Amendoeira (O'Connor) - Algarve - Portugal

Back when I last played the O'Connor course it was a part of 7 'Oceanico' courses which featured it's brother on the same site (Faldo) and then 5 a journey away in Vilamoura. I've played probably 15 or so courses now in this part of Portugal and I look back on the O'Connor with fond memories.

We were told before we played both courses at the Amendoeira resort that the Faldo was hillier and tougher whilst the O'Connor was the flatter and more forgiving course. Whilst I very much enjoyed both courses here, the Faldo is probably the better layout with big carries from tees and a great expanse of land.

The O'Connor is not to be frowned upon however. After playing the first few holes, you seem to venture off out on a deliberate out and back which is strange for an inland course in Portugal. The land is kind of tight in contrast to the Faldo where it's given more room. With that being said however it still doesn't feel tight and still offers a great test of golf as well as scoring opportunities.

I think most people would come here to play the Faldo, you can see the difference between the expanse of land and the more desert layout which is almost the opposite with the O'Connor. The Faldo benefits from beautiful and fancy bunkering whereas it's brother's are more bland.

A good second course for a resort like Amendoeira, where the faldo's challenge is the bunkering the o'connor is protected by water on over half the holes. Definitely the easier course however and less pleasing on the eye due to the flat land the course is on.

A perfectly good course if wanting to get away for a golf weekend in a group with varying abilities however for serious golfers i would perhaps look elsewhere.

Fond memories of a great trip with friends, not too far from some great nightlife for those looking for a mixture of good golf courses and nightlife.

I personally prefer the O'Connor to the Faldo. It is much easier and far more enjoyable, and you don't feel like you're getting beaten up. Perfect course for an evening round in a buggy. Holes do get quite repetitive in the middle. Well worth a trip IMO

Often seen as the poor companion to the Faldo. Have played this course over 20 times over the last 10 years. Certainly compared to the Faldo it is flat and less inspiring but it is always in great condition and compliments the Faldo. The course has grown on me over the years and less busy than other courses in Vilamoura. Set up at this resort is good and improved catering now supplements the accommodation. Superior Villas are outstanding and for groups this resort is superb. The O'Connor can punish those who push shots but all standards can be catered with the various different tee boxes.

Played with a society and we found it very playable and great fun. The part where you play alongside and under a flyover is a bit strange, but other than that we really enjoyed it, particularly the uphill 9th and 18ths that finish under the very comfortable terrace.

Excellent staff, and much more fun than the Faldo.

This is the second course at the Amendoeirra resort and a little bit less challenging than the Faldo course, but also some really nice holes with a lot of water in play. Like the Faldo course also really interesting layout and makes fun to play. Really nice finishing hole with the clubhouse sitting above the green.

much more holiday course than the Faldo track on site but still a great layout and in excellent condition--the odd weak hole here and there , but some great others make it a treat to play--always in great nick and good speed on the greens

There are some nice holes, but there is no variation on the course. The greens were slow where we expected more. We played this two days ago and we are struggling to remember the course. Having played a lot of courses in the Algarve this is not a course I would go back to. However I like traditional courses and this being a manufatured course for me to rank this highly it has to be good. If you like manufactured courses then go for it.