Portugal Golf Courses

THE ESTORIL
Golden Eagle
	This is one of the most exclusive golf courses in Portugal. Its design is typical of the modern U.S. school and is immaculately maintained.   Situated near Rio Maior, some 60 kilometres from Lisboa, the Golden Eagle Golf & Country Club is one of the newest jewels of Portuguese golf. Formerly access was restricted to members and their guests, but since August 1997 it is open to visitors.
Praia d'El Rey
	It is certainly one of the most picturesque layouts in Europe, set in extensive grounds of pine forest and undulating dunes with spectacular views over the Atlantic and the Berlenga Islands beyond. The course is visually stunning and tremendously exciting to play. Because of the endless variations of the terrain you'll never play it the same way twice. Praia D'El Rey, rated 17th best course in Europe by Golf World magazine, has become one of the major golfing destinations in Europe.
Belas
	Belas is a championship standard, par-72 golf course of 6,380 metres. The impeccably maintained greens, tees and fairways were seeded with Penneagle and Pennlinks grass, and are set well into the valleys for protection against the wind. The course meanders amongst the hillsides, affording splendid views of the Sintra hills. It includes an untouched natural environment. The signature holes, noted for both their beauty and their difficulty, are the 2nd, dubbed "Augusta" after the 13th at the famous course in Georgia, and the 18th, aptly named "The Grand Hole".
Penha Longa
	The Penha Longa course enjoys championship characteristics, an excellent level of maintenance and beautiful panoramic views over the Sintra mountain range. In 1994 and 1995 it was the location for the Portuguese Open Championships. The Atlântico da Penha Longa is a fabulous eighteen hole course situated in Sintra, only 20 minutes from Lisboa. It forms part of the Protected Landscape Area of Sintra and Cascais.
Estoril Palacio
	The Palácio Course is located in one of Europe's oldest established tourist resorts. West of Lisbon and overlooking the Atlantic, the Estoril Coast has a mild climate, so that you can enjoy your favourite sport all year round. Overlooking Estoril and the sea, the 5,313 metre-long course is set amongst eucalyptus, pine and mimosa trees, giving it a uniquely colourful touch.The Palácio Course is located in one of Europe's oldest established tourist resorts.
Quinta Da Marinha
	Between the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the luxuriant green of the Sintra Hills, the Hotel Quinta da Marinha & Villas Golf Resort is a unique place of good taste and service. Located on the famous Estoril Coast, 25 kilometers from Lisbon, the Quinta da Marinha course is set in a private estate of 110 hectares, wooded with pine trees. The whole of Quinta da Marinha's course is surrounded by beautiful panoramic views. For most of the course, the fairways face inland with the beautiful outline of the Sintra mountain range forming their background. Many bunkers and a number of lakes make the player's task even more difficult.
Troia
	Considered to be Portugal's most difficult golf course, Troia is for that reason a major challenge to any golfer. With breathtaking views over the ocean and a welcoming clubhouse set among pine trees, Troia is surely a golfers' paradise. Winding in narrow green ribbons and lush islands, the course demands accuracy off the tee as well as to the often tight target greens. The holes bordering the seashore are open to the breeze and have a links character.
THE ALGARVE
Palmares
	This course is laid out on the side of a south-facing hill overlooking the Bay of Lagos. It is questionably the most attractive location of all the golf courses in the Algarve. The views as you play your round are quite breathtaking. Five of the holes are placed on the sand dunes with the fifth, a par-5 of 550 metres making a real challenge. At present there are no villas clustering the fairways so the feeling of openness as you play is very refreshing.
Alto
	The Alto Club Course boasts all the fine features normally found on a course near the sea including gently rolling fairways, immaculate contoured greens and strategically placed bunkers and water hazards. The Par 72 layout, measuring 6125 metres from the back tees, is spread over two undulating valleys and provides a natural habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna. It's design keeps to Sir Henry Cotton's philosophy that a golf course should be testing for low handicap players but provide an enjoyable game for the average club player.
Penina
	Opened in 1966, and designed by Sir Henry Cotton, Penina Golf's Championship Course was the first golf course built in the Algarve. The Championship course has been host to the Portuguese Open 8 times. Originally built on rice paddies, the 6439 metre long course is generally quite flat, and is set amongst mature trees and shrubs, with each of the fairways lined with tall trees. As well, drainage ditches help to define the fairways, and in some places act as tricky water hazards. There is only one par 5 on the front nine, with four on the back.
Val Da Pinta
	Designed by the North American Ronald Fream, currently one of the most respected of architects and whose style involves the preservation ot nature in his projects, Vale da Pinta is the twin of Quinta do Gramacho, but with a full 18 hole course. It is set in the Pestano Golf Resort. The course runs through an old olive grove, where some of the trees are more than 700 years old. True to U.S. golfing concepts, Fream has created wide, deep greens protected by a total of 59 similarly sized bunkers.
Salgados
	Situated in one of the best-known regions of the Algarve, between Albufeira and Armação de Pera, Salgados is already one of the symbols of the Portuguese golf. In fact, the proximity of the sea and the variety of lakes make this a very interesting test of golfing skills, different to other courses in the Algarve. The 6,000 metre links, replete with water obstacles, is not very long, yet you will need all your skills to reach the greens. The accuracy of the drive is crucial for achieving good scores, thus making the course a pleasant experience, especially for technically-skilled players.