Golf courses creators have to practice their dexterities on very improbable landscape at times. One of the popular visitors of the proposed site at Penina was Sir Henry Cotton in 1963. He was then challenged by an absolutely flat, grassy, and paddy field. Unfortunately, it was also water-logged that calls for appropriate designs and measurements. However, the course he created - the first in the Algarve, opening in 1966 - will perhaps come to be seen as his memorial.
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.
Though the results were not that good as expected, Cotton did not give up his course, but he made some modifications and added features such as vast tees, up to 100 yards (90 m) in length. This idea was probably from Robert Trent Jones. With these new features, good amateurs can play Penina at fewer than 6,900 yards (6, 310 m) because it can be stretched to nearly 7,500 yards (6, 860 m). Penina Gold Course was then considered as one of the longest courses in the world, which amateurs and veteran golfers can play unlimited rounds.
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.
Though the results were not that good as expected, Cotton did not give up his course, but he made some modifications and added features such as vast tees, up to 100 yards (90 m) in length. This idea was probably from Robert Trent Jones. With these new features, good amateurs can play Penina at fewer than 6,900 yards (6, 310 m) because it can be stretched to nearly 7,500 yards (6, 860 m). Penina Gold Course was then considered as one of the longest courses in the world, which amateurs and veteran golfers can play unlimited rounds.
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:
Long a favorite of those involved in setting up golf destination vacations located in the Algarve region of Southern Portugal, in the far western end of the countryside. Free reprint available from: Penina & Western Algarve Portugal - An Undiscovered Golf Find.
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