Secluded rocky bays and miles of fine sandy dune beaches, quaint sleepy fishing villages and charming seaside resorts, proud knight’s castles and imposing monastery complexes, idyllic nature parks and, last but not least, first-class golf courses: All of this can be found on Lisbon’s doorstep, on the Costa de Lisboa within a maximum radius of one hour’s drive.
For golfers who like to tee off the beaten tourist track, there are three options just outside Lisbon. First: The Costa Azul, located south of Lisbon, offers a variety of top courses, including the Troía Course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. on the peninsula of the same name. Although some of the courses are private clubs, guests are very welcome, which is also reflected in the fair green fee prices. Relatively new is the “Golf Pass Costa Azul” – three or five green fees on the eight courses in the region are already available for 125 and 210 euros per person. Secondly: Between Lisbon and the traditional seaside resorts of Estoril and Cascais there are also eight top courses that will make the golfer’s heart beat faster. This is where the “Estoril Golfweek” is held every year at the end of October/beginning of November, an international amateur tournament week on five different courses. And thirdly, about an hour’s drive north of the capital, there are four other golf courses, including the “Royal Óbidos”, opened three years ago, the last masterpiece from the pen of Severiano Ballesteros.
For every taste
But also in terms of hotels, Lisbon’s coasts offer something for every taste and budget. For example, the Praia d’el Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort near Òbidos, a holiday oasis for the most discerning guests right on the Atlantic Ocean. The exclusive hotel is part of the 200-hectare Praia d’el Rey Golf & Country Club, whose 18-hole course was recently voted one of the 100 best courses in the world. The links course is mostly located directly on the Atlantic coast and offers fantastic views of the sea, dunes, lakes and the typical pine groves. From some of the holes there is an unobstructed view of the Berlenga Islands, which are a protected area off the coast. Not only the championship course, but also the hotel itself has won several awards – for first-class living comfort, excellent gastronomy and exceptionally good service. Would you like another highlight of the Portuguese golf world? The Penha Longa Hotel Spa & Golf, a top resort of the Ritz Carlton Group, extends at the foot of the Sintra Mountains. The castle-like domicile is located on 220 hectares of land between forests, lakes and hills on the grounds of a monastery built in 1335 and offers a unique combination of sport, nature and culture in an exquisite ambience. The new spa area is just as first-class as the hotel’s two 18- and 9-hole golf courses – the championship course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. is undoubtedly one of the best courses in all of Portugal.
