Morgado Golf Course near Portimão

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

1. The opening tee shot plays downhill to a generous fairway with the only real danger being the out of bounds to the right hand side. Once you have found the fairway, the approach to the green is fairly open with bunkers on either side of the large green.
2. The second hole plays in the same direction as the first. The drive should be hit towards the bunker on the left with a slight fade. The second shot must be played to a slightly raised green with bunkers protecting all around.
3. Long Par 5 where a straight tee shot is vital. Water all down the the left hand side can tempt the golfer to favour the right side – but be careful as the out of bounds is waiting for any overly cautious shot hit to the right.
4. Played back in the opposite direction to the previous hole, the water hazard is now on the left hand side. Additionally, there is a creek which cuts across the fairway which your tee shot must clear. The approach shot should favour the left side of the green.
5. Long Par3 which requires a perfectly struck shot to carry to the green and avoid the bunkers that surround the green.
6. Straight Par 4 played slightly uphill with water running along the entire left side of the hole. Straight is the name of the game here with a preference to the right side to give the best angle to the green which helps to avoid the deep bunker on the left.
7. Par 5 hole played slightly downhill and back in the opposite direction to the previous hole. The water on the left is ever-present and the drive must find its way between the fairway bunkers. The hole can be reached in two by the longer hitters. You should pay attention to the pin position as this can affect the club choice significantly.
8. Another long Par 3 played back uphill and longer than the distance suggests. There are a row of bunkers waiting to catch any shot under hit. Taking more club here is a good strategy.
9. Short Par 4 to complete the front nine. A straight tee shot will leave a short pitch to a green well protected by bunkers
10. Long Par 5 to start the back nine which doglegs from right to left and plays slightly uphill. Your drive must be threaded between the fairway bunkers. The second must be hit towards the fairway bunkers on the right, leaving a short approach to a large, undulating green protected by multiple bunkers.
11. Medium length Par 3 protected by one bunker on the left and three on the front right. The front left of the green is open and offers the best route to the green.
12. Short, uphill Par 4 where the longest hitter might try for the green in one – but this requires a long carry over the bunkers just short of the green. The more conventional route requires a tee shot with a fairway wood or hybrid towards the left hand fairway bunkers, and right of the multiple bunkers guarding the edge of the fairway. The short approach should be fairly straightforward to a large green.
13. Excellent Par 5 that flows gently from left to right. The general slope of this hole is from left to right, so favouring the left side of the fairway is advisable. The second shot must carry some fairway bunkers, otherwise you’re third shot will be longer than is ideal. Any approach shot missing to the right will fall down a steep slope next to the green.
14. Short, downhill Par 4 that can tempt the long hitters to go for the green but this route must carry lots of trouble and the water is waiting for any shot pulled to the left. The standard play is to play the hole as it was designed, with a tee shot to the left of the wide fairway, followed by a short iron approach avoiding the water and bunkers protecting the green.
15. Another risk/reward hole where the longer hitter may be tempted to go straight at the green. The more conventional play is the hit your drive up the right side towards the right hand fairway bunker which opens up the green. The second shot is a short iron approach to a generous target.
16. Long Par 5 with heavy fairway bunkering that are hidden from view. The ideal line off the tee is to favour the left side. The second shot shot be played downhill to the large landing area, before the final approach is hit to a narrow target.
17. Par 3 plays slightly downhill to a green protected at the front by a large bunker. The smart play is to aim at the left edge of the green and allow the slope to feed the ball onto the green.
18. Strong Par 4 to finish requiring two very well struck shots to reach the green. Take your pick of one of the many fairway bunkers on the left side to aim your tee shot at. The second plays slightly uphill and often into the prevailing wind, so taking one extra club is advisable.