Pinta (Pestana Golf Resort - Carvoeiro)
This top course opened for play in 1992, and has already earned a reputation for its excellent condition and as a testing layout. Bermuda grass has been imported to make sure that the fairways are always in the finest condition, and the well protected Penn Cross Bent greens are excellent. The par 71, 6,728 yard layout is really one for the golf connoisseur with most of the par 4 and par 5s utilising a dogleg, putting a major emphasis on accurate driving. Water hazards also come in to play affecting four holes on the front nine.
18 Holes, Par 71, Yardage 6728. Parkland with lakes.
Gramacho (Pestana Golf Resort - Carvoeiro)
Pinta's sister course, Gramacho, is the second 18 hole championship course located at Carvoeiro Golf Club and osted the 2005 Portuguese Ladies Open. It is also one of only a few courses in the world with 18 sets of tees and fairways but 27 greens. Designed by Ron Fream and the legendary Nick Price, the 6,679 yard course uses existing features of the land such as outcrops of rock, dry stone walls, fig, almond, carob and olive trees, as well as bunkers and lakes. These hazards, combined with the shaping of the fairways and greens, have produced a fantastic selection of challenging but fair golf holes.
18 Holes, Par 71, Yardage 6679. Parkland.
Silves (Pestana Golf Resort - Carvoeiro)
Silves Golf is a serene spot, but the course is anything but the proverbial walk in the park. A drive at the opening hole has to flirt with two water hazards on both flanks. A heroic and straight shot will reward the player with an easy uphill approach shot.
Silves encourages and rewards attacking play. A relentless test in precision, this course has no peers. The strategic masterpiece offers spectacular mountain and valley views. The severity of the bunkering is enough defence against the onslaught of the games big guns.
18 Holes, Par 70, Yardage 5134. .