Within the natural amphitheatre of the Bay of Lagos, Robert Trent Jones II has fashioned Europe’s next great golf course, Palmares Golf. The brief given to this exceptional American golf course designer was to craft a 27-hole golf course which maximised the potential of its extraordinary environment.
Palmares Golf Course is composed of three returning nine-hole loops that can be played in any sequence. The genius in the routing is that, depending on the sequence of play, each golf experience is different. Each nine-hole loop – Alvor (1-9), Lagos (10-18) and Praia (19-27)- has it’s own character and ambience- while Alvor is traditional Parkland design, Praia a true Links experience and Lagos is a blend of both and works as an element of transitions for the other designs.
GOLF COURSE
Alvor Trail (Holes 1-9)
Located primarily on the northern part of the site, the Alvor Course has a parkland character with mature trees and lovely views of the Monchique hills. Changes in elevation are integral to the design of this nine as a majority of the golf holes ascend hillsides or descend through intimate valleys. The parkland setting disappears briefly with a series of holes with more expansive views. A preview of the dunes and links holes to come is provided in the sixth and seventh holes. As the round concludes, the course again assumes the parkland character.
Lagos Trail (Holes 10-18)
he Lagos Course begins with the same parkland character. This course incorporates the only two lakes found on the entire site at the short par-3 third hole and the long par-4 sixth hole. Holes seven and eight immerse golfers into the expansive dune lands on the southwestern portion of the site. The round concludes with a climb to the clubhouse and back into a more parkland setting.
Praia Trail (Holes 19-23)
The third nine at Palmares presents the golf experience every great designer dreams of having the privilege to create: a seaside landscape with dunes exposed to the elements. The four seaside holes are between the beach and the railway line. The course opens by descending from a parkland setting with the dunes character continuing through the remainder of the Praia Golf Course with the closing hole, a strong uphill par-5, rising up out of the dunes through a deep valley to an amphitheatre just below the clubhouse
