The 6598m par 72 championship course, designed by Sir Nick Faldo with strategic play in mind, necessitates precise positioning to get a good score. The golf course is based in Alcantarilha which is about 20 minutes from Albufeira.
"The site at Amendoeira is spectacular, and the project has the potential to become a great talking point in the Algarve." says the developer. In light of a large number of golf courses in the region, this is no small accomplishment," noted Nick Faldo on his visit in 2007.
Using a modern twist on a traditional recipe, cacti and wild herbs take on the role of Sunningdale's heather, spartan Holm oaks and ancient olive trees take on the part of a lush English woodland, and desert scrub bunkers of crushed limestone take on the role of Berkshire's sandy tracts, resulting in a golf course that celebrates the classic principles of strategic play.
"This was a fascinating project that provided me with an excellent opportunity to utilise my interest for design in the same manner that I exploited my enthusiasm for playing," Nick explained. When working with natural terrain like this, it is a lot of fun." "You have wonderful vistas, lovely undulating countryside, and it is always a lot of fun when working with natural terrain like this."
If you stand on the tee and look down at the golf hole, it tells you what to do, and if you do what it says, you get rewarded. If you don't do what it says, you get penalised." "The back nine is pretty mountainous, which is good because we have some spectacular views to accompany the course," says the course designer.
"I want my courses to be hard for whoever is on them," says the designer. There may be superficial flaws in some areas, but they are a challenge because they need you to think about them, and that is precisely what I am looking for. It's the highest compliment a designer can receive when a player walks off the course and says, 'Wow, that was a challenge,' and that's exactly what I hoped for when designing the system at Amendoeira Golf Resort."
In addition to being a Sir Nick Faldo design, the Faldo Course at Amendoeira is located adjacent to the O'Connor course. It is about 45 minutes from Faro International Airport.
