We moved from Dunas to the next venue in Portugal,  which was the Els Club-Vilamoura redesigned by Ernie Els.  The Els Club was originally designed by Arnold Palmer as a public venue and is now become a private club. The Club similar to  Dunas inasmuch as the makes extensive use of bunkering and water to provide an interesting and challenging test to all levels of players.  The course is open without trees for the most part and the round is heavily influenced by wind in combination with the strategic bunkering.  An outstanding hole is the par 5, 11th ranging from 470 yards to a full back tee of 560 yards.  The hole offers as much challenge as one would dare for all levels of skill.  The hole meanders with great length from right to left in a semi circular manner with water on the left that proceeds down the left side of the hole and across the green.  The lake ends up on the right side of the hole through the middle of the fairway about 160 yards out.  The lake has to be crossed to get to the green.  The long hitter will need a 300 yard drive over the lake on the left into the fairway to even think about attempting a 250 yard shot to the green with wind potentially in your face.  The hole will be a three shot approach to the green for the mere mortal, but takes a good drive in the middle of the fairway and an accurate second to get close enough to cross the lake.  It might sound simple and straightforward but the fairway is wide and the wind could wreak havoc with an approach shot leaving you potentially with a 180 yard approach rather than 160.  There is also a bunch of horrible high rough on the right that can catch a slightly errant tee shot. Big numbers can be tallied on this hole.

11th at the Els Club in Vilamoura, Portugal

Club selection here is critical and would normally be rather straightforward but the wind adds a different variable as the hole is very exposed to the elements.

The approach shot to the 11th green looks doable but the wind will dictate club selection and many well struck shots can find the watery grave on the right.