Amendoeira O’Connor Jnr. Golf Course

The O'Connor course is Christy O'Connor Jnr's design for Amendoeira Golf Resort, opened in October 2008 alongside its sibling, the Faldo course. Where Faldo climbs the hillside, O'Connor stays down in the valley, a flatter and more forgiving round set among the orange groves outside Silves.

Water is the defining feature, in play on well over half the holes. The 3rd is the signature hole, a par-3 where a stream presses in from the right, its green watched over by a small Moorish-era relic on an island in the lake. Holes 7, 8 and 9 run alongside another lake in a stretch some now call the course's Amen Corner. The 5th keeps the theme going: Christy O'Connor Jnr wanted one hole that was simply oranges, and built it with groves running down both sides. Wind does much of the rest of the defending.

The buggy comes included with the green fee, and the resort adds a driving range, an academy with resident professionals, a clubhouse restaurant and snack bar, locker room and pro shop. Book a round to pair with the neighbouring Faldo course, and see the valley side of Amendoeira.