The Oceânico Victoria course has been awarded Best Portuguese Golf Course 2006 in the annual Publituris Awards, which recognise outstanding performance in Portugal’s tourism industry.

Of the five courses nominated in the category of Best National Golf Course, the Oceânico Victoria Golf Course was voted best by the readers of Publituris Magazine and an independent jury of tourism professionals.

Situated in Vilamoura, the Algarve, the Oceânico Victoria Golf Course will host the Portugal Masters from 2007 to 2009, attracting over 50,000 spectators. Designed by Arnold Palmer, the course offers an 18-hole, par 72 championship layout measuring 6.560 metres.

Commenting on the award Simon Burgess, director of Oceânico Group, said: “Portugal is renowned for its golf courses, so for the Victoria course to be recognised as the best is a fantastic achievement. Oceânico is committed to delivering the best possible experience within the international golf market, and with the Portugal Masters coming to the course this year a worldwide audience will have the chance to experience the highest standards at both the Victoria course and our other courses in Vilamoura.”

Oceânico Group owns seven of the Algarve’s leading golf courses, including two new courses being designed by Nick Faldo and Christy O’Connor Jnr at the Amendoeira Golf Resort near Silves, and five of the renowned courses in Vilamoura - The Oceânico Old Course, Oceânico Victoria, Oceânico Pinhal, Oceânico Millennium & Oceânico Laguna.