176 - Quinta do Lago (Laranjal)

Location: Almancil, Portugal

Rating: 8.1

My favourite of the 3 Quinta do Lago courses but not by much ahead of the South course. It offers a totally different proposition with much wider fairways and way less trees across the entire course.

When the wind blows it can be very challenging. The day we played the 2nd hole, a long par 3 at around 180 meters, was directly into the wind and we ended up hitting drivers short of the green. 

The 7th is a really great hole, a 436 meter par 5, stroke index 1 and very tough with plenty of water trouble. It doglegs to the right with water right of the fairway and then the approach to the green has water on the left. It takes 3 good shots to get to the green and plays into the wind.

The course was probably in the best condition of the 3 courses and the greens were large areas with plenty of undulations making putting very challenging, a them of the Quinta do Lago courses. Whilst it looks less challenging without all the trees the course still plays quite tough with the strong winds. Watch out for the clubhouse on 18, it’s very much in play if you’re slightly off centre.

The practice facilities are good, there’s a decent size chipping and putting green and can hit off the grass on the driving range.

Really enjoyable and challenging round of golf! Expensive but worth a go.