Lanaia at the treacherous 8th hole at Quinta do Logo South Course.
The 11th at Quinta do Logo South, a dogleg right par 5.
Christmas day at Oceanico Pinhal with the Tee Times Golf Society
The 15th at Quinta do Logo South course. One of Lanaia's playing partners, Mary Horkan from Ireland.Lanaia and I have been playing plenty of golf here in the Vilamoura area. The courses are definitely more open and flat, compared with the courses in Malaga/Marbella, Spain. The courses are in great winter condition, still very green despite the dormant grasses.
When we arrived, we asked our building caretaker about a tee times booking agency - the agents can get 50% discounts that you never get booking direct with the courses. He directed us to Tee Times Golf. We stopped by and met Jeff, the manager. Jeff told us about the Tee Times Golf Society that gets together every Saturday to play a round at one of the local courses. They play a Stableford game, with a payout of the 10 Euro per player fee to the top 25% of the field. We signed up to play at Quinta do Lago North. There were 11 of us on Dec 23rd, a decent turnout considering the date. Last Saturday we had 20 for the round at Quinta do Lago South, which is a fairly normal turnout.
We met some great people at the first event. Patrick and Bridge Horkan and Sean and Mary Horkan, two semi-retired brothers from Ireland and their spouses, Neil and Mary Mc Neil from Scotland, Antonio - a local teaching Professional, Carlos and Jeff from Tee Times, John, Mary and Michael Durcan and a few others. The Horkans have been great fun, inviting us to play several rounds of golf and for a couple of dinners out. It is like playing golf with a couple of favorite aunts and uncles. The boys are mid 60s and still playing to a solid 6 hdcp. The ladies are a little higher, and still great fun to golf with.
The Society set up a round on Christmas day at Oceanico Pinhal course. 12 of us tee'd it up in near perfect weather for a great round. It was 18 or so with plenty of sunshine. Carlos, the organizer, brough a bottle of Port wine for each team and instructions to bring 'em back empty. Our fourball included Lanaia and me, Mary Durcan and Pat Horkan (they are neighbors in Ireland). Pat doesn't drink and I couldnt get the bottle away from those two girls. We scrambled that day and came in second by a shot. Christmas lunch followed at Chez Carlos next to Tee Times office. It was a fun way to spend Christmas, even though we were missing friends and family.
We have played plenty of golf since our arrival. We played Quinta do Lago North, Quinta do Lago South three times, Vila Sol, Pinhal, and are booked again Saturday for Vila Sol with the Society.
If you are looking for a great place to play some winter golf, I would highly recommend the sunny Algarve area of southern Portugal. We will definitely be back.
