Gradually, Portugal is entering its name on the international golf routes. Possessing some of the most splendid courses not only in Europe, but all over the world, it is still an unknown spot for many golfers, which only makes their discovery more enjoyable.

On this route, you can discover this secret world, taking the opportunity to discover the best that Portugal has to offer.

San Lorenzo Golf Club

 

Where else could we start this route? The Algarve, Portugals main tourist destination, is today much more than sun and beach, offering numerous luxury golf courses. 

Considered, in 2005, the best golf course in Portugal, and over the years one of the best in Europe, the San Lorenzo Golf Club is located a few kilometers from Faro airport, inserted in the Quinta do Lago complex.

• Opening: 1988
• Architect: Joseph Lee
• Number of Holes: 18
• Pair: 72
• Location: Almancil, Algarve

Oceanic Old Course Golf Club

 

One of the most recognized Algarve courses, the “Old Course”, located in Vilamoura, Algarves main tourist center, is a dream come true. Deeply refurbished and modernized in 1996, but retaining the original settings that celebrated it, it is now endowed with infrastructures that owe nothing to the best fields in the world.

• Opening: 1969
• Architect: Frank Pennink
• Number of Holes: 18
• Pair: 73
• Location: Vilamoura, Algarve

Troia Golf Club

 

Crossing the beautiful Alentejo - where you can and should make several stops to enjoy, for example, the formidable gastronomy - we reach the Troia peninsula, in the immediate vicinity of Setúbal. The location of the Tróia Golf Club is simply fabulous, right on the edge of the peninsula, with fantastic views of the Sado estuary, one of Portugals wildlife sanctuaries.

• Opening: 1980
• Architect: Robert Trent Jones
• Number of Holes: 18
• Pair: 72
• Location: Tróia, Setúbal

Eighth Dunes

 

Specifically designed to be one of the best courses in Europe, it can be said that the objective has been met. Besides the exceptional quality of the  green  and the infrastructures that complement the complex, it is the location that is one of its great assets. Near Cascais - the most luxurious area of the Lisbon metropolitan area - at Quinta da Marinha, it is situated at the far end of Europe, with an infinite view of the beautiful Atlantic. It is currently home to the Open of Portugal.

• Opening: 2001
• Architect: Arthur Hills
• Number of Holes: 18
• Pair: 71
• Location: Quinta da Marinha, Cascais

Estela Golf Club

 

Heading north of Portugal, near the  undefeated  city of Porto and the green Minho, we find a beautiful stronghold overlooking the sea. Estela Golf Club is a pleasant surprise, the best golf course north of the Tagus, which has hosted several international competitions.

• Opening: 1988
• Architect: Duarte Sotto-Mayor
• Number of Holes: 18
• Pair: 72
• Location: Estela, Póvoa de Varzim

Furnas Golf Course

 

Across the Atlantic, we head to the Azores Archipelago, a set of unparalleled beauty and stunning landscapes. Here we find the Furnas Golf Course, a Scottish-inspired course - or not the author of that nationality. Originally 9-hole, the extension was doubled in 1989, making it a modern and attractive destination for any sports enthusiast.

• Opening: 1939
• Architects: Mackenzie Ross and Cameron & Powell
• Number of Holes: 18
• Pair: 72
• Location: Furnas Lagoon, S. Miguel Island

Porto Santo Golf

 

From the Azores to Madeira we reach the island which is probably the main tourist destination in the eastern Atlantic. Famous for its casinos and 5-star hotels, Madeira also has golf courses at the level of the rest of the tourist offer. In this case, the still recent Porto Santo Golf is one of the most beautiful in the whole country, with landscapes that only this region can offer.

• Opening: 2004
• Architect: Severiano Ballesteros
• Number of Holes: 18
• Pair: 72
• Location: Porto Santo, Porto Santo Island

Oceanico Victoria Golf Course

 

Finally, we returned to the place where we started, the Algarve - or was it not the main golf center in Portugal. Very close to the aforementioned old course, Oceanico Victoria is also a must see. Although only opened in 2004, it is already considered one of the best courses in the country, hosting several internationally renowned tournaments.

• Opening: 2004
• Architect: Arnold Palmer
• Number of Holes: 18
• Pair: 72
• Location: Vilamoura, Algarve

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