The Championship course is the late Sir Henry Cottons masterpiece and the course
by which he wished to be remembered. He was the first to foresee the high potential
for golf in the
Algarve.
Unlike the vast majority of
Algarve
courses, Penina is a flat, parkland type course, having been built on former
rice paddies and scrubland. Most of the drainage ditches in the paddies were
retained and partially modified into tricky water hazards, but the dramatic
change of terrain was helped by the planting of 250,000 trees which now line
most of the fairways. A few refinements have been made to Cottons original
championship layout and the course has benefited considerably from the improved
drainage installed. Subtle landscaping features have also been introduced to enhance
the visual aspect of the course, and some of the water hazards have been extended.
It is complemented by two separate 9 - hole courses.
