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.
A designer such as Robert Trent Jones might have chosen to change the site. Cotton nevertheless, performed a different method: he decided to plant hundreds and thousands of trees, said to total more than 350,000 in the site. The purpose in this was two-fold, one aim was that they would help to absorb the excess water on the landscape and the other was that they were served as the main features of his new golf course. They both line the fairways and help create the swerved. Though, trees alone could not drain the previous paddy, flat field. These often border fairways, swing across the front of green or are close to hand at the either side.
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.
Cotton lived at the Pinena Hotel for many years, leaving temporarily when Portuguese 'revolution' started. He was not in favor about the rules of the Portuguese towards Englishmen. His last days were saddened when his gold course would be changed by another designer. However, the modifications did not devastate his previous plans and designs.
Cotton died just before Christmas in 1987, but he was first awarded as the golfer who had built the most prestigious gold course in Penina. The said awards and recognition has been announced in the New Year's Honours list. To acknowledge his great contributions at Penina Golf Course, Sir Henry was buried at Penina with dignity and recognitions from his generation of golfers.
A designer such as Robert Trent Jones might have chosen to change the site. Cotton nevertheless, performed a different method: he decided to plant hundreds and thousands of trees, said to total more than 350,000 in the site. The purpose in this was two-fold, one aim was that they would help to absorb the excess water on the landscape and the other was that they were served as the main features of his new golf course. They both line the fairways and help create the swerved. Though, trees alone could not drain the previous paddy, flat field. These often border fairways, swing across the front of green or are close to hand at the either side.
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.
Cotton lived at the Pinena Hotel for many years, leaving temporarily when Portuguese 'revolution' started. He was not in favor about the rules of the Portuguese towards Englishmen. His last days were saddened when his gold course would be changed by another designer. However, the modifications did not devastate his previous plans and designs.
Cotton died just before Christmas in 1987, but he was first awarded as the golfer who had built the most prestigious gold course in Penina. The said awards and recognition has been announced in the New Year's Honours list. To acknowledge his great contributions at Penina Golf Course, Sir Henry was buried at Penina with dignity and recognitions from his generation of golfers.
About the Author:
The whole Penina golfing complex, designed by Sir Henry Cotton and originally called The Penina, was the first resort course to be built in Portugal and has been the venue for the Portuguese Open. This article, A Great Golf Course In Portugal is released under a creative commons attribution license.
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