Where to play golf on Portugal’s Costa Azul | Activity Vacation
But no matter how average your game, there’s always a promise of sun on your face, springy fairways under your feet and ‘an imperial’ in your hand after the round. Now that we’re all perfect for the return of the golfing vacation, maybe it’s time to explore some more too. While the Algarve is rightfully a mecca for golfers, there is another part of Portugal with beckoning fairways that is a little quieter and in many ways more interesting.
The scene around Lisbon can be a little more spread out, but the courses are certainly worth a visit.
For a smooth start to your tour, Aroeira Pines Classic, about 24 km south of the capital, is a perfect opening. He has hosted the Portuguese Open twice in the past, but he wasn’t intimidated by it. The front nine is generous and generous to get you back into the swing, while staying behind the back nine will start off more tricky.
Traditionally, golfers who investigate the Costa Azul are now splendidly based on the coastal coast of Sesimbra, Aroeira’s new city complex is the swish, between the two of the Lisbon Hotel resort.
It has comfortable beds, elegant bathrooms, a bar, a restaurant that makes a good cataplana and a tired pool – everything the tired golfer needs. Some very affordable stay and leisure packages are available with buggy rentals and range balls included, even with a free drinks option.
The hotel is also handy for the huge and beautiful Fonte de Telha beach, with its miles of sand and great bars like Praia da Aroeira. The sea will be cold, but a little perfect is for your bubbles.
Aroeira’s sister course, Challenge, is exactly that. Tighter in some ways tougher than the elegant Pines, it’s a tough but fair test of a variety of villas along the fairway. Make no mistake, football players live here.
For a complete contrast to the bustling and urbanized Challenge, head to the isolated forests about 30 minutes from Lisbon. Here you will find fields located in hectares of cork oaks without human habitation systems. Another sign of life that the blue god noticed was a small single praising-it wandering over the third green.
Hazards, bushes and include lakes, bushes and include here, who like to have fun 2 are almost certain on the fairways, although I’m pretty sure that would count an animal (Rule 5-1 for R&E defenders).
We played Ribagolfe Lagos, formerly Ribagolfe I, or the blue field. It pays to be precise here as Rough is very prickly and might have a grumpy pig in it. It’s walkable, although it’s not summer I go by buggy because without the benefit of the sea breeze you get in the Algarve it’s very warm.
The Oaks course will be a serious test of your game, with Ribagolfe Lakes being a European Tour Q pro aspiring to life primarily on the circuit.
And as we are in the fantastic area of Lisbon, take the opportunity to get to know this fantastic city. Sitting beside the Tagus River it has a wealth of history. In addition to the riverfront, the most interesting area is the old Bairro Alto, a labyrinth of cobbled streets full of nightlife.
We stayed at the chic Lumiares Hotel right in the heart of the region, with a fabulous rooftop bar and restaurant overlooking the city and the Sanctuary of Cristo Rei, a large statue across the river. The hotel faces Rua do Diário de Notícias, the street where Portugal’s first popular newspaper began.
There’s no newsroom there, just a series of bars, now pretty much the same.
I’m a big fan of Portuguese food and wine, so a good place to go is ByTheWine, a busy, busy bar/rest a short walk from the hotel, ideal for a big Periquita rose, but there’s almost a bar round each corner, even an ‘English’ pub.
But with golf/normality returning, be a little more adventurous and try a new destination for your golfing holiday. Challenging, but fair and with beautiful surroundings, Lisbon’s Costa Azul sounds good to me.
“Radical TV enthusiast. Remorseless food aficionado. Typical beer specialist. Friendly internet expert.”