Golf in Portugal

[Mark_Rowlinson]

I have a concert in Lisbon in September.  I've never been to Portugal before.  As I have some spare time I fancy a look at a few golf courses -  not necessarily to play.  I find I can usually learn far more by not playing a course badly.  

What courses should I see?
Were I to try to see courses on the Algarve what is the drive like from Lisbon?
If I don't want to stay in a resort full of drunken tourists where should I stay?

Any advice from seasoned travellers would be most welcome.

[Mark Bourgeois]

Mark,

There was a thread a while back w pics of a great looking course built just outside (north?) of Lisbon.

The algarve is a short flight but probably a test to drive.

If you go, I recommend the dona filipa. Very low key, I liked it a lot! Part of Le meridien chain.

Maybe you could visit or play san lorenzo? It is in the world atlas of golf, after all. And it would be nice to have a detailed discussion on it!

Lastly, I have heard good things about a fishing village north of lisboa. Not sure about the golf, but an English friend swears by it, mainly because its not overrun with limeys and krauts, so the gouging is minimal, unlike the algarve.

Mark

[David Stamm]

Mark, I haven't been there myself, but there is a course that Henry Cotton designed there that I've heard people speak highly of, I believe it's Penina. Vilamoura is also a course I hear mentioned from time to time. It's featured in World Atlas of Golf. Golf do Estoril is a Mackenzie Ross in Lisbon and is a par 69 sub 6000 yd course that used to host the country's open championship. I hear that it's quite intersting despite the lack of length.

[Bill_McBride]

45 years ago ( ) I spent a week in Lisbon as a 20 year old and had the good fortune to be invited to play the Club de Golfe de Estoril (Estoril CC I guess).  It was a wild thing, with severe elevation changes, a 150' drop shot par 3, two driveable par 4s, one of which I drove to 3'  , and great caddies.

The Spanish pretender at the time, Juan Carlos, was in the foursome behind us.

I have no idea who designed this classic, probably Willie Park or somebody, but it was a lot of fun.   The clubhouse, as I recall, wasn't far from the magnificent casino at Estoril.

Maybe you can pull some strings and play there.  There are probably more modern tracks outside of town but I'll wager not many more fun.

You do get to sing in some interesting locales!

Regards,
Bill

[Mark Chaplin]

The Algarve is a 2 1/2 hour drive along a very good toll motorway from Lisbon, whilst the Algarve is nice it's possibly not worth the drive rather than staying in Lisbon or Estoril. Whilst I've not played there several friends speak highly of courses close to the capital especially Penha Longa and Praia D'el Rey

[Aidan Bradley]

Mark, my input is a little in the sparse side but growing every year. Just outside Lisbon (30 mins) is a wonderful little village called Cascais which is the home to Oitavos which just this year was host to the Portuguese Open (Arthur Hills Design).



From Lisbon to the Algarve is a very pleasant drive on a new tollway. Three to four hours depending on which part of the algarve you visit. Monte Rei is one of the most heavily promoted new course in Europe. It is a Jack Nicklaus design (the first of two) and officially opens in Sept.

[Mark Bourgeois]

No love for san lorenzo? Nobody seems to think much of it on here except for me.

[Padraig Dooley]

Mark

I've played two courses around Lisbon which have been mentioned here. Praia del Rey about 30-45 minutes to the north, it is well worth looking at.As well as Obidos, there is a lovely fishing village nearby called Peniche, full of nice fish resturants, should be no sign of any lager louts.Just outside Lisbon in Cascais is Quinta da Marinha- Oitavos, I really liked this one, also worth looking at.

There's probably more to see and do in Lisbon then the Algarve, as mentioned the drive is not difficult on the motorway and about 3 hours.

Worth looking at in the Algarve are San Lorenzo, Penina, Vila Sol, the Vilamoura courses, Quinta da Ria, Vale do Lobo. To avoid the masses, look for a pousada as Sean suggested and explore from there. There is one in Sao Bras de Alportel, centrally located but away from the resorts.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

I'll be honest, it is a slightly loaded question.  Of course I want to see some genuine and historic Portugal, but I have been sounded out about writing an article on a particular Algarve course and I don't particularly want to fly there - I flown far too much recently.  If it takes me a day to drive there, or go by train, at least I begin to get some feel for the change of landscape and the nature of the countryside.  The Google Earth picture of the Algarve is horrendous - what isn't golf course in concrete.  I'll certainly make sure I see some of the courses around Lisbon, and I've always wanted to play Estoril - I'm a fan of Mackenzie Ross: Turnberry, Southerness, Castletown.  

[Mark Bourgeois]

The Google Earth picture of the Algarve is horrendous - what isn't golf course in concrete.  

Yes! But have you read the entry in TWAOG on san lorenzo? Or don't you trust that book? Sorry, couldn't resist!

(there's housing, but there's also an estuary that's on a major bird migration route.)

[Bill_McBride]

I'll be honest, it is a slightly loaded question.  Of course I want to see some genuine and historic Portugal, but I have been sounded out about writing an article on a particular Algarve course and I don't particularly want to fly there - I flown far too much recently.  If it takes me a day to drive there, or go by train, at least I begin to get some feel for the change of landscape and the nature of the countryside.  The Google Earth picture of the Algarve is horrendous - what isn't golf course in concrete.  I'll certainly make sure I see some of the courses around Lisbon, and I've always wanted to play Estoril - I'm a fan of Mackenzie Ross: Turnberry, Southerness, Castletown.  

Ah, Mackenzie Ross!  When was Estoril built?  When I played it in 1962 it looked to have been there forever.

[David Stamm]

Bill, he did the course in 1938. There was an existing 9 and and he revised that and added 9 more. I don't remember the arch of the original 9.

[Tommy Williamsen]

No love for san lorenzo? Nobody seems to think much of it on here except for me.

I also like San Lorenzo.  If you stay at the Donna Felipe' hotel you get a great break.  There are two courses at the hotel as well.  I can't seem to come up with their names but one of them as that famous par three along the clay cliffs.  I thinkit is one of Henry Cotton's ubiquitous courses.  The Algarve is great.  I met a bunch of other Norwegians there.

[Lloyd_Cole]

Mark

Lisbon is not a great golfing town. But it's a great town! Bring walking shoes. I hope you're in an old venue, the one we played in 1990 was straight from Victor Hugo, almost frighteningly squalid, but great atmosphere. I think you'd enjoy a Fado house if a local can recommend a good one - most are tourist traps.

I enjoyed Penha Longa's Atlantic Course much more than I expected to.
It's RTJ Jnr. By Kyle Phillips. It's quite tight, hilly and fun. Probably not cheap, I was comped through work. It's maybe 45 minutes from town.
http://www.penhalonga.com/golf_e.html

[Philip Gawith]

Mark I think Oitavos is a fabulous golf course - first few holes have a bit of a Sunningdale feel, but elsewhere as Aidan's photo shows, the course has a links character. It has a very modern, original and pleasing clubhouse. I think it is the course I like most in Portugal.

I am also a fan of Praia del Rey which has a great setting. Similarly San Lorenzo - though as Sean points out, it is down in the Algarve so you are either going to the one destination or other.

[olivier]

Penha Longa is a decent track, but quite noisy when a race is on. To all accounts, try to get to Sintra, it is a most singular place.

[Andrew Mitchell]

No love for san lorenzo? Nobody seems to think much of it on here except for me.

I also like San Lorenzo.  If you stay at the Donna Felipe' hotel you get a great break.  There are two courses at the hotel as well.  I can't seem to come up with their names but one of them as that famous par three along the clay cliffs.  I thinkit is one of Henry Cotton's ubiquitous courses.  The Algarve is great.  I met a bunch of other Norwegians there.

I also enjoyed San Lorenzo. It was certainly in a different league to the two courses we played at Quinta do Lago on the same trip. At that time (2005) I thought you could only play San Lorenzo if you were either staying at the Donna Felipe or were introduced by a member.

[Rich Goodale]

Has anybody played Pine Cliffs?  We'll be staying at the Sheraton on the property next week and I wonder if it would be worth using up a few brownie points by avoiding beach duty and having a game.

[Mark Bourgeois]

Has anybody played Pine Cliffs?  We'll be staying at the Sheraton on the property next week and I wonder if it would be worth using up a few brownie points by avoiding beach duty and having a game.

You still have some despite dragging your family up to Dornoch?

[Tony_Muldoon]

Been trying the search engine but Portugal really isn't that well covered here.

From the 1th to 16th of next month is half term and I'm on holiday with the family, but if I behave for the next month, I might get a couple of mornings off.   We are staying in Villamoura and from GCA's backpages I gather the three best courses locally to be.

San Lorenzo
Villamoura Old
Quinto da Lago

So more information please. Which should I play if I only have 2 rounds?

Also are there any local 9 holers that I can try if a spur of the moment occasion arrises?

Not been in the region before so any comments welcome and I'd be more than happy to meet up with anyone else out there at the same time.

Thanks.

[Aidan Bradley]

Tony,

Forty five minutes from Villamoura, heading towards Spain is Monte Rei, the new Jack Nicklaus course. A lot of fun. Worth the trip IMHO.  Images of the course may be seen on my website.

Aidan.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Thanks Aidan, superb photos as usual
http://golfcoursephotography.com/courselist.asp

I’ll wait for more feedback, but it would certainly be a change of pace for me.  Its 3 years since I played a big modern course with water.  I think I might have recovered (I've been in therapy for this Aidan. )

Can anyone helpout, this reminds me of somewhere else, but where escpes my feeble memory?
  Monte Re 9th.

[R_Paulis]

I'll be honest, it is a slightly loaded question.  Of course I want to see some genuine and historic Portugal, but I have been sounded out about writing an article on a particular Algarve course and I don't particularly want to fly there - I flown far too much recently.  If it takes me a day to drive there, or go by train, at least I begin to get some feel for the change of landscape and the nature of the countryside.  The Google Earth picture of the Algarve is horrendous - what isn't golf course in concrete.  I'll certainly make sure I see some of the courses around Lisbon, and I've always wanted to play Estoril - I'm a fan of Mackenzie Ross: Turnberry, Southerness, Castletown.  

Your analysis is correct. Algarve was a let down after spending some time in Lisbon. At least it was 6 years ago. It may be insulting but Algarve was like Portugal's version of Orlando. Packed with condo's owned by tourists. At the time the drive was quite easy and the toll road/freeway basically empty. Played in both areas with courses North of Lisbon being most memorable.

Lisbon does have tourist traps a plenty. Cab drivers and the notorious restaurant row are best to be avoided. For me, the history and grittiness of Lisbon was a nice respite from some of the rather stuffy cities of Europe.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Mark, I have only played in the Algarve.  San Lorenzo is quite good and Val do lobo has one all world par three.  The Donna Fillipe is a grreat hotel and gets you on San Lorenzo at an inexpensive price.  It is nice to see some of Henry Cotton's work.  The Portuguese people are warm and friendly.  What surprised me was all the fellow Norwegians I met.  You can speak almost any European language and some one will answer.

[Padraig Dooley]

Tony

I'd consider Vila Sol as well, very close to Vilamoura.