how was the trip then boys/girls

take it you are all back from that wonderful golfing country portugal

went there and played around villamora what wonderful courses they have

whom won and whom spat out there dummies

do tell all

paul

I think it is more to do with how far they hit the ball these days that these extra long courses have been designed for. The average amateur just cannot reach the greens in regulation figures from such tees and therefore the par would be considerably higher, after all par is worked out on the number of shots required to reach a green and then two putts are allowed. All the par fives at my club are par sixes for me as I have not got a hope in hells chance of reaching them in three. The same criteria also applies to par fours of over 400 yds and par threes over 200 yds.

I have played most of the new Villamoura courses now but still prefer the Old course, where the premium is on accuracy rather than brute strength.

Nice round of golf, Graham, but did you drive the first?

I played there last in the seventies in an Pro-Am with my club Pro Chris Smith, myself (2) My great friend JohnBeet(7) and his friend from Halifax off 24. Our 24 man did not come on the card once in the first three rounds but on the fourth day he managed nine pars which helped us immensely

It was a four round competition, Bowmaker stableford scoring and we actually won the tournament for which our prize was a TV each.

My Pro Chris got rather drunk on the night of the presentation and the next thing I knew was that we were playing the following day against Jimmy Hume a scottish professional from Gullane and his partner off 5 handicap for fifty pounds a head. A lot of money in those days.

We got beat on the last, but Jimmy was so impressed with my performance that he invited me up to Birkdale as a part of his team for a Eurogolf Competition, which I managed to win a nice framed collection of all the famous courses on John  Players cigarette cards. I have only recently donated this as a prize for an VHS event.

Wayne

Myself and the lad are off to Vilamoura in 4 weeks did you play Laguna/Pinhal/Old Course.... if so how was they?

Also how do you sort transport from faro airport?

I always rent a car, Mark, nothing like being independent on holiday.

hi guys, wayne thanks for a great trip.  sorry about the illness -  now out of hospital, went in the day after we got back and they finally let me out on thursday evening.  now off work for 2 weeks - no golf though.  cant keep my balance long enough lol and the migraine not completely gone yet!! bugger! both of us looking forward to next year - think we need longer over there though.  have some great photos.

Sure the guys who went out to Portugal will remember this view (taken the week before)

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n17/forgetfultel/Funny%20pics/Gramacho10thGreensmall.jpg