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Overview
A pioneer amongst golf resorts in the Algarve, Le Méridien Penina Golf & Resort is the only hotel, in Portugal, to have three golf courses within its 360 acres (145 hectares) grounds. This elegant resort, with its large centrally sited hotel, enables guests to experience and explore: 18 hole - The Sir Henry Cotton Championship Course and two 9 hole – The Academy Course and the Resort Course.

The Penina (now known as the Sir Henry Cotton Championship Course), the first resort golf course to be built in Portugal is unquestionably where golf started in this southern corner of the Iberian Peninsula. Three times British Open champion, the late Sir Henry Cotton was encouraged to visit and lay out a course over a former rice field. On an unpromising wet, treeless site, Cotton grasped the opportunity to renew the British connection with golf in the country that had been established in the 19th century.

In the process, he created his masterpiece, a fitting epitaph to one of Britain’s most successful professional players and a course which has already hosted ten Portuguese Opens; other prestigious tournaments (namely, The Daily Telegraph Seniors’ Match play event (2000/1), the National Finals of the Audi Corp); as well as major International and Charity competitions (such as the Sir Henry Cotton Team Trophy and Sir Henry Cooper & Mike Reid Charity Classic).

The entire Resort has gained recognition by and is a member of the Audubon Co-operative Sanctuary System, dedicated to the protection of wildlife.

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Facilities
The resort offers clients the following golf services and facilities:

3 Golf Courses	Golf Academy
Club House	Three Golf Professionals
Pro Golf Shop	Changing Rooms
Two Chipping Greens	Four Putting Greens
New Driving Range	Golf bag storage
Golf buggies & trolleys for rent	Golf equipment for rent
Cleaning of golf clubs, shoes and soft spike replacement

Driving Range (NEW)
The resorts completely new driving range, to be considered one of the largest driving ranges in Europe, having a tee distance from 210 metres (230 yards) to 270 metres (295 yards) and the capacity to simultaneously lodge an average of 70 golfers. The driving range comprises of a putting and chipping green, target greens and practise holes with bunkers. With the renovation, the practise facility was been completely raised to ensure maximum drainage and a new irrigation system installed.

To access the driving range, two bridges, new cart paths, as well as cart parking have been constructed.

Golf Academy
Delivering the philosophy, knowledge and techniques, flexible to golfers of all ages and abilities, the Penina Golf Academy offers first rate golf instruction and first-class service to every standard of golfer. Whether you are just beginning to play the game or have been playing for years, our PGA Professionals can help you in every aspect of your game.

The Penina Golf Academy offers extensive and specifically tailored programs to individual players or groups of children, seniors, families, or simply friends, be they a five-day program or simply for a few hours to perfect specific game techniques. Our philosophy and focus of golf instruction is to help you learn and improve your golf; offering you more than just a perfect golf swing; we offer you the complete vision and understanding of the game of golf!

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Sir Henry Cotton Championship Golf Course
Previously The Penina, but known as the Sir Henry Cotton Championship Course, the main 18 holes provide the most demanding test of a player’s skills in the Algarve, if not in Portugal. With the inevitable difficulty that a flat landscaping and terrain creates with club selection, the holes are crossed and flanked by a series of streams, ditches and water hazards, demanding precisely executed shots to avoid trouble and achieve par. The course is beautifully maintained, winding past tall stands of eucalyptus and clumps of palm to mainly elevated greens which have subtle slopes and sometimes treacherous speeds.
Two holes show how important strategic water can be. The 5th doglegs left for 451 metres (493 yards), with three bunkers and lateral water to the right plus out-of-bounds following the tree line on the left all the way to the green. Its double-tiered, angled surface lies beyond a substantial lake, putting pressure on the second shot into a narrow funnel of fairway.

Of the par-3’s, the most memorable is the 13th – voted one of the best 500 holes in the world! The 185 metres (202 yards) 13th hole requires a long carry over water, the curving shape of the left-hand fairway, with out-of-bounds on both sides, encouraging the shot to deviate right into the hazard.

The course is characterised by an unusual grouping of the par-5’s, with four of the five arranged together in pairs at the beginning and end of the back nine producing a par of 38 as opposed to 35 for the front nine. As you turn home up the 18th, the magnificent building of the Hotel acts as a backdrop to the green framed to the near by an amphitheatre of trees – a superb spectator setting! Drive short of the drainage ditch, position the second shot to avoid the bunkers guarding the putting surface and take into account the pin position on one of three tiers of the green for the approach and you could well finish with a condemnable par!

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9 Holes Courses
Other than the famous 18 hole, Sir Henry Cotton Championship Course, the resort has two 9 hole courses within the property: the Resort Course and the Academy Course.

Resort Course
The Resort Course, a more recent nine holes on the north side of the hotel, strategically demanding, can also be considered a challenge for the more experienced players and equally provides gentle training grounds for beginners.
This course features 18 tees and makes full use of Sir Henry Cotton's principles with a number of lakes and sand hazards making it an enjoyable course that tests the skills of all abilities.
Holes 1, 2 and 3 are all tree-lined dogleg par 4’s where keeping to the fairway is a definite advantage. The only par 5 is the 499 metres (546 yards) 5th hole, long and straight with an elevated green, a typical Penina feature. The par 4 6th hole, with out of bounds to the right, requires a precise drive through a narrow avenue of tall trees, whereas the drive on the dogleg 7th needs to be a controlled draw followed by an approach steered left of a greenside lake that is too close to the green for comfort. A long par 3 with many bunkers and a long par 4 finish this pleasant course.

Academy Golf Course
The Academy Course, winding through the fairways of the Championship Course, is an interesting “executive” nine holes par 30 (three par 4’s and six par 3’s.  Originally designed for the casual or intermediate golfer it provides the ideal course for all year round holiday golf. The greens are relatively small and therefore accuracy off the tee and for approach shots is required and it also provides players the opportunity to fine tune their short game.

Rates
All rates below are presented in Euros and valid until 31 October 2009. Green fee rates are per person, per round.

Greenfees for Hotel Residents

Greenfees for Non Residents

Golf Tuition Rates

Golf Equipment Rental Rates