Best golf courses in Lisbon
Three-time winner of 'Golf Destination of the Year (Europe)', Lisbon is a golfing hotbed. See below our selection of best golf courses we think you should play on your next break.
Three-time winner of 'Golf Destination of the Year (Europe)', Lisbon is a golfing hotbed. See below our selection of best golf courses we think you should play on your next break.
Lisbon is one of Europe’s oldest cities, boasting traditional cuisine and well-established resorts with years of experience and the best hospitality. This Portugal region (including up to Coimbra and down to the Alentejo) is a golf tour paradise with over twenty five golfing facilities and thirty courses.
It’s no surprise that golfing greats like Arnold Palmer, Seve Ballesteros and Robert Trent Jones are amongst the architects who designed some of the best golf courses in Lisbon. The city is now the three-time winner of the ‘Golf Destination of the Year (Europe)’ award, having last won the award in 2018, which speaks volumes about the courses in the area.
Golf World Magazine voted Praia D’El Rey as the third best course in all of Portugal. Large daunting bunkers strategically guard the perfectly manicured greens that come in all shapes and sizes. The stretch from 12 – 15 deserves a special accolade; these holes run right alongside the seafront and provide some stunning coastal views. In fact, the back 9 just gets better and better. The 17th is a monstrous uphill par 5, measuring at over 620 yards. Pinpoint accuracy is required throughout this course, especially when the Atlantic breeze picks up.
Praia D'El Rey Golf Course Facts
The well-crafted Oitavos Dunes Golf Course fits in perfectly with the picturesque surroundings of the Sintra-Cascais National Park. The treelines and hidden greens make the front nine feel like a parkland course. This completely changes, however, when you reach the back nine, when suddenly presented with the vast Atlantic Ocean. The blustery breeze and course design at this stage will pleasantly remind you of links golf; simply a stunning place to place to play with the best variety of holes.
Oitavos Dunes Golf Club Facts
Oitavos Dunes Golf Club
On the Peninsula of Troia sits our third pick, in a truly magical setting. This incredible course boasts a magnificent par four 3rd, one of our favourite sea holes in Portugal, that was selected by Trent Jones himself as one of the best holes he has ever designed. Ranked 4th in the whole of Portugal, Troia is known for its intricate design with elevated tees and sloping greens, making it a must-play when on your Lisbon golf tour.
Troia Golf Course Facts
Troia Golf Course
Another Robert Trent Jones masterpiece, the Atlantic Championship Course at Penha Longa is a beautiful equatorial landscape that famously hosted the ‘94 Portuguese Open. When the wind blows across the mountains this course is a challenge for even the most skilled golfer. If you want to play somewhere that will test every single part of your game, this is the one.
Atlantic Championship Course Facts
Penha Longa Atlantic Championship
Royal Obidos is one of the newer courses in the area, designed by the legendary Seve Ballesteros, who sadly passed away before he saw this beautiful layout come to fruition. The course features lagoons on the vast majority of holes that are tricky to navigate, making this a true risk/reward course that is sure to add drama to your tour. Make sure to pack plenty of balls!
Royal Obidos Golf Facts
A golf club with two absolutely pristine courses where again water hazards are integral to the layouts. Englishman Frank Pennink is the genius behind this one, who would be proud of how the dense pine forests have flourished, lining the lush Bermuda fairways. Every single hole on both the Aroeira Pines Classic and Aroeira Challenge courses is memorable; despite not being the most challenging in the area, they still provide a hugely entertaining round.
Aroeira Golf Club Facts
Aroeira Golf Course
Located on the south side of the Rio Tajo in Portugal’s olive growing landscape sits the Quinta do Peru resort. An exclusive course, so booking well in advance is advised. Designed by American Rocky Roquemore, Quinta do Peru has obvious references to US-style courses with large bunkers and show off water hazards that make this a thrill to play.
Quinta do Peru Golf Course Facts
Quinta do Peru Golf 14th green
Another Rocky Roquemore design, Belas Clube has been carved through valleys and through the rolling hills of Carregueira. These lush green fairways stand boldly against the brown desert backdrop. Worth playing a couple of times as the severely sloping greens will most likely catch you off guard on your first round.
Belas Clube Campo Course Facts
Belas Clube de Campo Golf
Robert Trent Jones designed this beautiful course in Cascais. The Quinta da Marinha course is famous for its 6 stunning par 3’s over water, with greens surrounded by sand traps. A number of professional competitions have taken place here and it’s used commonly on the Ladies European Tour. An immaculate tour standard course that’s open to the public, all the golfers we send here have fallen in love.
Quinta da Marinha Golf Course Facts
Quinta da Marinha Golf Course
The Dunas Golf Course is a sandy terrain, true links layout designed by David McLay-Kidd. Dunas requires golfers to implement high levels of concentration and accuracy. Fairways are cut from 84 hectares of Festuca grass-land and measure out at 6,646 meters in length. Each hole is equipped with six tees creating the perfect golf venue for golfers of all abilities. The course is located an hours drive from Lisbon airport and is one of two new 18-hole championship courses being created at Terras da Comporta.
Dunas Golf Club Facts
The West Cliffs Golf Course is a stunning track at one of the best golf resorts in Lisbon and is situated on Lisbon's silver coast, with views over the Berlengas and Obidos Islands. This pure links layout was designed by Cynthia Dye (daughter of Roy Anderson Dye) who's construction team focused on creating a course that sits perfectly in the natural landscape. The course measures out at 6,382 metres and plays a par 72.
West Cliffs Golf Links Facts
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Senior European Travel Consultant
As the Official Golf Tourism Operator of the PGA TOUR and with over 25 years’ experience, Golfbreaks is one of the world’s longest established and most trusted golf travel companies. We organise golf breaks, holidays and tournament experiences for more than 200,000 golfers annually at over 2,000 resorts and golf courses in the UK, Europe, and further afield.