Rolex Joins The Dunas Course at Comporta

Rolex Backs Comporta’s Dunas Course

The Dunas Course at Terras da Comporta, now partnered with Rolex, is already one of Portugal’s most talked-about new golf developments. In March 2025, the course officially announced a partnership with Rolex, joining a select group of golf destinations around the world associated with the iconic Swiss watchmaker.

Set along Portugal’s unspoiled west coast, the Dunas Course has quietly built a reputation for its natural design and strategic character. But this new partnership signals something more: a shift from under-the-radar favourite to international flagship.

Rolex doesn’t attach its name lightly. The brand is known for backing venues with history, ambition, and staying power. So when it aligns with a relatively new course like Dunas, it raises a clear question: is Comporta on the verge of becoming Portugal’s next great golfing destination?

For Portuguese golf, this isn’t just a name-drop, it’s a statement of intent. Comporta is no longer up-and-coming. It has arrived.

rolex watch at dunas da comporta golf course

What Sets the Dunas Course Apart

Designed by David McLay Kidd, the Dunas Course has made waves for its minimalist approach, routing through natural dunes just south of Lisbon. Unlike many modern layouts, it resists over-shaping or over-polishing. This is a course built for the purist: firm, fast, and visually striking without being flashy.

Its character has already earned comparisons to top-tier links destinations. Now, with Rolex backing, that reputation is likely to expand even further.

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A New Era for Comporta

While the Algarve and Lisbon Coast have long dominated Portugal’s golf tourism, Comporta’s quieter, more refined appeal is carving out a niche of its own. The region has drawn attention from travellers looking for privacy, luxury, and understated beauty. With Rolex now part of the picture, the Dunas Course may well become a flagship for this new model of Portuguese golf travel.

This isn’t just a boost for a single property, it could shift perception of the entire west coast as a high-end golf destination.

Tradition Meets Innovation

The Dunas–Rolex partnership also speaks to a deeper alignment in values. Rolex is synonymous with tradition, precision, and longevity. The Dunas Course, though new, was built with those same principles in mind: a focus on timeless design, strategic play, and long-term environmental harmony.

It’s a pairing that feels less like marketing, and more like philosophy.

Raising the Bar for National Golf Identity

Portugal has long been viewed as a great place to play golf, but this partnership suggests it’s also becoming a great place to shape golf. Courses like Dunas, with international appeal and world-class design, help raise the country’s profile beyond just sunshine and affordability.

It’s about time Portugal was seen not only as a host, but as a benchmark.

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Source: https://golfbusinessnews.com/

Federation President Sets a Bold Direction

Pedro Nunes Pedro — A New Era for Portuguese Golf

When Pedro Nunes Pedro was elected president of the Portuguese Golf Federation (FPG) in November 2024, the announcement came with a clear message: Portuguese golf would grow not just from the top, but from the grassroots up. Now, just a few months into his tenure, that philosophy is already taking shape.

Nunes Pedro inherits a sport with growing momentum. Portuguese players are appearing more frequently in international leaderboards. Interest in Portugal’s golf travel scene continues to surge. But behind the scenes, there’s still work to be done to expand access, improve training infrastructure, and engage the next generation of players, not only in the Algarve or Lisbon, but nationwide.

As of March 2025, his administration is moving ahead with a programme that balances practical investment with long-term development. It’s not a flash-and-fanfare approach. It’s foundational, and that might be exactly what Portuguese golf needs.

What’s on the Agenda

Shortly after taking office, Portuguese Golf Federation president Pedro Nunes Pedro outlined several immediate goals for the 2024–2028 term. These include:

  • Finalising the 2025 operating budget to align with national development priorities

  • Expanding training programmes for golf coaches to ensure consistent, high-quality instruction

  • Investing in new public golf infrastructure, including pitch & putt areas, 9-hole courses, and driving ranges

  • Strengthening school sports programmes to introduce golf to younger audiences

The emphasis? Scale. Not in headline-grabbing events, but in the number of people, especially youth, who touch a golf club for the first time.

Vision for Portuguese Golf

While Portugal is best known abroad for its golf resorts and championship-level experiences, Nunes Pedro’s vision is focused inward. His strategy centres on growing participation, creating access in underserved regions, and supporting players throughout their development, not just the elite few.

It’s a bet on sustainability: the idea that building a deeper national talent pool, supported by better coaching and community-level facilities, will lead to broader success over time.

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Competitive Ambitions Still in Focus

Despite the grassroots-first approach, Nunes Pedro hasn’t lost sight of elite competition. Among his stated goals:

  • Continuing to host the Portuguese Open at Royal Óbidos in 2025, with ambitions to eventually restore its place on the DP World Tour

  • Introducing a Ladies Access Series event in Portugal, expected in spring 2025, to strengthen opportunities for female players and build visibility in the women’s game

These aren’t distractions from development, they’re part of a broader strategy to elevate Portuguese golf across all levels.

A President with a Development Mandate

Pedro Nunes Pedro’s presidency may be in its early stages, but the direction is clear. If successful, his legacy won’t just be in tournaments or titles, but in the number of children introduced to golf, the number of coaches empowered to teach, and the number of regions with new facilities.

His term is a chance to turn momentum into infrastructure, and enthusiasm into access. And for Portuguese golf, that might prove more transformative than any single trophy.

Source: This article includes information originally reported by The Portugal News.

Pedro Figueiredo Delhi Challenge

Pedro Figueiredo Strong Finish at the Delhi Challenge

Pedro Figueiredo has kicked off the 2025 season with a strong statement. Competing in the Delhi Challenge, part of the European Challenge Tour, the Portuguese professional secured an impressive 6th-place finish, his best result on international soil in nearly two years.

Played in India, the event brought together a highly competitive field and a course that demands not just power, but discipline and smart decision-making. Figueiredo kept his composure across all four rounds, stringing together consistent scoring while avoiding the mistakes that derailed others. It was a performance marked by maturity, both in strategy and temperament.

This finish isn’t just a solid result, it’s a signal that Figueiredo is ready to compete again on a broader stage. His game appears sharp, his confidence restored, and his name, once a quiet presence on the leaderboard, is now climbing once more. For Portugal, it’s another reminder that its golfing ambitions don’t stop at tourism; they extend onto the global professional circuit.

A Result That Resets the Season

Pedro Figueiredo isn’t new to professional golf. With multiple national titles and prior European Tour experience, he’s long been considered one of Portugal’s top contenders. But after a quiet stretch of form, this finish in Delhi feels like more than just another result.

It shows that Figueiredo remains a force on the Challenge Tour, a player capable of going deep in international fields and representing Portuguese golf at a high level. For young golfers watching back home, it’s a reminder that reaching the upper tiers of the sport is not only possible but sustainable with persistence and quality play.

Portugal’s Growing Footprint on the Pro Circuit

In recent years, Portugal’s role in professional golf has expanded. While best known for its scenic courses and thriving tourism scene, the country is now consistently producing players capable of competing abroad, both at junior and senior levels.

Figueiredo’s result in India follows a pattern of Portuguese professionals earning results across Europe and beyond. With support structures like the Portuguese Golf Federation and national training circuits in place, performances like these feel less like one-offs and more like a trend.

Explore Portugal’s golf scene to learn more about where the country’s top players sharpen their skills.

A Player to Watch in 2025

If this result is anything to go by, Pedro Figueiredo’s 2025 season may be one of his most compelling yet. A solid finish early in the year means better seeding, more starts, and, perhaps most importantly, confidence when it matters.

Consistency will be key, but the signs are there: sharp ball striking, patient course management, and mental resilience. And with the Challenge Tour offering direct paths to the DP World Tour, a few more finishes like this could push him right back into the top tier of European golf.