Best Golf Courses in Lisbon, Portugal

Portugal's combination of a pleasant, sunny climate and low prices have led it to become one of the leading destinations in Europe for golf travel. Even though golf is not a popular sport with the Portuguese themselves, the Lisbon area alone boasts more than a dozen golf courses, including three major golf resort hotels. Among this selection, a handful of these Lisbon, Portugal golf courses stand out.

Lisbon Sports Club
The Lisbon Sports Club traces its roots back to the late 19th Century, with its original facility located where Lisbon's bullfighting arena-cum-shopping mall, Campo Pequeno, stands today. The club's modern golf course is situated down the road from the village of Belas, just outside of the leafy green hills of Sintra. An 18-hole course rated as Par 69 with a yardage of 5,778, the course enjoys a challenging and scenic reputation among Portuguese golfers. The course sports a narrow fairway, densely lined with trees. A creek, the Rio Jamor, meanders its way back and forth across the fairway, posing repeated water hazards.

Penha Longa Resort
Penha Longa's golf course is simply gorgeous, and stands among the very best golf courses in the country. Also located beneath the green hills of Sintra, the resort is set on what was once a retreat belonging to the Portuguese royal family. Parts of the palace and church, both dating to the 16th and 17th centuries, still stand. Penha Longa actually has two golf courses. The original Atlantico course is an 18-hole affair rated at Par 72 with a yardage of 6,903. The holes wind their way over wooded hills dotted with difficult water hazards and elevated greens. Penha Longa also has a second, 9-hole golf course, the Monastery, which is arguably the most attractive 9-hole course in and around Lisbon.

Oitavos Dunes
An 18-hole course designed by Arthur Hills, Oitavos Dunes stands as one of the top golf courses in Portugal. It was ranked in the Top 100 golf courses in the world by Golf magazine, a distinction only three courses in all of Continental Europe were able to manage. A Par 71 course with a yardage of 6,893, the course is perched on a hillside overlooking the sea cliffs of Cascais. In one direction, the view is of pine trees and coastal scrub, and in the other the vista is all deep blue sea. Oitavos Dunes is a major championship golf course in Portugal, having hosted amateur and professional golfing tournaments on the national, European and international levels.

Lisbon Sports Club, Penha Longa and Oitavos Dunes all recommend, but do not require advance reservations. However, all three require a proof of handicap.