Inaugurated in 1975 Palmares Golf Course was designed by Frank Pennick who made outstanding use of the unique situation and who was able to include in his design five Links holes on the dune close to the Atlantic beach of Meia Praia, Lagos, Portugal. Set in 550 acres of rolling countryside, Palmares Golf Course is a most scenic golf course taking advantage of its beautiful location in the western Algarve near the historic city of Lagos, commanding magnificent views of the Lagos bay, and the distant Monchique hills.
The course is a good test of golf and is suitable for players of all abilities, a mixture of links and parkland golf, so plenty of variety. After the first hole, a breathtaking hole running down to the sea, the next five (four after the renovation) run along the seashore behind the Meia Praia beach. After that the course turns inland, and winds through the hills and pine trees, parkland style, during springtime the fairways are lined with flowering shrubs, acacias and the blossoming Almond trees. If the wind blows it can become very a challenging game, there are a few long walks between tees and a few hills to climb, so consider hiring a buggy.
The course has been redesigned in 2010 by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and it is currently being extended to 27 holes (with the inauguration scheduled to April 2011), the new layout will certainly offer players not only additional challenges to their skills but also increased emotions when observing the course’s breathtaking views. Not many golf courses in Southern Europe can offer such a challenge and this may be the reason why Palmares Golf Course is known as the Jewel in the Crown and a must when taking an Algarve golf tour.
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Arnold Daniel Palmer (born September 10, 1929) is an American golfer who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men’s professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955. Nicknamed “The King,” he is one of golf’s most popular stars and its most important trailblazer because he was the first star of the sport’s television age, which began in the 1950s. He is part of “The Big Three” in golf along with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player who are widely credited with popularizing and commercializing the sport around the world. Palmer won the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998, and in 1974 was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
