San Lorenzo Golf Course in Quinta do Lago
Designed by the American golf architects, Joseph Lee and Rocky Roquemore, the renowned San Lorenzo Golf Course in Quinta do Lago, it’s considered one of the best courses in Portugal and in Europe, as well as one of the most entertaining and demanding.
The course has now turned into a sublime showpiece for the Algarve. Situated in Quinta do Lago, filled with marvelously fairways and natural beauty the course is also prepared for any tournament.
By adding a beautiful scenery with a clean presentation, this course will provide you with a great experience of challenging golf, hole after hole.
Here is a helpful hole-by-hole guide to this course written by Rob Cheney. Rob is a leading PGA Pro with extensive knowledge of golf in the Algarve and over 15 years of coaching experience.
- Par 5 to start with a generous fairway to hit and the bunkers on the right hand side providing a good target to draw your tee shot off of. The hole turns left with the green well protected by four bunkers.
- Short hole where club selection is vital. The green is protected by a large bunker at the front so slightly long is better than short here.
- Short Par 4 which dogleg from right to left. The long hitters won’t need driver here – unless they are trying to cut the corner and go for the green. Your tee shot should stay just left of the fairway bunkers. Controlling your distance on your approach is important to avoid the bunkers that surround the green.
- Another short Par 4 which this time turns from left to right. The tee shot plays downhill and should favour the left side of the fairway as the fairway slopes from left to right. The green is narrow and anything short or to the right will be swallowed up in the bunkers protecting the front of this green.
- The shortest hole on the course which plays across a deep hollow to a green protected by bunkers. This hole offers a brief respite before the upcoming signature holes at San Lorenzo.
- One of the most stunning tee shots in golf. The elevated tee position looks out towards the Atlantic Ocean. The tee shot itself is demanding with trouble both left and right. The approach is equally tricky due to the small green and the ocean lurking along the right hand side to catch any errant shots.
- This hole also follows the ocean on the right hand side and is a tough Par 4 demanding another accurate tee shot. The approach should favour the left side and is played to a large green with bunkers at the rear of the green.
- Long Par 5 hole that continues the theme of water running the entire length of the hole on the right hand side. Avoid the water and bunkers from the tee and keep your second shot to the left to give you the best angle to the green. The further right you are, the more water your approach shot will have to carry. Be brave.
- Turning away from the water and back towards the clubhouse, the tee shot on this hole plays uphill and doglegs from left to right. Once you reach the top of the hill the approach plays slightly down to a green that has bunkers both front left and right.
- Uphill Par 5 where you drive over the edge of a lake to a fairway that slopes towards you. Play your second up to the narrow plateau before your approach to a green protected by two front bunkers.
- Straightaway Par 4 with a drive up to a ridge which drops away before rising again to the green. The green is protected by bunkers at the front.
- Difficult Par 4 with the drive from an elevated tee with a large chasm to the left of the hole and a steep slope to the right. The approach is to a large green so check your yardage carefully.
- Short Par 4 which dogleg from right to left and the long hitters can cut off some of the corner. Approach shot plays downhill so consider taking one less club than the yardage.
- Tough Par 3 requiring a precisely struck iron shot to find this heavily protected green. Bunkers and slopes are waiting to catch any errant shot.
- After a stretch of tough holes, this Par 5 offers a brief respite. Reachable in two for the longer hitters, the hole rolls gently from left to right where you must avoid the strategically placed bunkers along the fairway. The green is small and well defended by multiple bunkers.
- Long Par 3 with the Ria Formosa and Atlantic Ocean to your left. Pay attention to the wind on this hole and be aware of the shallow nature of this green. There is a bunker short and right of the green so the safer play is hitting towards the left side.
- Two pretty holes to finish with water playing a large part in both. The 17th hole has water all the way down the left hand side. The drive is generous as any ball hit safely to the right will catch the steep slope and roll back towards the fairway. The second shot must be precise as the water is waiting for any shots short or left.
- The second “signature” hole on the course. Keep your tee shot to the right of the water. Then, turn left and hit your approach which must carry fully over a second lake guarding the green. There is a bail out area to the left for those not confident of carrying the water.
