Less famous than the South Course, which is currently closed because it is undergoing renovations, the North Course at Quinta do Lago has some serious advantages, starting with top-of-the-range maintenance.

A good film, a good book, a good golf… it's first and foremost an intriguing beginning, a lasting story and a memorable ending. This is certainly the case with the North Course of Quinta de Lago, this golf and residential area in the Algarve, built near the Atlantic Ocean and the Ria Formosa natural park, which also contains the superb courses of the South Course and Laranjal *. Less scenic than its big southern brother, less intimate too (we cross the road several times to reach the next hole), but perhaps more challenging, the North Course also tells a very beautiful story, highlighted by billiards in fairway shape, unless it is the other way around, and greens worthy of the greatest international tournaments.

The first minutes of the plot are set in a short rolled part 4 which tumbles towards the flag, the followers of the draw having the opportunity to take out a wedge on the second shot, if the first is well mastered it goes without saying. The adventure continues with a par 3 made distressing by a water obstacle, scraper and Sunday slicer refrain. Then we go on with a long and true straight par 5 whose monotony is broken by devilishly tortuous greens - the hallmark of the course - to such an extent that even when turning four times around the hole, we do not always know very well which way the ball will ultimately tip. The story is launched. The decor, designed not by Roger Harth but Beau Welling and Paul McGinley (who redesigned the course in 2014), consists of a dense pine forest.

The climax is undoubtedly at hole n ° 12, a magnificent par 4 which requires in a second step to fly over an endless lake with a long iron to touch the green carpet, on the port side. And if you prefer to save yourself a few cold sweats by blithely exceeding the final target, it is only to delay the deadline, the approach in the direction of the hole then leaning dangerously towards the water. The last scene is memorable with this par 5 with delicious curves where anything is possible. Even a happy ending.

Frank Crudo

* Quinta do Lago is ranked in the top 5 golf resorts in continental Europe by Golf World Magazine. Its three courses (South Course, North Course and Laranjal) are part of the top 100 in continental Europe, according to GolfWorld Magazine.

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