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| WHAT A SHOCKER !!
Played this late October 2012 for the 2nd time - won't be going back . It had rained that hard that all the bunker sand had been washed off the faces into the bottom , which were 3 ft deep in water . No attempt was made to make them out of play under local rules . Fairways were that wet that it was impossible to take a drop as there was nowhere to go . They must be so desperate for money that they were willing to put us out rather than re-fund the ( high) green fee ! It will be the last they see of my money !!
My criticism last time a played still stands - so many different wildfowl on the course that it's a struggle to find your ball amongst the white feathers . Warning ! Don't lick your balls - never seen so much bird poo on a fairway in my life !
I repeat , avoid like the plague ....... |
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| 14 November 2012
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| Having seen the Portugal Masters on Sky several times I was really looking forward to playing the Victoria Course, but I have to say that in my view it doesn’t live up to the hype.
Clubhouse aside, the surroundings can only be described as bland. The rough was horrendous and in parts scruffy, and although the greens and fairways were in excellent condition they couldn’t make up for the feeling of disappointment I felt after both rounds - we played it twice to make sure!
Victoria is difficult, and yes, in case you’re wondering, I did have two stinkers! However, I have had stinkers before on difficult courses, but have still come off the course with a smile on my face having thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and the experience. I couldn’t say that about the Victoria Course. Still, at least the weather was good!
So unless you’re happy to spend most of your time looking for balls in bland surroundings, I’d suggest you give this a miss and go and play the Old Course instead!
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| 02 November 2012
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| My experience on the day in not worth the 6 balls I'm awarding to this course for 3 reasons: 1/ slow greens (understandable since the are having the Portugese Masters next week and want to protect them), 2/ all back tees moved forward (same explanation as nr.1), 3/ a 15.00 tee off time in early October made us play 18th in the dark. But you have got to feel the potential of that place! A cracking course. Yes, the surroundings are not the prettiest but the course itself is fantastic, especially the back 9. Definitely the best Vilamoura course in my books, by a country mile. I'll definitely return! Cedric |
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| 07 October 2012
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| Fabulous course,played here in June 2011. Excellent condition, difficult but fair as there is always a "bail out" area for the amateur unlike some so called championship courses. Lots of water on the back 9 but there is always a way round, great holiday golf. The 7th, 11th, 13th, 17th and 18th stick in the memory as great golf holes. Well worth the green fee. |
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| 14 October 2011
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| Played the course in March 2011. !st day for buggies after a prolonged spell of rain. The general condition of the course was good, greens are true and despite the rain quick. An already long coures played even longer due to the soft underfoot conditons. The back 9 are particularly challenging and give you a feel of just how good modern Pro golfers are. I would recommend anyone to play this course although shorter hitters my struggle to reach many fairways |
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| 28 March 2011
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| Just played the Victoria course (March 9th) and have to say it was one of the most humbling golf days i've had! Having seen the pros play and score 4 or 5 under on this course on Sky, I now know how good they really are. This is one of the best courses I have ever played and eventhough we had to walk the course due to a heavy overnight rain, the lack of buggies made you feel that this is how BIG courses sbould be played. It is a big course and with great holes. The fairways were in great condition and the greens fast. The holes from 10 on are as good as it gets and you are always in awe on how the guys on tv play these holes under par. I hit the best 3 wood of my life to reach the 18th in two, leaving a 3foot put for birdie. Missed the put, but made 4. Great course! |
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| 11 March 2011
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| Response: | | | maarten | 12 October 2011 | | During last year's Portugal Masters Francesco Molinari shot TWO 62's in one week on this course... |
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| Firstly I will admit I had a far from perfect round, but I will say I have played better municipal courses. I played it on 19/02/11 and found the fairways to be inconsistently cut and some holes looked like meadow grass. I would agree with a previous cotributor that the front 9 is boring but the back 9 does get more interesting with more features. My playing partner and I concluded that
Oceanico has a business to run and are playing this course to death. It's another one ticked off but I will not be rushing back. |
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| 02 March 2011
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| Played the Victoria on 6th November 2010. Overall a good test of golf. Front nine is pretty bland with the exception of the 7th - back nine more than makes up for it. This was the 2nd tiime have we played the course within 3 weeks of The Masters finishing. The greens were in poor condition which may be down to the amount of traffic on them. Fantastic pair of finishing holes. Would rank this course behind The Old, Villa Sol, Faldo and both of the Vale Do Lobo tracks in terms of overall enjoyment. |
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| 10 November 2010
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| I just spent the last few weeks in the Algarve and thought Victoria was brilliant. It is so much better than any othe other Vilamoura courses, including the Old Course and is also in much better condition than any in the Quinta Do Lago area. We found Victoria long, interesting, challenging and fun. It certainly feels like a "stadium" course, perhaps similar in style to some of the Dubai courses but our experience overall was very positive. |
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| 10 August 2010
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| Totally diasagree with the "boring", "flat" and "just a stadium course" comments. We played there in May 2010 and the course was fabulous. Maybe not in as great nick as the Faldo course but still very true greens and a good test for good golfers. Many holes here where yo uhave to think about how to play the hole rather than automatically reaching for the driver. I play off 6 and shot a 76 (4 over) hitting 14 greens in regulation. Basically one of the best rounds I hve pout together and still couldnt get near par. Lots of fun, great facilities and the hotel is worth staying in too if you can get a good deal |
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| 10 May 2010
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| Response: | | | marcus | 10 May 2010 | | I'm glad you played well but surely 6 balls is reserved for an outstanding golf course - Am i right in thinking this review is as much about how you played as the standard of the golf course? . | | | Steve | 14 May 2010 | | Thanks Marcus. It would be fair to say playing well (or badly) can influence how you view a course but all 4 of us shared the same view of Victoria. There is a lot of variety in the holes, and a number of holes where you have options from the tee, safe with a long 2nd, or a risk / reward tee shot for a short second. I cant think of one boring or fill in hole. The condition was excellent, pace was good, greens were true and for those reasons I think it deserves a 6. |
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| I have to agree with the positing that Victoria is boring. To my mind it is very much a formula course and could be anywhere in the world. Give me some of the older courses in the Algarve any day. Good course but I wouldn't be in a rush back to play it again. |
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| 25 April 2010
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| Course in great condition and requires thought as well as power. Really enjoyed it and would rate it on a par with Old and better than Faldo & O'Connor. A must play if staying in Vilamoura |
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| 20 March 2010
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| I'm truly astonished that anyone should describe this course as boring, and equally shocked that so many think it inferior to Vilamoura Old. I have played the courses in this area on three occasions now as part of a party of eight (six single figure golfers and two off 10), and to a man we all rate Victoria the best, although we are yet to play the Faldo or O'Connor courses. It is a cracking test of golf, invariably in better condition that the over-played Old course, and much, much more difficult. That is why the Tour play here, although they do make it look easy! After a fairly gentle opening, the course gets progressively more difficult, with 17 and 18 being two of the best closing holes I have played. Anyone who knocks it on 18 in regulation deserves a pat on the back! Overall great course, top facilities and well worth the green fee. Don't be put off by those who dunked a couple of sleeves of balls in the water!! |
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| 06 December 2009
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| Played the course today and its in terrible state, they are working on it to prepare for the tour event. Its not worth 10 euros |
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| 13 August 2009
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| Response: | | | steven dobinson | 24 September 2009 | | i totally agree - played this in mid september and it was still a mess - i think i'd put up with it if i was playing for thousands of euros though !!!!! the old course was an absolute beauty though |
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| A tough course for the big hitter but nonetheless a fabulous track. Well thought out with bunkers and water just where you want to put your ball. Not as intimidating as I thought It was going to be as you can avoid water If you want to and can score well without having to hit It 300yds. mind you I think if you were bubba watson you'd murder It |
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| 21 March 2009
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| Played Victoria as part of a glorious week at Vilamoura in November and I think it has the hardest back nine that I've ever played. It was in great condition and the facilities were wonderful, but in reality, too difficult for me and I'd probably play Villa Sol rather than Victoria next time I'm there. |
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| 02 December 2008
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| Enjoyed the course although played week after the masters. The rough was kept high which made the course very difficult and long. Fairways excellent along with greens. Back 9 with lots of water. Distance from tee to fairway was long which was great for the big hitters but not for the average golfer. |
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| 27 October 2008
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| didnt enjoy it no were near par with the old
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| 25 October 2008
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| I thought this place was overrated and over priced.
It is a good course, and challenging in places.
How the European Tour boys shot 25 under for 4 rounds last year is beyond me. I found it very long and quite difficult.
Good condition, but not worth the money. |
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| 26 September 2008
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| It was OK. The Old Course and Monte Rei are the best two in the Algarve, no doubt at all. I also prefer Vila Sol, though only just. This course is well maintained and has great facilities, but it is not worth the large price tag. At this money, I'd rather play Monte Rei time and time again! I agree that the course is a little flat. Sure, the holes have been sculptured, but overall the elavation changes through the 18 holes are not what you'd expect from a Ł100 golf course. Don't be put off playing it, but it's just not the sort of course I'd return back to. |
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| 08 May 2008
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| Theres obviously been some money spent here to make this a typical european tour course. You can take that as a complaint or a complement depending on your course preference. For me I'd rather play an honest traditional course but that doesn't detract from the fact that the course is still highly enjoyable. Plenty of risk and reward shots with a fair amount of water. With stadium type golf I like to see something truly spectacular on the course design - even over the top. This doesn't have it. There is still no denying it's worth a round here if only so you can compare yourself to the big boys for the nest couple of years. |
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| 05 November 2007
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| Currently the baby of the Vilamoura courses, the Arnold Palmer design opened in 2004 and was granted the golf World Cup event in 2005. From 2007 until 2010, the new European Tour event, ‘Portugal Masters’ makes it’s home here. From my introduction it is clear that this course has been built as a tournament course and for that reason, it is a success story. My personal view is one that stadium/tournament courses are not my cup of tea. There is a very open feel to the course and massive greens which make ‘greens in regulation’ that much easier but ‘putts per green’ that much harder. Great part of the course is around holes 11, 12 and 13 (known as Victoria corner), that feature one of each par, each with water your main enemy. No doubt this will be loved by some golfers but only liked by me. It will be interesting to watch the European tour players later this month. |
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| 09 October 2007
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| I have to say I'm not a huge fan of modern courses where the earth has clearly moved but I found this course something special. The condition was just stunning throughout the course and it was so appealing on the eye. The course starts with a few great rollercoaster par 4's before 2 par 5's in the next 3 holes which tempt the big hitter but require great accuracy - missing on the wrong side is not an option. As you enter the back 9 the water comes into play on virtually every hole, with many greens nestling on rocks above the water line. It's stunning to look at, the greens are a real challenge as they have significant slopes and the closing few holes offer a real challenge. For me it even just snuck it over the Old Course! |
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| 23 October 2006
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| the course was in very good nick and the facilities were exceptional, but overall I was left a little disappointed. Having played many of the top courses on the Algarve I was expecting something special, but although it was a good track, it was pretty flat and featureless. The staff in the clubhouse were clearly still in WGC mode. For the cost, there are many courses in the area thatI would choose before playing this one again - Vilamoura No 1 in particular |
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| 27 September 2006
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| Response: | | | D Trimble | 15 February 2008 | | Reading this review of Victoria, I simply fail to recognise it . To say it is "flat and featureless" beggars belief unless you are a member of Royal Nepal. The back 9 is magnificent with 17 and 18 providing a grandstand finish. |
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