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Vilamoura
is Portugals largest private leisure resort,
with an area totalling some 4,000 acres. It houses, inter
alia, three first class golf courses, a modern casino, a
marina and an airstrip.
Built
in 1969 to a design by Frank Pennink, this is a classic
of course design. However, as time went by, as is not
unusual, some subtle changes took place, not the least of
which was a change of name. There were signs of wear and
tear and it was decided to "give the Old Girl a facelift".
So it was that the course was closed. When it reopened,
early in 1997, management decided to revert to the original
name. The results of the "surgery" are still fresh
for all to see.
Over
the years the fairways have subtly changed, becoming narrower
and demanding a higher degree of accuracy. The reason
quite simply is that the umbrella pines on or lining the
fairways have grown extremely large over the years, both
upwards and outwards.
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