Back9Bails

played in a B team club match
Couse plays short despite the wet conditions
The layout somewhat saves matters, but too many holes are a Good drive and pitch / wedge.

Not a big hitter course...use you grey matter... you need i guess to be a member or have played here a few times to get used to it....lots of blind shots...lots od huge elevation changes.
Course in great condition, could not same the same for the very dated facilities.

Played a 36 hole day with Marquess AM (see separate review)..

I managed a creditable 29 points on the Marquess course... but the Duchess is a class above that... more tighter fairways, tress and ferns everywhere, so if you stray of the fairways...you are in trouble. Immaculate conditions, greens were a joy if somewhat slower than we expected as the day wore on especially.

I hold my hand up...it was just too much for me, and I managed a very disappointing 17 points, almost entirely due to my (already poor) driving put to a very stern test.. at least i did manage a couple of pars (one being index 1)........... this course WILL fully test your game......... but boy did i finish with a smile on my face :-)

Played a 36 hole day with Duchess PM (see separate review)..
A very challenging course, tight layout with no "give me" holes.. all the greens are a proper challenge...when you get there.....lots of blind drives and elevation changes, make the course true championship standard... delighted with my 29 point return on the day.

Brilliant course
some many great holes
super greens, difficult but consistent.

Wind blew and some of the holes were very difficult, great food service afterwards

promises so much.....then let's you down badly

Get past the grande facade the welcome from the caddy masters and the decent practice facilities, and this course shows it's true colours!
Greens
They have lost them...literally lost them, either diseased dry or completely over sanded, pace was all over the place.
Pace of play
Dreadful... truly dreadful... we were paired up to a four ball, with a couple who could not clear 200 yards between them... a really nice couple, but when you have a reasonable pace of play, this just kills it.
Fairways
some of the fairways have a huge problem with wild animal damage.

.......and finally.. the par 3 sixth hole is a superb test of golf, over a very deep ravine, it is beyond the skill of many, we had to wait for a queue of 3 fours balls to play, when we got further round there was 16 golfers waiting to play this hole. By creating the hole as a "call up" you could marginally increase the pace of play, but they really need to consider a two tier two tee box system, on the day we played the wind was blowing LH to RH and into your face, pin was approx 190 yards, (I can play a bit), but it took all of my very best 3 wood to find the green. Not a hole for the feint hearted, ( or the high handicap hacker!)

Far better than it's sister course Gramacho
Some very interesting holes, if there is a criticism, there are too many holes on / around the same length, ( i seemed to hit a mini driver and mid to short iron in many holes) all the par 3's are good, not long but accuracy is required, the 18th is a very long par 5...... just about got there with a mini driver and 2 x 3 woods.

Played here a few times, and always enjoyed the game.
So much so that i have decided to join... a really tricky 1st hole....... but get it right and par is achievable. Make your score on the front nine, as the back 9 is tough...really tough... 3 really good long par 4's that test distance and accuracy of drive and long irons / fairway woods.
15 is a beauty of a par 3... deceptively long...club up !

17 and 18 are great closing holes where the length is not the key.... keep the ball inbounds, as there are trees up the left and OOB on the right.

on 18th a lovely long curling downhill put for birdie made me make my mind up !!

Nice course , well managed with good staff.
Good length off the Gold tee's, but not really the most difficult course, not at all tight in any any, yes there is quite a bit of water, but you really have to be very wayward to find it. Nice greens with a good pace.
I played two rounds and just missed my h'cap on the first, but comfortably made 2 under on the second, don't pay the rack rate and you will be on a winner. I can honestly say that no holes really stick in the memory

Celebration is always the first course I book when i come over to FL, i really enjoy the course. It was in OK nick, I have always liked the greens, but some were in pretty poor condition, and considering we were in FL, some fairways and approaches were in very poor condition, very boggy and wet.
What was most disturbing was the lack of any formal dress code or realisation of the the etiquette of this fine game that I love so much. I played with two local guys, one could play a bit, the other was a 100% rookie hacker, and no disrespect, was not ready to be on a "proper" course, i saw people playing in trainers and tee shirts that were hanging out their "backsides" !
When you are paying good money... you expect so much more !

Nice course , well managed with good staff.
Good length off the Gold tee's, but not really the most difficult course, not at all tight in any any, yes there is quite a bit of water, but you really have to be very wayward to find it. Nice greens with a good pace.
I played two rounds and just missed my h'cap on the first, but comfortably made 2 under on the second, dont pay the rack rate and you will be on a winner. I can honestly say that no holes really stick in the memory

Good course... nice layout... members etiquette ???

Super course with a nice layout, I played on a warm and sunny July afternoon on a twilight rate. Gent in the proshop was so helpful, a real credit to this club. Not the longest of courses at a tad under 6000 yards and par 70, and quite wide open on some holes, but some really nice holes that make you think a bit and some good greens, that were also subtle and fast. I have to say I really enjoyed my round, just a shame 4 members bounced in in front of me on the first, (having played cross country from 11), and then did not let me play through (yes I am just a one ball, but would have been well out of their way after the 1st).

Oh BOY ! what a great track... the peninsula holes are just stunning........ forget all you know about regular golf.... this is a whole new test of your skills... add stunning views.... and for my part playing with 30 lads from my home club and their mates... simply one of the finest days golf.

I really did not know what to expect... somewhat disappointing, very links feel in place, but the parkland section is bland and very ordinary.
Much better options in this part of the world

Beware the casual golf society... this course is a gem, it is beautiful, it always plays well......... but dont get stuck behind the hackers of Liverpool golf society.... ZERO etiquette... no raking of bunkers..... no repair of pitch marks.....trolley bags over tee boxes and YES greens (I kid you f'kin NOT). So slow, and they would not call us through, even when all four of them missed a green on the short 12th, despite us twice driving through them when they duffed all four tee shots max 150 yrds sown the fairway

I really cant make my mind up....
an interesting layout... they describe as "florida" style... not quite sure why... ( there were no gators anywhere)...... need to play a few times to get my head around some of the holes...... some odd dog legs, long par 5's and long par 3's.... fairways on the front nine were a bit disappointing the grass was as long almost as a first cut rough, but the back nine was proper fairway length... greens were however excellent.

Staying at the nearby hotel on a few occasions, I though bring my clubs and have a twilight knock. Staff were not great, ( I think he just wanted to "knock off" for the day), but I got going fairly quickly, managed all 18 (just about) before the light went.
It's a nice course, but I think once you know your way around would not play overly difficult. Greens are excellent, layout is good, but a couple of decent walks between holes. I still got round in just under 2:45

Lovely course in the finest traditional parkland country club style. The oldest course on the Algarve, and the maturity of the course and layout provides a super challenge of golf.
Keep it straight... it is tight... all the par 3's are long and hard to hit

Played here twice now, and enjoyed both rounds. It is a really nice track quite varies, large greens the majority of which are elevated and have very few level rolls. A good long walk, so in the hot weather a buggy is recommend, if there is one criticism, it is the layout, once you are out there you are totally reliant on the on course buggies for refreshments

If I was told, you can play one last course, and then give up the game forever....it would be here