Parque da Floresta is situated near the fishing village of Salema, about 16 kilometres west of the town of Lagos, near Sagres - one of the most important places in Portuguese and European history - and close to the Costa Vicentina nature reserve. The golf course was designed by the famous Spanish architect Papa Gancedo, whose masterpiece is the well-known Torrequebrada project, in Spain. Here at Parque da Floresta he has given continuity to his concept of course design, which is not to use much earthmoving, even when natural conditions are adverse. At the very least, Gancedo managed to be controversial by designing a hilly course, with sharply sloping fairways, several blind shots, and greens on hill tops, creating a strange but very pleasant effect, perfectly integrated into the landscape. As for playing the course, we feel that it becomes too tiresome and sometimes unappealing to golfers who are not so young. With a total length of 5,888 metres and a par of 72, Parque da Floresta has in the par-5 number 9 one of his best holes, requiring an extremely accurate third stroke towards an elevated green. On the second back nine the l59-metre par-3, l5th at this course is regarded as a classic hole. |
