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golf courses, golf resorts and golf holidays

Oeiras introduces Portugal’s first municipal golf course in the Cabanas Golf area, just 20 km from Lisbon. Approved by the city council this month, the project reactivates the previously closed course on two newly acquired lots, spanning 43 hectares. The objective is not just to reopen but to transform it into a public facility supporting community golfing, education, and recreation.

Until now, Portugal’s golf landscape has been dominated by private resorts and exclusive member clubs, especially across the Algarve and Lisbon regions. With this project, Oeiras breaks new ground by offering a municipal option designed to promote accessibility without compromising on course quality. For travelling golfers, this opens the door to a more affordable and relaxed golfing experience near the capital, ideal for those who want to mix urban exploration with a few rounds on the green. The new facility is expected to attract not only local players and students but also international visitors looking for something beyond the typical resort circuit.

Construction is expected to be completed by late August 2025, with the facility branded the Municipal Golf Academy in Barcarena. It will serve schools, universities, local clubs, and the wider community. This marks a significant shift for golf travellers seeking holiday options, offering easily accessible, public-course play just a short drive from Lisbon.

A Boost for Accessible Golf Holidays

This new municipal setup brings true convenience for golf travellers:

Close to Lisbon but outside crowded resort zones, it’s perfect for holidaymakers wanting easy access, yet a quieter experience. Golfers can pair a few rounds at Cabanas with stays in Lisbon or nearby coastal resorts for a balanced mix of city and leisure. The public nature of the course promises affordable green fees, a welcome change from private resort costs.

Community and Sustainable Focus

The agreement calls for the land to remain municipally owned, though managed by a dedicated operator. This hybrid model ensures robust investment, professional oversight, and accountability. The facility is also set to include green spaces and leisure areas accessible to everyone, not just golfers.

By embedding the course in local programming, schools, university partnerships, club use, Oeiras is positioning golf as a communal sport, not a luxury activity.

What This Means for Portugal Golf Holidays

For travellers based in Lisbon or those planning coastal escapes, this addition raises the bar for holiday planning:

Stay in a Lisbon villa, play a municipal course nearby, then head south to the Algarve for a full holiday experience. The course’s reopening in August coincides with late-summer travel, offering a fresh attraction for travellers seeking variety. Combining public-course rounds with nearby resort stays offers a layered experience without the usual peak-season pricing.

Tucked into the sun-soaked coastline just south of Comporta, CostaTerra Golf Portugal is quietly redefining what a luxury golf escape can look like. It’s the first European venture from Discovery Land Company, the ultra-exclusive club developer behind elite enclaves from the Bahamas to Big Sky, and it’s planted firmly on a stretch of Portuguese coast that’s as untouched as it is unforgettable. Here, sculpted fairways weave through rolling dunes and umbrella pines, while Atlantic vistas stretch uninterrupted toward the horizon. It’s Portugal, but not as you’ve ever played it.

For those who’ve sampled the Algarve’s finest and are seeking something rarer, CostaTerra offers a glimpse into golf’s next frontier. Equal parts sanctuary and statement, the club caters to a clientele accustomed to Gulfstreams, not green fees. And while tee times remain invitation-only for now, its influence is already rippling across the region. Developers are taking notice. So are discerning travellers. It’s already nudging the bar upward for premium golf experiences in Portugal.

A Tom Fazio First in Europe — and a Statement Piece

Course architecture buffs will know the name: Tom Fazio. Renowned for Augusta-like sculpting and subtle challenge, Fazio’s work rarely leaves the US, which makes CostaTerra’s course something of a collector’s item.

The routing winds through low-slung coastal woodland, with elevated greens, wide fairways, and panoramic sea views. It’s designed for walking, privacy, and pace, a welcome change from the busier Algarve layouts. While the course itself is members-only, it’s helping raise the bar for nearby public-access golf, too.

If you’re staying anywhere near the Setúbal or Alentejo coasts, you’re already within striking distance of Portugal’s most talked-about new fairways.

Not Just a Golf Course — A Luxury Coastal Enclave

CostaTerra isn’t merely a golf club; it’s a gated community tailored for ultra-high-net-worth families. Think: organic vineyards, equestrian trails, private beach access, and even an on-site exploration camp for kids. This is Discovery Land’s formula, lifestyle first, golf as the centrepiece, and it’s now officially on Portuguese soil.

The project is also a quiet win for sustainable luxury. Built with minimal disruption to the natural terrain, CostaTerra uses local materials, solar integration, and native flora to blend into its coastal surroundings. It’s part golf course, part rewilding effort.

The Surrounding Region: Raw, Relaxed, and Rising

Comporta and Melides, once sleepy coastal villages, are now the preferred hideaway for Lisbon’s creatives, international architects, and the occasional celebrity seeking respite from overbuilt destinations. The vibe is more barefoot-chic than blingy. Think sand-dusted roads, unpretentious beach shacks serving five-star food, and boutique hotels that look plucked from a Scandinavian design magazine.

For golfers, the area holds quiet promise. While CostaTerra remains exclusive, other nearby courses are starting to gain traction, and the infrastructure is improving. Good accommodation, car hire, and high-end dining are now all within reach, with just a short transfer from Lisbon airport.