For almost 36 years TAP has been promoting Portugal as a golf destination and the company as the golf friendly airline.

Vilamoura will be once more the venue of the tournament and the special package that has been arranged is quite attractive with selected hotels and golf courses all quite close to each other

Please note that the tournament must be sold in conjunction with TAP PORTUGAL flights.

Golf Courses

We have selected:

• Laguna;
• Old Course;
• Pinhal;
• Oceanico Victoria Vilamoura;

Laguna

On the way to the east of Algarve, a large property was transformed into a tourist resort, as the result of the imagination and power of a man who believed in the potential of the southern-most province of Portugal, showing the methodical, integrated and controlled ways that should be emulated by our tourism. This man was Cupertino de Miranda, who laid the foundations of Vilamoura in a way to be regarded as an example to be followed. We owe the benefits of Vilamoura to him, no matter what ups and downs this resort has been through.

The Vilamoura golf courses are a reality that have turned it into one of the popular golfing destinations in Europe, with three separate layouts one of them with 27 holes, and a further one still in the planning process.

 

Old Course

The Old Course (ex.Vilamoura l) was inaugurated in 1969. Its project was Frank Pennink’s first one in Portugal, and we can understand why he was invited to design and project other courses in our country.

This is a golf course that winds its way through umbrella pine woods in a most natural way. It is the English school of course design. The beginning of the round is apparently easy and inviting, with an easy par 4 – for those who keep the ball on the fairway – the green of which can be reached with a good drive.

Of the par 3′s we would highlight the 4^th played over a small lake, and the 15^th, with a green, which is difficult to reach. However, the «flavour» of The Old Coursel is undoubtedly the back nine par-5 holes – four in all of which the l6^th is the best.

 

 

Pinhal

The Pinhal Golf Course (ex. Vilamoura 2), inaugurated in 1976, is another one of Pennink’s assignments. For urban development reasons Vilamoura 2 was modified in 1985 by Trent Jones, who retained l1 holes of the previous layout.

The different golf design concepts of the English and American schools are easily recognised here. The Americans quietly readjust the terrain at their convenience, while the British have a kind of reserve and sometimes a certain refinement. Although this is an excellent example, we feel that the Pinhal Golf Course should have been re-planned by an architect of the some school to maintain the course character.

Oceânico Victoria

“Victoria Clube de Golfe” is a championship course of 18-hole par 72 course, occupying a total area of 90 hectares and with a total distance of 6,560 meters. Every care has been taken to ensure the preservation of the existing wetlands, the typical vegetation of carob, olives and almond trees, and several lakes, occupying 13 hectares, providing mirrors of water and strategic reservoirs for watering purposes. With 5/6 tees per hole, wide and undulating fairways, extensive water obstacles and well positioned bunkers; Victoria will reward heroic and ambitious shots. Another major attraction is formed by an exceptional driving range and by an enormous putting green area of around 2,500m2.

Playing on this course will become a unique and unforgettable experience, to any player. Arnold Palmer’s most recent project in Portugal is destined to become one of the best and most sophisticated golf courses in Europe. One extraordinary fact concerning Victoria is that the Palmer design team masterly created 18 greens with totally different shapes and sizes. This is one of the distinguishing characteristics of the course, and for which local knowledge will be an advantage

 

Hotels

Five star hotel Tivoli Marina and four stars D. Pedro Golf were chosen.

34th Tap Open Golf Amateur Tournament

Trivoli Marina

Surrounded by the famous marina and a private beach, Tivoli Marina Vilamoura is a reference for luxury tourism in the Algarve. A stage for large events, important meetings and the launch of new products, the congress centre of this 5 star hotel has a capacity for 1200 people. The lively social and nightlife of Vilamoura attracts many local celebrities from different areas who come to enjoy the holidays and weekends of complete relaxation, where there is plenty to do such as shopping, a visit to the casino and golf. In the hotel grounds, guests can find the Angsana Spa where they can choose from a wide range of revitalising treatments based on the best oriental traditions. The hotel also has an association with Nikki Beach facilities, and a lakeside restaurant, where fun is considered a way of life.

D. Pedro Golf

Located in Vilamoura only minutes from Europe’s best Golf Courses, heavenly beaches, and Vilamoura’s Marina and Casino, the Dom Pedro Golf Resort is reborn after an upgrade to five stars. The new reception and Lobbys warm tones convey tranquillity and comfort. The rooms, which are still 266 in number, are now lighter and more comfortable, equipped with LCD television, air conditioning, and the Dom Pedro Collection amenities, as well as, of course, round the clock room service. A new catering concept was conceived, resulting in two restaurants: “Oliva”, comprised of “Ã? la Carte” Mediterranean cuisine, and “White”, the new Buffet space.

The Grill in the hotel gardens continues throughout the warmer months. Exterior renovations have created pleasant and modern areas. The new SPA Aquae and outside pools have an organic colour and excellent water quality due to an overflow system. All of the pools are finished in antislip materials, and one of the accesses is comprised of an ample and comfortable staircase, perfect for sunbathing. At night, the colours that irradiate from the pools, chromotherapy, produce a unique and relaxing effect throughout the Hotel’s spacious gardens. The new SPA Aquae has a full view to the outside through a glass pane that looks out onto the garden. SPA Aquae is equipped with an indoor pool, a cardio-fitness room, jacuzzi, sauna, and two treatment rooms.

Avis

AVIS will again be the official rent a car of the event.

Reservations / Payments

• All reservations must be done with your travel agent and we recommend that space be booked well in advance in order to avoid future waitlists.

No Show Fee

• In case a passenger does not show for the tournament a 50% fee will be debited;
• Cancellations up to 15 days prior to the tournament will have a 25% penalty;
• Also if a participant decides to quit from the tournament no deduction will be made.

Observations

• On their arrival at FAO/LIS airports participants should not handle vouchers neither at avis desk nor at hotels as they are prepared to deliver services without them;
• Vouchers are to be given only to TAP open welcome desk at Tivoli Marina Hotel.

Competition

• Will be played stroke play over 72 holes and players divided in 4 categories according to their EGA handicap;
• Copy of certificate must be received at time of reservation and original card must also be shown at registration desk.

Practice Days

• Will be played on the 13th and 14th November;
• Any special bookings should be asked as soon as possible;
• Playing days from 15th to 18th November.

Social Events

• Welcome Dinner will be on the 13th November and GALA DINNER on the 18th November.
• Last year we had more then 250 participants from 17 different countries in this event which is quite a challenge for every player. We do hope that this year’s tournament will see again hundreds of players from different countries where TAP flies to.

In the past thousands of golfers have participated in this event which is quite a challenge for every player. We do hope that this year’s tournament will see again hundreds of players from different countries where to TAP flies.

Package prices includes

• 7 night hotel accomodation with buffet breakfast;
• 7 day car rental;
• 6 green fees;
• Two main meals and a get together.

Notes

• Car Rental: for individual use when double share increase 60,00 for GRPS A/B and 70,00 for GRPS C/D;
• CDW / TW / Unlimited Kilometers – TAX: all included;
• Deposit to be paid is not included as well as Super PAI / PAI and Petrol;
• Non players: less 320 euros than price indicated for players.

Package prices not includes

• Your Airline Fare: In order to book your trip with TAP PORTUGAL please email us at airfares@departuresandarrivals.travel with your city of departure as well as dates. We will be very happy to help you with the best available fare for this Golf Event.

Welcome to Algarve

Algarve. Wherever you look, the colours of the mountains and sea are always with you, creating the impression of a water-colour dotted with highlights of gold, green and blue. The region is an extensive and pleasant one, with a Mediterranean climate, marked by the smell of the sea at low tide and the scent of wild flowers.

A stroll through the tangled web of narrow streets, alleys and steps to be found away from the coast is the best way of getting to know this part of the region. But you can also easily lose yourself in the vastness of the coastal strip. Here the backdrop is composed of some of Europe’s most beautiful beaches, from where you can admire the rocky coastline and the playful shadows they cast on the sand.

After the enchantment of the landscape, you can discover the aromas and flavours of the traditional Algarve cuisine. The menu may consist of fish and shellfish, with such dishes as caldeirada de peixe (fish-stew) or cataplana de amêijoas (clams steamed in a copper pan), or you can enjoy the traditional mountain food of stewed chickpeas and cabbage. The range of choices will also include the famous regional delicacies, such as figs, almonds, carobs and the brandy made from the locally grown medronho (arbutus-berry), distilled up in the hills in old copper stills.

As you travel across the Algarve, amidst its hills and plains filled with places of great ecological interest, rich in biodiversity and ecosystems, you will feel as though you are passing through an area full of different traditions, unchanged for many centuries. The handicraft is skilfully manufactured by the local craftsmen, who make use of longstanding, ancestral techniques and produce an excellent range of pottery, woven baskets, copper and brass articles, or other pieces made of linen and jute.

Only a step away from the tranquil peace of the inland region is the excitement of the Algarve nightlife. Bars, discos, marinas and casinos guarantee visitors the very best kind of merrymaking.

The region’s built heritage is something you cannot afford to miss. The architecture of the whitewashed houses, with their brightly-coloured mouldings and remarkably beautiful chimneys, the church belfries and the museums, all reveal particular memories of the ancestors of the Algarve people and help to make this such a special destination.

Also to be recommended is the range of outdoor sports that are available, whether you’re playing golf on lush green courses or enjoying some physical exercise at some of the region’s excellent facilities, whether you’re on the coast or perhaps up in the hills, where, after the rigours of winter and even before the first signs of spring, the land is covered in a pinkish white blanket, produced by the blossom of the almond-trees scattered across the horizon.

This is the true portrait of an Algarve that you’ll find waiting for you, all year round.

A year round golfing paradise!

One of Europe’s top golfing destinations, the Algarve has firmly established its reputation as a quality resort among all enthusiasts.

The quality layout of the courses, many of them designed by the very best international architects, coupled with the sheer beauty of the surrounding landscapes, meets the demands of golfers of all levels. Indeed, the region has become a firm favorite among golfers from all around the world.

The pleasant climate, with over three hundred days of sunshine, ensures that golf can be comfortably played all year round.

The excellence of the Algarve’s courses is heightened by the variety of trees and vegetation, the greens, tees and the prevailing silence broken only by the sound of a well-struck shot. Perfect!