim down the right side of the fairway. This should leave you with a long iron, uphill approach shot to a narrow target – good luck!
Three tremendous golf holes follow to finish off the front nine. The par 3 seventh – 201 metres, with bunkers to the front right and left – will severely punish any wayward shot; the wind also plays an important role on this hole. The green is elevated and crowned, which means that chipping close can be difficult. A par is certainly worthy of celebration.
A large bunker on the right side of the eighth fairway is ideal for most drives on this 293 metre par 4 hole. Aim to the left and a fairway wood or long iron from tee should leave a good second into a long sloping green, which has a nasty ridge dividing the left from right. The closing hole of the front nine is all uphill with out of bounds on the left hand side. You need two big shots to hit this crowned green in two.
Grab a drink at the clubhouse
The par 4 tenth has a blind tee shot, and all you seem to be able to see is the rising fairway and the trees that overhang it. If you can get over the hill the ball should run on nicely, although the road on the right is out of bounds. Again the right side leaves the best approach, so don’t be intimidated. A good drive along the tree line will leave you a mid-iron second shot to an elevated green – club selection is vital.
The eleventh and twelfth are both easy par 3s. The eleventh has a lovely two-tiered green, which runs from back to front, but beware the hidden bunker to the front for anything short. On the twelfth, aim at the left side of the green – the ball tends to run from that side down towards the centre of the green.
Three blind mice
The next three holes all have blind tee shots. The thirteenth is a quality par 5 that has it all – enjoy. A drive straight over the trees allows you to try to get home in two. The green is elevated – anything wide for a second shot will be punished by the surrounding trees and anything short might result in you finding the ball back at your feet. Even if you hit the green a two-putt birdie is no certainty as a huge tear runs through the centre of the green. At the fourteenth it’s possible to hit the green in one – walk forward from the tee box and check out the green for position, then grip it and rip it! A long iron or fairway wood gives a shot iron to the green. Check pin placement, as this large green could leave you in three-putt territory. On the fifteenth, you are faced with an uphill view and the parish marker – aim slightly left as the right is out of bounds. Once over the hill, everything falls away. The sloping two-tiered green is a challenge in itself.
O gigante
The monster sixteenth – 604 metres – sports a lake on the left. The old olive tree has gone and the landing area leaves you a blind second. Again, try to keep it straight up the fairway across which a nasty gully runs across at second shot distance. The green is surrounded by bunkers and slopes, so you need to be accurate with your third or forth.
The seventeenth is another great test of your game. At 124 metres it doesn’t seem too difficult, but the small target is guarded by a bunker to the right front and left back and there’s a very steep slope on the left. It’s probably best not to miss this green!
On to the last
The final hole is a par 5 that is no pushover. Fire away with the driver down the right side. Placement is vital on the lay up, totally blind with the second, but aim to centre of hill ridge. From here you will be able to see all the green, which is guarded by just one bunker front left.
