Portugal Golf Holidays News

Golf South of the Tagus: The Lisbon Region’s Most Underrated Course Cluster

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Dunas, Torre, Montado, Aroeira, Quinta do Peru, Troia — six reasons to cross the river.

Most golfers heading to Lisbon look west towards Cascais and Sintra, or north towards the Silver Coast. The courses south of the Tagus rarely make the shortlist. That is a mistake worth correcting.

Dunas da Comporta: The Best Golf Course in the World

An hour south of Lisbon, on the edge of the Sado Estuary, Dunas Golf Course at Terras da Comporta has done something no Portuguese course has done before. Designed by David McLay-Kidd — the Scottish architect behind Bandon Dunes — and opened in October 2023, the par-71 layout across 84 hectares of natural sandy terrain is the closest thing to a links course in Portugal.
South Lisbon Comporta Golf CourseThe awards came quickly and have not stopped. Dunas was named World’s Best New Golf Course and Europe’s Best New Golf Course at the 2023 World Golf Awards. In 2024, it collected three more — World’s Best Golf Course, Europe’s Best Golf Course, and Europe’s Best Eco-Friendly Golf Facility. It retained the Europe’s Best Golf Course title in 2025. It holds the number one ranking in Portugal on Top100GolfCourses.com and sits at number six in Continental Europe on the same list.

All of this within two years of opening. No course in Europe has made an entrance like it.

Torre: Sergio Garcia’s First Signature Course

Five minutes from Dunas, the Torre Golf Course opened in 2025 — the first complete design by 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia. The par-72 layout stretches to 6,575 metres from the back tees and draws heavily on Garcia’s favourite course, Valderrama. Small greens, tight fairways, risk-and-reward holes and short par-threes with real character.
South Lisbon Torre Golf CourseTogether, Dunas and Torre make Terras da Comporta a genuine 36-hole destination — two courses of Continental European Top 100 calibre, side by side, an hour from Lisbon. That combination did not exist two years ago.

Montado: Cork Oaks, Muscatel Vines, and an Island Green

Montado Golf Course lies on Portugal’s Blue Coast, around an hour south of Lisbon, close to the coastal town of Setúbal and the historic village of Palmela. The course unfolds beneath oak, olive, chestnut and pine trees, with creeks, natural lakes and muscatel vineyards winding around the layout — a setting that feels genuinely apart from the city, despite the short drive.
South Lisbon Montado Golf CourseThe signature hole is the 18th, where the green sits on an island and the round ends exactly as it should: with something at stake.

The course is in excellent condition and golfers are well looked after. For accommodation, the Crowne Plaza Caparica Lisbon — a DHM property on the Costa de Caparica — provides an excellent base, with attractive rates available for golf guests.

Aroeira: Two Courses, One Forest, One Very Good Reason to Stay Longer

Tucked in a pine forest adjacent to the coastal town of Caparica and just 15 miles from Lisbon, Aroeira features two golf courses. Frank Pennink’s Aroeira Pines Classic, which opened in 1973, was dubbed the “Wentworth of Lisbon” by the British press.
South Lisbon Aroeiras Golf CourseThe second course, designed by Donald Steel, occupies more uneven terrain with more water in play and is generally the tougher of the two. Aroeira is now part of the PGA portfolio — under new ownership that has invested considerably in both course conditions and service standards. Between them, the two courses offer enough variety to fill several days without moving your bags — and they are in better shape than ever.

Quinta do Peru: Quietly Exceptional

Set against the Arrábida Hills, Quinta do Peru was considered one of the top 10 golf courses in Europe by European Golf magazine and has hosted rounds of the European Challenge Tour. It sits between Sesimbra and Setúbal, routed across a high undulating plateau through more than 300 acres of pine forest, with views across the treetops and the Arrábida mountains as a backdrop.
South Lisbon Quinta do Peru Golf CourseIt earns its reputation quietly. The golfers who have played it tend to take care of the rest.

Troia: The One That Requires a Ferry and Rewards the Effort

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Senior and opened in 1980, Troia sits on a peninsula reached by a short ferry crossing from Setúbal, wedged between the Atlantic Ocean, the Sado Estuary and the Serra da Arrábida. When the Portuguese Open came to Troia in 1983, Sam Torrance was the only player to beat par for the championship.
South Lisbon Troia Golf CourseLike Aroeira, the course has since come under the PGA umbrella, with new ownership investing significantly in playing conditions and the wider visitor experience. The ferry crossing adds ten minutes and a considerable amount of anticipation.

From an award-winning course ranked the best in the world to a clifftop plateau with views across the Arrábida, the south of the Tagus offers some of the finest and most varied golf in Portugal.

Tee Times covers the full range of Lisbon golf holidays — courses, hotels, and tee times across all of the above.

Castro Marim Golf and the Quiet Side of the Algarve

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In the eastern Algarve, far from dense resort developments, Castro Marim Golf & Country Club unfolds across open hills shaped more by wind and sun than by construction. This is Algarve golf in a quieter register, where the landscape sets the tone and the built environment steps back.

The course stretches over 27 holes, divided into the Grouse, Guadiana and Atlântico loops. Fairways are framed by native vegetation that acts as a natural corridor for wildlife. Partridges move in small groups along the rough. Rabbits and hares appear at first light. A wide range of birdlife circles above the greens and settles near the lakes. Regular players often recognise specific families of partridges that return to the same feeding areas morning and late afternoon.

One recent visitor stood out. A young Iberian lynx spent time within the perimeter of the course, briefly disappearing before returning accompanied by a female. Its presence, calmly observed and documented, underscored the ecological continuity of this part of the Sotavento.

Winter mornings bring frost across the fairways, and the first tee shots share space with wildlife searching for food. Around the water hazards, ducks and moorhens gather, adding movement to the still air. Wild boar occasionally pass through at night, an unwelcome but infrequent reminder that this is still shared terrain.

Castro Marim Golf also remains active on the competitive calendar, hosting events such as the Southern Circuit tournament of the National Senior Golf Association of Portugal. Yet even during competition, the defining feature is the setting itself. In this corner of the Algarve, golf and landscape coexist with minimal interruption.

With contributions of Valdemar Afonso

Relax and Play: Hilton Vilamoura As Cascatas Golf Resort & Spa

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The Hilton Vilamoura As Cascatas Golf Resort & Spa offers the perfect escape from daily routines, combining luxury, wellness, and golf holidays in the Algarve. Recently celebrating its 18th anniversary, the hotel underwent a complete renovation, bringing a fresh and modern look while maintaining a connection to Portuguese culture through the design of Nini Andrade Silva.

In the rooms, Portuguese tiles are also highlighted on the headboards and bathroom walls. “It’s a way to integrate local culture into an international hotel brand,” said João Rosado, Director of Sales and Marketing, during a guided visit of Presstour. These artistic touches make the stay feel authentic and uniquely Portuguese.

All 176 rooms and 40 apartments now feature balconies, many with views over the hotel’s central gardens and six sparkling pools. Guests can enjoy breakfast in the garden, exquisite dinners at the Cilantro restaurant, and moments of relaxation that truly rejuvenate the body and mind. The resort’s culinary offerings include dishes such as seared scallops with cauliflower and guanciale, and a Provençal rack of lamb with seasonal vegetables.

Wellness is at the heart of the Hilton Vilamoura experience. The 7 Seven Spa, one of the largest in mainland Portugal, features four thermal pools, saunas, Turkish baths, ice buckets, and specialized treatment rooms for massages and holistic therapies. Guests can also enjoy outdoor yoga areas, fitness machines, mini-golf, padel courts, and more, making it an ideal destination for both adults and children.

For golf enthusiasts, the resort is close to some of the Algarve’s top courses, including the Old Course Vilamoura, The Els Club Vilamoura, Pinhal Golf Course, Laguna Golf Course, and Millennium Golf Course. This proximity makes it a perfect choice for golf holidays in Portugal, whether for beginners or seasoned players.

With versatile meeting rooms, advanced event technology, and spaces for socializing or family fun, the Hilton Vilamoura offers experiences for all types of guests. From romantic getaways and family vacations to business retreats and golf holidays, the resort ensures every stay leaves guests feeling refreshed, inspired, and connected to the beauty and culture of the Algarve.