There’s a part of Portugal I’d never seen before, and it felt a world away from the bustling fairways of the Algarve. To get to the new Terras da Comporta resort and the much-anticipated Torre course, Sergio Garcia’s first major design project, you journey approximately an hour and a half south of Lisbon on Portugal’s Alentejo coast.
Once you leave the motorway, you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, heading down a straight, flat road in the middle of the countryside. As you get closer, endless rice fields stretch as far as the eye can see. I had no idea Portugal was so famous for them, but it was a surprise that set the tone for this evolving golf destination.
We were part of a media group, and were among the first to play the new Torre course ahead of its official opening. Afterwards, we got to chat with designer Sergio Garcia via video link, sharing our thoughts with him and hearing his perspective on his first solo design.
It’s no secret that Garcia’s favourite golf course is Valderrama, and he’s taken some of its best elements into his design at Torre. While it doesn’t have Valderrama’s famously dense trees, the course features small greens, challenging bunkering, dog-leg holes and blind tee shots that add to the variety of the layout.
(Image credit: James Hogg)
The first hole is very reminiscent of Valderrama, a downhill par-4 featuring a couple of tall pine trees that you have to negotiate on the approach to the green. At this point, it’s worth mentioning that there are six tees to choose from, allowing you to make this course as much of a risk-and-reward challenge as you like.
There are plenty of natural undulations and sandy waste areas, but what really struck me was the sheer beauty and expanse of the land, which is just incredible. It’s certainly not a boring course, thanks to the mix of holes. And the best part is that it’s playable for all abilities, which is exactly what Garcia wanted to create. It’s a thoroughly fair and enjoyable test, so there’s no fear of coming off the 18th feeling demoralised, you’ll want to have another go!
The par-3s at Torre are a highlight, and I’d describe them as some of the most fun and varied holes on the course. It’s a deliberate design choice by Garcia to force you to think strategically about your shot and club selection.
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