Sir Henry Cotton Championship Course: Rules & Specifications

The Sir Henry Cotton Championship Course, or The Penina, as it was first known, was designed and laid out by its namesake - and three times British Open champion.

Known as one of the most challenging - and satisfying - courses in the whole of Portugal, this marquee course is as unforgiving as it is beautiful. Flanked by streams, ditches and water hazards, the course is maintained to the highest standard... and boasts an extensive array of subtle slopes, elevated greens and breathtaking scenery.

Holes: 18
Par: 73

Handicap:
Men - 28
Ladies - 36

Course Length:
White marks - 6273 metres (6860 yards)
Yellow marks - 5827 metres (6373 yards)
Blue marks - 5414 metres (5918 yards)
Red marks - 5140 metres (5621 yards)

Course rating:
White marks - 73.7
Yellow marks - 71.5
Blue marks - 74.9
Red marks - 73.2

Slope Rating:
White marks - 138
Yellow marks - 137
Blue marks - 132
Red marks - 129

Grass:
Fairways - Lolium Perene, Poa Pratensis, Creeping Bent
Greens - Creeping Bent Cobra

The rules followed on the Sir Henry Thomas Cotton Championship Course are those of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews

The course also follows the following local rules:

Dress Code:

• No T-shirts, jeans or tennis shoes. Soft spikes mandatory on all courses

Out of Bounds (white stakes or lines):

• The stream on the left of the second fairway
• All ground to the right of the lake on the 13th
  Practice areas
  Tar roads and any ground beyond them

Water Hazards (Yellow stakes or lines):

• The ditches across the 2nd, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th and 18th fairways and the lakes on the 5th and 12th.
• Relief may be taken (one stroke penalty) under rule 26-1 (a) or (b).

Course Markings:

• White Stakes - Out of Bounds
• Red Stakes - Lateral Water Hazard
• Blue Stakes - Ground Under Repair

Etiquette:

• Please smooth bunker footprints
• Replace divots
• Repair pitch marks
• No more than 2 people in any one golf buggy
• Any match that loses ground on the players in front is obligated to wave the following group through