Laid out over low lying coastal terrain, this course, with its many water hazards and few trees, is considerably different from the other ones at the Vilamoura resort and many of its holes convey a links atmosphere.
The course includes several lakes which come into play on 11 holes and attract a variety of aquatic birds, amphibians, otters and terrapins.
There are a total of 79 bunkers across Laguna, while its exposed location means the wind often adds to the challenge.
The Millennium Course is particularly open, although some holes (the 3rd to the 7th) meander between pine trees. 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 Old Course, Vilamoura, is a beautifully maintained, challenging par 73 set in a in a lush green landscape of umbrella pines. The course has recently been redesigned with its varied par threes particularly challenging.
The Old Course is, however, best known for its four back-nine par-five holes, of which the 16th is the best.
Laranjal was originally an orangery but today is the third top class golf course at Quinta do Lago.
The fairways are rolling and narrow with mature orange trees, cork and umbrella pines lining the edges. There are 5 lakes on the layout and the greens are planted with Penn A4 grass type to ensure excellent putting surfaces all year round.
Buggy Hire
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Ascot packages featuring Quinta do Lago - Laranjal
The Quinta do Lago South championship course, set in undulating hills and pine forest, has hosted the Portuguese Open eight times.
A truly wonderful course, ideally designed to test the scratch golfer but can also be enjoyed by the handicap golfer, the layout favours the long hitter but correct placement of shots is needed to score well.
Strategic bunkering, occasional water hazards and large, contoured greens are the main challenges. The signature hole is the beautiful par-3 15th with a long carry (190 metres) over a large lake to a well-guarded green set amongst pine trees.
Pestana Vilasol Golf is set within a beautiful valley of lakes and lush vegetation. It features 27-holes comprising of three nine-hole courses, the Prime, Challenge and Prestige.
The Prime loop is the most difficult of Pestana Vilasol Golf. The long and narrow fairways of the first four holes are renowned as “the most difficult start” on the Algarve.
The Challenge loop is better known as the back nine of Vila Sol. The challenge of this loop is that its greens are more hilly than either Prime or Prestige, demanding accurate approach play.
The Prestige loop is a shorter loop, but narrower. Accuracy and not length is by far the deciding factor on this nine.
Vila Sol was designed by Donald Steel, an English architect who above all likes to preserve nature and native vegetation, minimising earthmoving where possible.
The resort twice played host to the Portuguese Open in the 1990s and regularly hosts other professional events.
Placed at the heart of one of the Algarve's most developed resort areas between Vilamoura and Quinta do Lago, Vila Sol, close to Vilamoura, near the outskirts of Quarteira.
Coming from Lisbon on the EN, get onto the EN 125 and turn right onto the EN 296 in the direction of Quarteira. The course in on the right.