Portugal Golf – 30th edition of the Portuguese Senior Ladies Golf Competition

Dom Pedro Laguna. Dom Pedro Laguna was one of the hosts of the  largest women's golf competition in Portugal

The golf competition took place at Dom Pedro Vilamoura golf courses

This year marked the 30th anniversary of the oldest international seniors tournament in Portugal, also considered the largest competition of women’s golf in Portugal.

There were 163 ladies from various European nations who competed for 3 days in 4 handicap categories (0-6, 6-12, 12-18 and 18-24) on the renowned Dom Pedro golf courses in Vilamoura, Algarve. The couples tournament took place in the Victoria and Laguna golf courses, while, and Pinhal and Old Course hosted the solo competition.

As always, this reunion marked the beginning of the new European season of tournaments organised by European Senior Associations associated with ESLGA. It was marked by good golf, lovely sunny days, fair play, and superb conviviality around the delicacies with which Chef Bernardo Sousa Coutinho pampered all the players.

The Pairs competition was won by Gross Mimi Skog and Pirjo Sipronen in the 1st Category and Geraldine Galvin and Bernie McGrath in the 2nd.

Among the Portuguese Association of Senior Golf Ladies (APSGS) members, Maria José Pinto won the 2nd Category in Gross (170), Joan Lillie won 3rd in Net (148), and Carina Wentjarvi won 4th in Net (72) for their outstanding play.

Mary McLaren, Kate Evans, and Paula Murray of Ireland won the tournament of nations and Mary McLaren took home the Teresa Symington Trophy as the event’s best golfer with a score of 158 strokes.

When the lights went down, the crowd’s constant demand to know, “what is the date for this golf competition in 2024?” was the event’s best indicator of its success.

Book your golf holidays in the Algarve with Tee Times Golf Agency and enjoy some of the finest golf courses in Europe.

You can also read other posts about Golf in Portugal:
Tomás Melo Gouveia wins the first 2023 FPG Circuit tournament
One Green Way Invitational golf tournament in Quinta do Lago
The Portugal Masters Is Returning To Vilamoura

Portugal Golf – Pestana Silves Golf Course

 Silves Golf Course
Silves golf course opened in 2006 and is located in
a serene spot below the Monchique mountain range in the countryside inland from the coastal resort of Armaçao de Pera.

Finding it can prove difficult the first time you play as I was informed many of the road signs disappear from time to time. However, finding it is well worth while.

Many holes offer spectacular mountain views as well as overlooking palm trees and olive groves and the surrounding cork and citrus farms generate a true feeling of authentic Portuguese golf. Whilst the course is certainly not ‘a walk in the park’, you do get a feeling of peace and tranquillity, and even the rumble of a passing train will not disturb this ambience.

It is a course for all standards of players. Low handicappers will find it a serious challenge to come in under par. But high handicaps will always be able to enjoy their round.

And so it was on Saturday, despite the chill in the wind towards the end of our round. Scoring from the 13 players was not quite as good as normal, but perhaps that wind was a factor.

Once it had been pointed out to your organiser that he had misinterpreted one of the cards, we eventually found out who had won the prizes! The winner was never in doubt – that was our leader Carlos Ferreira (11 handicap) with 32 points. In 2nd place after a back 9 countback was Tony McInerney (22) with 30 points. Also on 30 were Ron McLachlan and David Exley.

 Ladies winner was Mary Moran (28) with 26 points. Mary also won the nearest the pin with a fine tee shot at the 16th.

 Post match refreshments and analysis of where we all went wrong was again at Chez Carlos restaurant . Another very pleasant Saturday.

 Ron McLachlan