Thursday, October 17, 2013

Portugal - An Undiscovered Rough On The Greens For Golf Vacationers

By Aaron Cockerill


Golf courses designers have to exercise their skills on very challenging sites at times. This was the sole reason why Sir Henry Cotton first visited the proposed site at Penina in 1963. He was then determined to modify the flat rice paddy field with water-logged properties. However, the course he made - the first in the Algarve, opening in 1966 - will possibly come to be seen as his tribute.

However, Robert Trent Jones, one creative designer might have decided to modify and renovate the landscape, but Cotton took an amazing approach: he decided to plant various types of trees, said to total more than 350,000 in the site. He created this for two purposes: one reason was that they would help to absorb the water on the landscape provided by heavy rains and the other was that these trees will serve as major features and beautification of his new course. They both line the fairways and help create the doglegged. However, thousands of trees could not drain the former paddy fields and the numerous drainage canals were needed that time.

Cotton was determined that his golf course should not become worthless and nonsense so he added some features to make it as real golf course that amateurs might love. He therefore built vast tees, up to 100 yards (90 m) in length and introduced these into the golfers. The idea of this thing was probably from Robert Trent Jones. The result is that although good amateurs can play Penina at fewer than 6,900 yards (6, 310 m); it can be stretched to nearly 7,500 yards (6, 860 m). Penina Golf Course was considered as one of the longest courses in the world wherein skillful golfers and amateur players usually love to visit.

Penina Golf Course popularity served as the main belief of Cotton for living at the Pinena Hotel for many years, but decided to leave because of the Portuguese 'revolution'. He was disfavor about the Portuguese administration and rules for Englishmen. His last days were disappointed when it was proclaimed that the course would be changed by new designers. However, the modifications did not devastate his original designs and plans.

When Cotton died just before Christmas in 1987 his knighthood, his major award as a golfer has still be announced in the New Year's Honors list, though he had learned before according to the sources. Sir Henry was buried at Penina to acknowledge his contributions in Penina Golf Course and also, to recognize all his time spent in making this golf course marketable and useful for amateur and skillful golfers around the globe.




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