Recently returned from the Algarve, congratulations to Oceaniico for realising there is a recession and for giving something back to the golfers who have supported the Vilamoura courses for many years.
All the courses in Vilamoura were offering much reduced rates after 11-0 clock and a free buggie.
Despite the economic downturn the courses were all extremely busy ,which seemed like a very good business strategy. Unfortunately a little further along the coast at Quinta Do Lago and Vale Do Lobo where the demand was absolutely minimal by comparrison the same thoughts had not occurred to the owners.Let's see what happens in the coming year.
Kind regards
G.Wilson

Dear all, I would like to submit my review for a Mizuno Bettinardi C05 putter.
As a born again golfer 5 months ago after about a twenty year break I came back to the game bemused by the technology flying around. I replaced my 30 year old Uniroyal Arnold Palmer irons and wooden woods with namely MP30 irons and Taylormade V steel woods finally finishing off with a custom fitted Mizuno MX560 driver (mainly because they are on offer as the model is being replaced).
Anyway as a high handicap beginner golfer one area which I believed could reduce my handicap faster than any other would be putting. Simply putt (excuse the pun) when it came to performing on the green I was a major blood group i.e. "O plus" at putting.
I spent a lot of time on the internet looking for tips and advice along with time in pro shops looking at various putters designs etc. in addition I boughted a 4 metre strip of carpet for practising.
Having spent many an hour practising with my old putter to find a technique which was better and more consistent I finally plummbed for a Mizuno Bettinardi C05 putter. It is a mallet design with the textured machined face favoured by Mr Bettinardi.
I chose this putter because I found it just the right weight for me as I don't like heavy putters, but what really impressed was that for me it felt just right and I was able to get a consistent swing on line through the ball. Distance control, feel and alignment with the line facing you on the top of the putter is also excellent and the finish is superb. The blue grip with a white band near the bottom I find perfect for making sure I hold the putter at exactly the same height every time.
Using the putter on the course, which is where it matters, has really improved my scoring. Previously I was typically taking 3 putts on at least 4 or 5 greens on a round of golf and more importantly for me I was missing so many putts between 1 and 3 feet (yes even 12 inches terrified me) it was soul destroying. Since switching to the practised technique and the C05 things have looked much better and when I played at the weekend for the round I 3 putted only once and single putted 3 of the greens and crtically those short putts are dropping in without a second thought.

To conclude a lot of the improvement I have achieved with putting has been down to practising and developing a technique which really works for me but with the addition of the C05 my confidence has really come along and putting really is about confidence. Some may say at the rrp of £169 it is expensive for a putter but most golfers don't think twice about paying £300 - £500 for a new driver and in my opinion the right putter has much greater potential to improve the scores of the average golfer than any bling bling space tech driver.
Jeff Cosby