Penha Longa Golf update, March 6th

With the Portuguese Open less than a month away, some of the members have been questioning whether the course will be in good enough condition to host the event??? It has been in terrible condition for 3 months. After a year and a half of renovations (supposedly costing around 2 million euros) the course is probably in the worst shape ever! The lack of sand on the course is one of the major reasons. Although there has been more rain in the last 3 months than we can remember, it seems all the other courses we have played in the area are in excellent condition. The promise of sand and hollow tining never came to fruition and now the course is losing money hand over fist because of it. It is so wet that on some of the fairways it is impossible for the tractors to get out to cut the grass, never mind hollow tining! The new drainage installed during the renovations obviously are doing next to nothing! The condition of the course, as well as the loss of green fees over the last 6 months hasn't been good all 'round. If Penha Longa does host the event it will be more likely due to good weather and not the large amount spent on renovations. Follow my blog for a weekly update on the condition of the course.