Lisbon Golf
Lisbon is known as The White City, thanks to its unique light. The clear light and the kind climate allow for marvellous walks all over the city. The city has a beauty that extends beyond its famed monuments that can be experienced in the streets, embraced by all the senses.
If the Algarve is still the altar for Portugal’s golfing faithful, Lisbon Golf and its courses are close enough to the pulsing, cosmopolitan capital to ensure that the action doesn’t stop at the 18th hole. The beauty of its coastal landscapes makes Lisbon a very much appreciated golf region by golfers from around the world.
Designed by architects known for challenging courses, such as Robert Trent Jones, Rocky Roquemore, Donald Steel, Frank Pennink, Severiano Ballesteros and Jorge Santana da Silva, the golf courses are remarkable for their quality and diversity, combined with the comfort and high level of service in their hotels and clubhouses.
Lisbon’s proximity to several areas of protected nature and to monuments and landscapes classified as World Heritage provides the perfect complement to a golfing holiday or a few concentrated days of golf.
Aroeira Pines Classic G.C. (Former 1) & Aroeira Challenge G.C. (Former 2)
A mere 30-minute drive from the centre of Lisbon, on the edge of a 900-acre preservation area, Aroeira Pines Classic and Aroeira Challenge bucks the trend of golfing in Lisbon. Demonstrating real design ingenuity, two-time Portuguese Open host Aroeira Pines Classic trades fairway bunkers for lines of thick pine trees which scupper the strategies of even the most experienced players.
With teeing possible at five distances, Aroeira Challenge is an accessible challenge; but with water hazards at nine of its holes, few manage to overcome it.
Belas Clube De Campo
Hidden away in the valleys of the Sintra hills (just half an hour’s drive from the city centre), Belas Clube de Campo is shielded from coastal winds, meaning players can enjoy this Championship course year-round.
Designed by William “Rocky” Roquemore, the 8th hole at Belas was christened “Augusta” because it resembles the 13th hole, which follows the notorious “Amen Corner”. With some diverse and tricky holes, you might need a prayer to come in under par.
Bom Sucesso
Portugal’s Silver Coast – several degrees cooler than the Algarve – testifies that you don’t need to go to Portugal’s traditional golfing heartland to get a traditional game. Bom Sucesso Golf, a reasonably young course, really comes into its own on its undulating greens and challenges putters with its unpredictable relief.
The clear division between Bom Sucesso’s first nine holes on even terrain and its second nine, which are more rugged, is a hallmark of architect Donald Steel and his meticulous planning.
Dolce Camporeal
Dolce Campo Real is a scenic and spectacular championship golf course set within dramatic rolling countryside just 30 minutes north of Lisbon. This extraordinarily beautiful and uniquely challenging 18-hole, par 72 layout was designed by world-renowned golf architect Donald Steel, covering an area of 55 hectares the course is surrounded entirely by well-appointed buggy paths.
Cutting a swathe through the natural vegetation of the estate studded with cork-oak, olive and fragrant eucalyptus trees, the course smells almost as good as it looks! Beginning and ending with par-five holes, the course features smooth, undulating greens and stunning views from the elevated tees; its layout will prove to be a true test of your judgment and skill.
Golf do Estoril
At Golf do Estoril, one of Portugal’s oldest and most emblematic courses, and host of many prestigious events, guests can enjoy a spectacular round of golf in the most beautiful surroundings.
Golf Do Estoril was designed by the famous architect Mackenzie Ross, since the opening of the Estoril Golf Course in 1936, a number of alterations and improvements have been made to its original layout. This stunning 18 hole course is set amongst eucalyptus, pine and mimosa trees, giving it a uniquely colourful touch overlooking Estoril and the sea.
Golf Do Estoril is a fantastic golf course challenging in terms of accuracy rather than distance demanding excellent tactics. Its hole number 16 is internationally well known, a Par 3 of 184 meters.
Golfe do Montado
Golf do Montado is located in Palmela, only 30 minutes away from the south of Lisbon. It stands in peaceful surroundings of Portugal’s Costa Azul. The golf course evolved from an Oak tree hill (Montado) and is surrounded by famous muscatel vineyards that were planted here more than a century ago, water streams and ponds make the magic and beauty of the course. His location in a rural landscape is ideal to get out of the daily routine.
Lisbon Sports Club
Little more than twenty minutes from the heart of Lisbon and in a setting unspoiled by development, Lisbon Sports Club is a rare find. Its short but difficult course has expanded since it opened in the 60s to encompass 18 holes – along with a meandering water ditch that irrigates and frustrates in equal measure, especially at the 18th hole.
If birdies are uncommon here, at least you’ll hear some chirping amid laburnums and eucalyptus trees in the nearby wood, Serra da Carregueirra. Fortunately, Lisbon Sports Club has its own tennis courts for when you’re ready to throw in the towel.
Oitavos Dunes
Oitavos Dunes indeed preserves a unique habitat of umbrella pines, sand dunes and coastal scrub, where the Portuguese coast meets the ocean.
There are no water features at Oitavos Dunes golf course precisely because it is set on a gently sloping plateau, high enough that every hole has a long view of the Atlantic and the Sintra Mountains to the north, but despite its charm and good looks, this is not a layout for the novice.
With an excellent mix of holes, one moment running through stands of Umbrella Pines, then around sand dunes to rugged outcroppings of rock, then dunes again. Apart from all the variety and changes, Oitavos Dunes has a design that flows and makes perfect sense.
Penha Longa Atlantic Championship & Atlantic North (former Monastery)
The Penha Longa Atlantic Course is a challenging championship golf course with breathtaking views over the ocean with Estoril and Cascais to the South and the Sintra hills to the North. The topographical layout of the 18 holes is over gently wooded hills which adds to its overall beauty. The course offers interesting water hazards, some elevated greens and added to this is the challenge of the strong winds that sometimes occur. Ranked in the top 30 Courses in Continental Europe, The Atlantic Course designed by the famed Robert Trent Jones Jr. is escapist golf at its best.
The Penha Longa Atlantic North (former Monastery Course) is a nine-hole golf course spreading around the historical heart of the resort and is the perfect complement to The Atlantic Course, is a perfect partner – equally pretty but a fraction less demanding. The main features are hole 4, near the Hotel and hole 9, with a magnificent view over the Penha Longa Palace, situated in an ancient monastery building.
It is a challenging course, high handicap players tend to feel more comfortable playing it, but it provides an enjoyable round for any player.
Praia del Rey
Certainly one of the most picturesque layouts in Europe, Praia del Rey is set in extensive grounds of pine forest and undulating dunes with spectacular views over the Atlantic. This challenging championship golf course provides a wonderful test, especially if you enjoy links golf.
Visually stunning and tremendously exciting to play due to the endless variations of the terrain you’ll never play it the same way twice. 60 minutes driving from the centre of Lisbon this layout is a must-play course on your Lisbon Golf tour.
Quinta da Beloura
Quinta da Beloura maybe not be one of the best or most challenging courses in the area, but it is a lot of fun to play. It is set in a huge circle around a housing estate and some industrial buildings.
Oaks, pines, palm trees, cedars and magnolias all create a beautiful green landscape and even if the setting is not eligible to win any prizes, the golf course itself is a charming doddle, with 6 man-made lakes and plenty of streams to negotiate.
Quinta da Marinha
Quinta da Marinha Golf Course is set in a private estate with a number of lakes and bunkers and wooded with pine trees, its mixture of woodland and links holes make it different from any other course in the area.
The fairways face inland with the beautiful outline of the Sintra mountain range forming their background. This challenging golf course is flat, easy to walk and enjoyable whatever your ability, a special mention to the 10th hole that has his green entirely surrounded by water.
Quinta Do Peru
If you’re seeking refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city, Quinta do Peru is your sanctuary. Set in acres of pine forest in the Azeitão region just south of Lisbon, there are few residences to obscure your view from the fairway onto the chalky Arrábida Mountains.
One of the most secluded courses in our golfer’s guide to Lisbon, you’ll be pleased to find there are few others around to appreciate these quick greens, frequent bunkers and testing doglegs. This course also boasts some superb practice facilities, including a driving range, two putting greens and a short game practice area.
Ribagolfe Lakes G. C. (Former 1) & Ribagolfe Oaks G.C. (Former 2)
Ribagolfe Lakes is a challenging championship golf course, while Ribagolfe II is a less demanding club design. Both have a distinct Valderrama feel and take full advantage of the gently undulating landscape and lovely natural surroundings. The courses stimulate all five senses, where the natural elements, as part of the game, provide new challenges for the more discerning golfer.
Ribagolfe Oaks Golf Course was designed to be used mainly by club players, less demanding than Ribagolfe Lakes, in terms of the length and wideness of the holes. Greens are quite large and moderately undulating. Water hazards come into play in holes 6 and 13, which adds freshness and comfort to a golfing journey between friends. Other obstacles are small valleys that threaten the tee-offs on the Par 3 holes.
Royal Obidos
Set in a beautiful location next to the ocean and surrounded by the green landscape of the Silver Coast, Royal Óbidos is a Championship course with long fairways and stunning seaside views making it not only a wonderful golf course to play but also will represent a true test of golf for players of all levels.
The first hole, a difficult right-handed dogleg, heads north, setting up a spectacular combination of holes overlooking the lagoon (Lagoa de Óbidos). The feature hole of the front nine is the 5th, an exciting 520m par 5, with a final approach into a large undulating green surrounded on three sides by water.
The second nine holes lie in the central and southern sections of the development. Six of the holes meander between an intricate ecosystem of lakes interconnected by cascading streams. The highlight of the back nine is the 12th, a 420m par 4, where the golfer has to negotiate both the drive and the second shot between and over two lakes and the curving stream.
Tróia Golf
On the manicured plains of a golf course, a player can sometimes seem peculiarly detached from nature. But a few holes at Tróia Golf will get you swiftly reacquainted. Located on a west coast peninsula, accessible only by ferry from the nearby city of Setúbal, this is a real links course, surrounded by sand, with bunkers close to the green and astounding views over the Atlantic.
This distracting spectacle could prove costly, particularly when you reach the par-5 18th hole – a tough dogleg guarded by bunkers on both sides.
West Cliffs Golf Links
West Cliffs Golf Links is the sister course of Praia D’El Rey, a short drive away and one of continental Europe’s leading layouts. The new golf course has been designed to perfectly fit into the natural environment and create one of the most wonderful golf experiences.
Nature is in abundance and from every hole, there is a stunning view over the Atlantic Ocean and Óbidos Lagoon. The existing terrain is natural rolling sand dunes and coastal vegetation interspersed with areas of pine groves overlooking the sea from a variety of elevations above the cliffs at the mouth of the Obidos Laguna.
The designer Cynthia Dye, the niece of legendary architect Pete Dye, said: “The terrain at West Cliffs is amazing. On the vast majority of the holes, it was only necessary to site the green complexes with a bit of shaping and then define the limits of grassing. For the most part, the course was already there waiting for us.”
The beauty and challenge of this rare oceanside links course grow with each passing hole and although thrilling and dramatic it is available to all levels of golfers.
