The 2005 World Cup of Golf: putting Portugal on the golfing map

In the illustrious history of the World Cup of Golf, Portugal stands out as a unique host, welcoming the prestigious event for the first and only time in 2005. Held at the breathtaking Oceânico Golf on its Victoria Course in Vilamoura, Algarve, this edition marked a significant moment for Portuguese golf, firmly placing it on the international stage.

The Victoria Golf Course, a picturesque 18-hole, Par 72 layout designed by none other than the legendary Arnold Palmer in 2004, served as the perfect setting for the 51st World Cup and the sixth as a World Golf Championship event. Its challenging yet scenic layout provided the backdrop for a thrilling competition showcasing the best global golfing talent.

Twenty-four countries, each represented by a dynamic duo of players, converged on Vilamoura to compete for glory and a substantial prize purse totalling $4,000,000. 

The Welsh pair of Bradley Dredge and Stephen Dodd emerged as the triumphant victors (189 strokes, -27), displaying exceptional skill and resilience in adverse weather conditions. Despite the final round being cancelled due to torrential rain and intense winds, Dredge and Dodd’s stellar performance in the preceding rounds secured their place in history as the deserving champions. The runner-ups were England (Luke Donald and David Howell) and Sweden (Niclas Fasth and Henrik Stenson), with 191 (-25). Here you can find the tournament summary

The World Cup of Golf: more than just a sporting event

For Portugal, hosting the World Cup of Golf was more than just a sporting event; it was a testament to the country’s growing prominence in golf. With the Victoria Course as the focal point, Portugal showcased its ability to stage a world-class golfing spectacle, earning accolades from players and spectators alike.

The significance of Portugal’s role as a host extended beyond the tournament itself. The exposure from hosting such a prestigious event helped elevate the country’s status as a premier golfing destination, attracting enthusiasts from around the globe to experience its scenic courses and warm hospitality.

The growth of golf in Portugal

The 2005 World Cup of Golf celebrated the spirit of competition and catalysed the continued growth of golf in Portugal. The heritage of this historic event lives on, serving as an inspiration for future generations of Portuguese golfers and reinforcing the country’s position as a significant player in the international golfing community.

Since then, Portugal Golf Holidays have become increasingly popular, offering golfers a chance to play on some of the finest courses in Europe, combined with the country’s rich cultural heritage, beautiful landscapes, and excellent cuisine. Whether you’re a seasoned golf pro or an amateur, this paradise has something to offer every golfer, making it the perfect destination for your next Portugal golf break.

In the last few years, Portugal has cemented its position as one of the world’s premier golf destinations, attracting golfers from around the globe to experience its stunning courses, world-class facilities, and warm hospitality. The country was designated as the Best World Golf Destination by the World Golf Awards last year, a testament to the quality of its golf courses and the overall golfing experience it offers.

Meanwhile, the memories of the World Cup of Golf in 2005 remain etched in Portugal’s golfing history, a testament to the perpetual legacy of a nation that welcomed the world with open arms and left an indelible mark on the sport.

Portuguese & Spanish golf courses Featured on Tours 2018

Both Portuguese Spanish golf courses are steeped in golfing history and play an integral part in the European golf tours every year.

Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Club - Portuguese Spanish golf courses

Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Club

You need only look at the players in recent history who have come from both regions, and the golf courses that you can find there, to realize why it’s such an admired part of Europe. With Sergio García winning The Masters in 2017, and Jon Rahm surging through the ranks on the PGA Tour, 2018 is sure to be an exciting year for Spanish golf fans.

Portuguese Spanish golf courses

We’ve put together a list of the golf courses that will be hosting the professional tour or qualifying school tournaments in Spain and Portugal over the coming months. Although some are yet to be announced, the following are confirmed.

European Tour

Portugal Masters

The biggest golfing event in Portugal returns in 2018 to its home course, Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Club, in Vilamoura. The event, which will run between 20th-23rd September will as always host come of the tours biggest names – something the region is familiar with! The golf course was designed by none other than golfing legend, Arnold Palmer, and since 2007 it has been the proud home of the annual Portuguese Masters.

Real Club Valderrama - Portuguese Spanish golf courses

Real Club Valderrama

The Par-72 Championship layout, measuring 6.651 meters (7,273 yards), makes use of the natural wetlands and the typical vegetation of carob, olive and almond trees in the area. Lakes form a formidable hazard throughout the course – even for the skilled professional – hence why it has remained a popular test on the tour for over ten years. The course is also known for its contrasting front and back nine – with each side of the course offering its own type of challenge.

The 2017 edition of the event was won by Lucas Bjerregaard who carded a blistering final round 65 to finish on 20-under par, four clear of his nearest competitor – Marc Warren.

Andalucia Valderrama Masters

The Real Club Valderrama in Sotogrande will host the 2018 Andalucia Valderrama Masters on the 18th-21st October. The tournament was first played here in 2010, and it previously hosted the Volvo Masters.

Gramacho Golf Club - Portuguese Spanish golf courses

Gramacho Golf Club

After being canceled in 2012, the event returned to the region last year when it was hosted by local hero and 2011 champion Sergio García. García went on to win the event last year, and it will return in 2018 for what is set to be an amazing four days.

Valderrama is renowned as a tough Tour course that trails its way through the Sotogrande hills and meanders in between tightly clustered umbrella pine trees which makes for a tight, unforgiving test. Rather than being overly long, or having thick rough, Valderrama focuses on making sure that each shot a golfer takes has to be thought through meticulously – for some this is both the attraction and the fear when they play here.

Staysure Tour (Seniors Tour)

Qualifying School 2018

For the 18th consecutive year, the European Seniors Tour Qualifying School returns to the Pestana Golf Resort on Portugal’s Algarve.

Vale Pinta Golf Course - Portuguese Spanish golf courses

Vale Pinta Golf Course

Taking place over three venues, the 2018 Qualifying School will include the first stage being conducted for 36 holes on Silves Golf Club and Gramacho Golf Club. After that, the Finals will be played over 72 holes of stroke play on the Pinta Course at Pestana Golf Resort.

Silves is a par 70 course nestled into the foot of the Monchique mountains, while Gramacho, a par 72 course co-designed by former World Number One Nick Price, has previously hosted the Portuguese Ladies Open.

Challenge Tour

Challenge de España

Details yet to be confirmed by the Tour. This tournament featured here in 2017 and was won by Victor Perez who claimed a maiden European Challenge Tour title in some style, shooting an impressive 24-under par over the four days and winning by three shots.

Silves Golf Club - Portuguese Spanish golf courses

Silves Golf Club

Andalucía Costa del Sol Match Play 9

Details yet to be confirmed by the Tour. This tournament featured here in 2017 and was won by Aaron Rai who secured his second European Challenge Tour victory of the 2017 season by beating Ireland’s Gavin Moynihan 2&1 in the final match.

Golfing in Algarve – XXX Grande Troféu de Vilamoura

Grande Troféu de Vilamoura Winners

Winners

If you want to play golf in the sun, just a few days before Christmas, in a competitive and relaxed atmosphere, in luxurious courses and in a format that allows any player to shine, from a 30 handicap to an elite golfer, the answer can only be one – The Grande Troféu de Vilamoura, in Portugal.

In December 2017, from the 6th to the 9th, in the Algarve, the 30th edition of this historic competition was held for amateurs of all ages and levels of play, and for the second consecutive year, it was sold out.

Jorge Aires, a former vice-president of the Portuguese Tennis Federation, for many years now converted to golf, used to get in the car every year, leave Porto, drive some 600 kilometers and play the event. This time he stayed at home. “When I wanted to sign up I was already sold out,” he regreted.

Grande Troféu de Vilamoura Winner

John Kokolay – Winner

Luís Correia da Silva, the CEO of Dom Pedro Golf, owner of the five Vilamoura golf courses, in his closing speech at the awards ceremony, held at the Hilton Vilamoura As Cascatas Golf Resort & Spa, said: “If you want to play the next year, you’d better decide early and sign in on time”.

The XXX Grande Troféu de Vilamoura attracted 280 players from 15 countries, divided by four categories of handicaps and distributed in three of the five Dom Pedro Golf courses in Vilamoura: the Victoria Golf Course, home of the famous Portugal Masters of the European Tour; the Pinhal Golf Course, which has already hosted the PGA National Championship of Portugal; and the Old Course, for many amateurs, the most charismatic and beautiful course of Vilamoura.

Grande Troféu de Vilamoura Winner

John Kokolay – Winner

Players praise every year the quality of the courses and even in drought years as happened in Portugal in 2017, tees, fairways and greens are immaculate.

“We have our own water for irrigation, so we could better combat this year’s drought, but it is also true that the rain that fell a few days before the tournament started made the courses appear even more beautiful,” Romeo Gonçalves explained. He is former player of the national team of the Portuguese Golf Federation, and now, for some years, he is the director of Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course.

If we play on dream golf courses, the hotels are not far behind. Players stay in some of the best hotels in the Algarve, such as Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort, Tivoli Marina Vilamoura Algarve Resort, Hilton, Vila Galé group and, of course, Dom Pedro hotels.

The sun shines almost every day and every year, and, in addition to the tournament, there are several social activities, from the welcome cocktail to a fashion passerelle, with the highlight of the Vilamoura Casino gala, which includes dinner and a cabaret show. Everything ends later in a cocktail, during which several dozen awards are delivered.

Grande Troféu de Vilamoura Staff

Staff

The Englishman John Kokolay, 65 years-old, with a handicap of 14.5, was crowned the 2017 champion, by winning the net general standings. He is a regular of the tournament:

“It was my fourth time here. I came here to have fun, play, sunbathe, because for me Portugal has the best sun and the best people, and this year I brought with me ten more people, which turns out to be a good deal for Portugal. Maybe next year, now that I’m the champion, I’ll bring some 50 people with me. This tournament is good for your tourism. I have met new players, I have made more friends, I like to know where they come from, what they do for a living, and this friendly ambiance is the most important thing.”

It was a surprising win because he had broken three fingers of his left hand shortly before the tournament, forcing him to even change some swing and putt technique in the Algarve:

“I’m shocked, delighted and I feel so many emotions … I’m a civil engineer and I ijured three fingers four weeks ago. I had to play here with different gloves and I opted for a baseball and not golf grip, but maybe it’s a good idea for the future to keep this new technique.

Grande Troféu de Vilamoura Socializing

Socializing

If John Kokolay was the tournament champion, the best player, that is, the overall gross winner, was Gonçalo Teodoro, the national Under-16 champion, who a week later was making his debut in the main national team of the Portuguese Federation of Golf, in the Manuel Agrellos Cup, to face the selection of the PGA of Portugal.

With a handicap of 0.1, it is natural that his goals are quite different:

“I like this tournament not only because we play in several courses of Vilamoura, but also because of the excellent organization and conviviality that it has with that dinner in the Vilamoura casino. I came to the tournament with the goal of winning, I won and it gave me a loto f joy to know that some of the best Portuguese amateurs ever had already won it before, and also that there are always about 300 or more amateurs in this tournament ».

Grande Troféu de Vilamoura Fashion Show

Fashion Show

The success of the Vilamoura Great Trophy led Dom Pedro Golf to seek to replicate the formula at other times of the year, responding with more supply to the demand manifested by several markets.

For instance, this January, from the 13th to the 20th, the 20th Dom Pedro International Golf Classic will take place with five rounds of golf on the Dom Pedro Golf Collection: Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course, Dom Pedro Old Course Golf Club, Dom Pedro Millennium Golf Course, Dom Pedro Pinhal Golf Course and Dom Pedro Laguna Golf Course.

In Vilamoura, you can breath golf all year round.

Hugo Ribeiro

Golf Writer of the daily “Record” newspaper