A Complete Overview Of Pinhal Golf Club In Portugal

When golf tourists started to pour into Vilamoura in the 1970s the Oceanico Group felt the need to open a world-class golf course. The result was the creation of the Pinhal Golf Course in 1976. This was the second course after the Oceanico Old to be built in the region.

• After the excellent job golf architect Frank Pennink did with the Old Course, the Oceanico Group again hired him to design the Pinhal Course. Nearly after a decade since its opening the Oceanico Group hired Robert Trent Jones Sr. to make noticeable changes to the golf course.


• The Pinhal in Vilamoura is a typical parkland course with numerous pine trees. Guests will notice many of the fairways lined with the pine trees, some even scattered throughout the course. The lakes and water hazards are restricted just to five holes. Low-handicappers and experienced players won’t have much problem negotiating the water hazards at the Pinhal.


• Over the years, to keep up with the changing preferences and trends, and advances in ball and club designs, the course has been restructured and the holes lengthened. A new veranda area along with many modern amenities was added to the clubhouse to make it more inviting and relaxing to the golfers.


• The Pinhal Golf Course is laid on a beautiful pinewood landscape with the outward going holes bordered by villas. Just to the back of the golf course is the beach area for the tourists.


• The architects who have worked on this course were very particular on the bunker placement. Each bunker on the course is very strategically placed to test the club selecting skill and accuracy of the players.


• Right from the 1st hole, players have to be on top of their game. That’s because the course opens with a long par-5 which is a touch less than 500 meters in length. An up sloping fairway keeps the green out of the sight of the golfer. At the 4th hole, players will run into the first water hazard. This par-4 is one of the most difficult holes on the course. The 8th is very deceptive; it looks simple, but the bunkers and water hazard in the middle will give players a hard time reaching the green.


• The outward nine are more difficult compared to the back nine. Players will have more open spaces on the back nine. But, be cautious on the 15th, which is a par-4 with a downhill fairway and slightly elevated green.