Golf courses designers have to exercise their skills on very challenging sites at times. This was the sole reason why Sir Henry Cotton first visited the proposed site at Penina in 1963. He was then determined to modify the flat rice paddy field with water-logged properties. However, the course he made - the first in the Algarve, opening in 1966 - will possibly come to be seen as his tribute.
On the other hand, Robert Trent Jones might have decided to modify the previous designs of the landscape. Cotton however, made a strategic method: he planned to plant hundreds and thousands of trees around 350,000 in total. Yet this is a different mentality employed here in golf course design and layout . Professionals who play these links in tournaments sure notice the difference . He decided to take this approach for two reasons: the trees will provide a help in absorbing excess water from heavy rains and they will serve as major beautification on his course. They both line the fairways and help create the doglegged. Despite of various planted trees, Cotton decided to ass drainage canals because tress could not drain the former paddy fields.
Though the results were not that good as expected, Cotton did not give up his course, but he made some modifications and added features such as vast tees, up to 100 yards (90 m) in length. This idea was probably from Robert Trent Jones. With these new features, good amateurs can play Penina at fewer than 6,900 yards (6, 310 m) because it can be stretched to nearly 7,500 yards (6, 860 m). Penina Gold Course was then considered as one of the longest courses in the world, which amateurs and veteran golfers can play unlimited rounds.
Cotton lived at the Pinena Hotel for many years, leaving temporarily when Portuguese 'revolution' started. He was not in favor about the rules of the Portuguese towards Englishmen. His last days were saddened when his gold course would be changed by another designer. However, the modifications did not devastate his previous plans and designs.
Cotton died just before Christmas in 1987, but he was first awarded as the golfer who had built the most prestigious gold course in Penina. The said awards and recognition has been announced in the New Year's Honours list. To acknowledge his great contributions at Penina Golf Course, Sir Henry was buried at Penina with dignity and recognitions from his generation of golfers.
On the other hand, Robert Trent Jones might have decided to modify the previous designs of the landscape. Cotton however, made a strategic method: he planned to plant hundreds and thousands of trees around 350,000 in total. Yet this is a different mentality employed here in golf course design and layout . Professionals who play these links in tournaments sure notice the difference . He decided to take this approach for two reasons: the trees will provide a help in absorbing excess water from heavy rains and they will serve as major beautification on his course. They both line the fairways and help create the doglegged. Despite of various planted trees, Cotton decided to ass drainage canals because tress could not drain the former paddy fields.
Though the results were not that good as expected, Cotton did not give up his course, but he made some modifications and added features such as vast tees, up to 100 yards (90 m) in length. This idea was probably from Robert Trent Jones. With these new features, good amateurs can play Penina at fewer than 6,900 yards (6, 310 m) because it can be stretched to nearly 7,500 yards (6, 860 m). Penina Gold Course was then considered as one of the longest courses in the world, which amateurs and veteran golfers can play unlimited rounds.
Cotton lived at the Pinena Hotel for many years, leaving temporarily when Portuguese 'revolution' started. He was not in favor about the rules of the Portuguese towards Englishmen. His last days were saddened when his gold course would be changed by another designer. However, the modifications did not devastate his previous plans and designs.
Cotton died just before Christmas in 1987, but he was first awarded as the golfer who had built the most prestigious gold course in Penina. The said awards and recognition has been announced in the New Year's Honours list. To acknowledge his great contributions at Penina Golf Course, Sir Henry was buried at Penina with dignity and recognitions from his generation of golfers.
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Its a quiet secret of the more experienced yet discreet winter travelling duffers located in the Algarve region of Southern Portugal, between Portimo and Lagos
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