Portuguese golf

Senior Golf Heads North: A Day at Estela

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The fifth leg of Portugal’s national senior Order of Merit drew sixty competitors to one of the rarest courses in continental Europe

The 5th National Order of Merit tournament of the Associação Nacional de Seniores de Golfe (ANSG) took place at Estela Golf Club in Póvoa de Varzim on 24 May 2026. Sixty players made the trip, with two of the competition’s largest delegations travelling from Viseu and the Algarve — a sign of how far the national senior circuit now reaches. (apsgolfe.pt)

A Rare Setting

Estela holds a particular distinction in Portuguese golf. Situated on the Atlantic coast north of Porto, it is considered a pure links — one of the very few courses of its kind in continental Europe. The fairways presented in immaculate condition on the day, drawing unanimous praise from competitors, and mild weather ensured play ran smoothly from first tee to final putt.

Estela Golf Course North Portugal

The Results

Competition across all four categories was closely fought throughout.

In Seniores, António Viegas took the net title with 37 points, ahead of José Vale on 35. The gross prize went to Rui Batista Santos.

Super Seniores saw Ignácio Fierro claim net honours on 36 points, with José Manuel Castro second on 35. James Thomson was the gross winner.

In Master Seniores, António Lobo led net on 37 points, ahead of Michell Fichaux on 35. Mário Casimiro Paiva took the gross prize with 23 points.

5th National Order of Merit Tournament Winners

The Senhoras competition was among the most closely contested of the day. Isabel Guedes won net on 35 points, Fátima Pitta second on 33. Margarida Sampaio claimed the gross prize, with Maria José Pinto in second. Pedro Carvalho of ACP Golfe was named best guest.

Nearest the Pin honours went to : Hole 2: José Vale  |  Hole 4: Margarida Sampaio  |  Hole 12: Maria José Pinto  |  Hole 17: João Souto

After the Round

Competitors gathered for a well-regarded post-round lunch before the prize-giving and a tombola closed out the day. The ANSG circuit has earned its reputation on exactly this kind of occasion: competitive golf taken seriously, followed by an afternoon taken well.

5th National Order of Merit Tournament Lunch
Portugal’s senior golf community travels. From the Algarve to Viseu, players make the journey — and Estela, on the Atlantic coast north of Porto, is worth every kilometre.

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For those looking to explore the courses of the north, Tee Times has golf breaks around Porto to suit every itinerary.

From Vila Nova de Gaia to the DP World Tour

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Daniel Rodrigues Shines at the Turkish Airlines Open

Daniel Rodrigues Shines at the Turkish Airlines Open

Sunday’s final round at the Turkish Airlines Open in Belek was not supposed to go like this for Daniel Rodrigues. He is 23 years old. He is playing his first full season on the DP World Tour. Six months ago, he was grinding through all three stages of Qualifying School — a six-round marathon at INFINITUM in Spain — just to earn his card. And yet there he was, standing on the 18th green at National Golf Club, finishing tied second on eight under par, two shots behind winner Mikael Lindberg.

Not bad for a debut season.

The boy from Gaia

Rodrigues is from Vila Nova de Gaia — the historic city that faces Porto across the Douro River — and his story is a good one. The former number one amateur in Portugal, he won the Portuguese Amateur title and was national Under-18 and Under-16 champion before crossing the Atlantic to study and play golf at Texas A&M University. He turned professional last summer. He made it through Q-School at the first attempt. And then, in just his second season of professional golf, he nearly won a DP World Tour event on a rain-soaked Sunday afternoon in Turkey.

Drama on moving day

The week was not without its drama. Rodrigues shared the lead heading into the final round, having carded a composed third-round 68 — birdying four of his first six holes — before a two-hour lightning stoppage threatened to break his rhythm. It did not. He and Lindberg went into Sunday tied at the top, the air still damp and the occasion very real.

Turkish Airlines Open at National Golf Club Belek Turkey

When Lindberg held firm

Lindberg, to his credit, was magnificent. The 33-year-old Swede closed with a 69 to take his maiden DP World Tour title, earning himself a debut major appearance at the PGA Championship at Aronimink later this month in the process. But Rodrigues — sharing second with Italy’s Guido Migliozzi — will have taken enormous confidence from the week. These are the results that define careers.

A Portuguese double act

It was, quietly, a fine weekend for Portuguese golf in general. Ricardo Melo Gouveia tied for seventh on six under — a steady, experienced performance from the man who has flown the flag for Portuguese golf on the DP World Tour almost single-handedly in recent years. Now, for the first time in a long time, he has company worth having.

Ricardo Melo Gouveia tied for seventh

Portugal, is producing leaderboard golfers again, which is only fitting for a country that also produces some of the finest golf courses in Europe.

Time to book your piece of Portugal

The Algarve, where Rodrigues cut his teeth as an amateur, remains one of the great destinations for any golfer who takes the game seriously. The courses are exceptional. The conditions are kind. And if watching a young man from Porto nearly win on the DP World Tour has stirred something in you — well, there is really only one thing to do about it.

Browse our Algarve golf holidays and start planning your own Portuguese story.

Vale de Janelas Retain the National Club Championship – Seniors

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Vale de Janelas have done it again. The West Coast club successfully defended their title at the National Club Championship – Seniors, edging out Estoril by two strokes, in what became a tighter contest than most would have predicted.

O Clube de golfe de Vale de Janelas voltou a sagrar-se campeao no Campeonato Nacional de Clubes

The two-day event was played across two formats and two venues. Round one, held at Santo Estêvão Golfe, used Individual Strokeplay — with each club counting its three best scores. Vale de Janelas, arriving as reigning champions, built a commanding nine-stroke lead over nearest rivals Miramar and ACP Golfe.

Day two brought Foursomes into the equation, and with it, a change in tempo. Estoril refused to go quietly, posting an impressive 147 to Vale de Janelas’ 156. In the end, the arithmetic still favoured the champions. Vale de Janelas finished on 385 (+20); Estoril, to their credit, made them work for it, finishing on 387 (+22). Quinta do Peru took third place on 393 (+28).

It is the fourth time Vale de Janelas have lifted this title since 2022 — with only 2024, when Belas Clube de Campo took the honours — interrupting what has otherwise been a rather comfortable reign. The winning team comprised Gonçalo Mota Carmo, Jeffrey Valade, Ken Cooper and John Williams.

Estoril’s challenge was mounted by Miguel Franco de Sousa, Manuel Agrellos Jr., Sofia Paiva and José Maria Cazal-Ribeiro.

O Clube de golfe de Vale de Janelas voltou a sagrar-se campeao no Campeonato Nacional de Clubes2