The Victoria Course, part of the Dom Pedro Collection, has hosted the Portugal Masters since its inception in 2007. Here, we get the lowdown on the secrets to success in Vilamoura from an inside source.
Over the past year, Simao da Cunha, Head of Golf Operations at Dom Pedro, and his team have begun to make changes to ensure the course is one of the most impressive in the Algarve.
As part of the renovations, the Victoria Course team planted a staggering 1,800 trees around the layout and replaced the Rye grass cut of rough with a trickier Bermuda grass.
“We had to keep the same concept that Arnold Palmer had when he designed this golf course,” da Cunha said.
“We wanted the golf course to be open but also framed by trees, sustainable, friendly and hidden from the outside world too. A beautiful surprise for those who have never been here before, and a course the professionals will love but also won't affect the amateur golfers who come here every year to play.
“To do this we've planted more trees to frame holes a little more because before it was very open and you could see the whole world from here!
“We now have a Bermuda golf course, a sustainable golf course that uses less water and a challenging one. I don't think we've made the challenge too difficult, though, and it can be enjoyed by all.”
One of the notable features of the course is “Victoria Corner,” a three-hole loop similar to Amen Corner at Augusta National, consisting of holes 11, 12 and 13. However, da Cunha insists the three holes he could play over and over again would be the last three.
“The 16th has the backdrop of Vilamoura with a beautiful sunrise,” he said. “It's 207 yards. It's one of the only holes that has a bunker that runs right across the line of play protecting the green. It's a challenge. We have some room behind the tee so in the future we could also make it a little longer too.
“The 17th hole is a lovely par five. It's the most expensive hole here in Vilamoura because so many balls end up in the water that runs along the right-hand side. In fact, it's one of the only holes where water is on your right side as opposed to your left.
“The 18th is such a good challenge because the wind is blowing into your face most of the time and, again, we've grown more rough to make the fairway narrower. Water protects the entirety of the left-hand side of the hole, as well as the green. It is stunning.”
