GOLF ESCAPES

WHAT TO
EXPECT FROM
THE CLIMATE
You can play in the Algarve all year
round – the temperature never strays
below 10C. You will get rain October to
February inclusive but a whole week
won’t be ruined. Lisbon is much
the same, although is one or
two degrees ‘colder’.
The Canaries
20 treatment rooms, and the 18-hole golf
course to the six restaurants and bars.
Vidago Palace – located about one hour
from Oporto and 15 minutes from Chaves
– has been classified as one of the Leading
Hotels of The World. Its original nine-hole
course by Mackenzie Ross has been
extended sympathetically. If you visit Porto,
also make sure you play Estella, a proper
links with outstanding Atlantic views.
Lisbon
Starting in the Obidos region, the beautiful
Silver Coast, this has become a strong
candidate with the opening of Royal
Obidos, adding a Top 100-quality
championship course to Praia d’El Rey as
well as Bom Successo. Royal Óbidos Spa &
Golf Resort, which opened in 2012, was
designed by the late Seve Ballesteros and
exudes class. Already a Top 100 course, it
sits on rolling terrain and mixes cute short
par 4s with stellar, exacting 5s.
Praia d’El Rey, a genuine links and a
fixture in all European top 100s, has its
best holes along the Atlantic, before which
it wanders inland among pine trees.
Bom Successo is a Donald Steel design
with a solid back nine in particular.
In the area around Cascais to the west of
Lisbon, Oitavos Dunes is the star, often
rated as the highest-ranked Portuguese
course and a genuine links experience. It
has a chic hotel too.
Vidago Palace.
Royal Obidos.
Next door is Quinta da Marinha, one of
the best spots in Europe for a play-and-stay
break. The short, par-4 13th which plays
down towards the sea is amazing. The
Estoril club is one of the most famous
names in Portuguese golf while Penha
Longa is spectacular and tough.
To the south, the Orizonte group own
several courses and categorically offer the
best pound for pound golf break in Europe.
Quinta do Peru, two 18-hole courses at
Ribagolfe, Santo Estevao and Aroeira are
top class but at bargain prices. Troia, a RTJ
track, is however the highlight of this area.
The Algarve
Europe’s most famous area spans the width
of Portugal’s south coast and begins in the
east with Monte Rei, one of Portugal’s
finest, along with lesser-known ‘gems’.
In central Algarve San Lorenzo is the star
attraction, a long-time fixture in the top 20
of the Top 100. Stay next door at Dona
Filipa for a low-hassle, high quality break.
Quinta do Lago now boasts a beautifully
revamped North Course to go with the
South and Laranjal while nearby Vale do
Lobo have the spectacular Ocean and
Royal. Penina is where it all began and a
super resort. In the west, Palmares is now
three expertly redesigned loops of three.
QUICK GUIDE
THE CLIMATE: See previous page, but in
short – exceptionally good.
GETTING THERE: You can fly to Faro or
Lisbon with all the budget airlines from
myriad airports in the British Isles. This is
a huge advantage to Portuguese golf
breaks – getting there is just so easy
and inexpensive.
TIME DIFFERENCE: GMT
MORE INFORMATION:
www. visitportugal.com
56 GOLF ESCAPES 2015