Where to Stay: Dom Pedro Marina
The Millenium golf course Vilamoura, a par 72 course opened in the year 2000, although the original back nine was formerly part of the 27-hole Laguna Course. Refurbishment to the existing nine holes commenced in May 1999 and included the complete rebuilding of the tees, greens, and bunkers, particularly for holes 8 and 9, the only ones on this loop with water hazards, with the aim to simplify the strategy of the course to make it more golfer-friendly. The renovated 9 holes were joined together with the new 9-hole loop to offer a layout of a different character, style, and playing quality. The work was undertaken by the well-established UK golf Architects Hawtree & Sons that culminated in the creation of the new, exciting 18-hole Millennium golf course in Vilamoura.
For many, this stretch bears a resemblance to fairways of The Old Course Golf Club and Pinhal Golf Course, where landing areas grow narrower, requiring greater accuracy. A number of lakes, particularly interestingly on 17 and 18, enrich the remaining holes of the Millennium Golf Course, where a simple course strategy is always the best approach. This course is a great addition and recommended whilst on a golf break in Vilamoura.
The course is particularly open, although some holes (the 3rd to the 7th) wind between pine trees and are similar to the neighbouring fairways of The Old Course Vilamoura and Pinhal Golf Course. In this more wooded area, the fairways are narrower and require greater accuracy - while the rest of the course has a clear landscape enriched by lakes at the 4th, 17th, and 18th holes. The arrival of the Millennium course made Vilamoura in Southern Portugal's Algarve one of the main - if not the main - European golf destinations.
The Millennium golf course is located in Vilamoura in Portugal just 5 minutes from the Marina and four other courses in the area.
