5 must-visit Portuguese hotels complete with golf courses
Best places to tee it up in Portugal in 2020...
As one of the most popular golfing destinations in Europe, Portugal boasts quality over quantity when it comes to golf resorts and courses. From championship courses to the less challenging, there’s a course to suit all abilities of golfer in the country.
Here are The Golf Travel People's favourite five:
Dolce Campo Real Golf Hotel, Lisbon
Lisbon’s Dolce Campo Real Golf Hotel is a luxury resort in Portugal’s Silver Coast. Travellers can choose to stay in the resort’s apartments, townhouses or villas, each tastefully decorated to provide a comfortable home-from-home when you’re not golfing.
The on-site Campo Real Golf Club played host to the 2010 and 2011 PGA Ladies European Tour and provides a challenging 18-hole, par 72 game of golf. Players should stay alert for hole six – the most challenging of the bunch. Once you’ve got to the last nine, hole 17 provides a real reward in terms of views that overlook both the resort and local vineyards. The course also offers several extra facilities – including golf buggies, PGA professional tuition and practice facilities to fine-tune your swing before you play the main course.
Evolutee Hotel Royal Obidos Golf Resort, Lisbon
Another must-visit resort based in the culturally-rich city of Lisbon, the Evolutee Hotel Royal Obidos Golf Resort is known for its unique interior design – designed by famed interior architect Philipe Starck. For golfers, the main attraction is the Royal Obidos Golf Club which was designed for golfers who play at all levels.
The course starts off with a difficult first hole, before presenting another challenge at the fifth hole – a 520m par 5. The second nine holes veer between a network of lakes and streams that prove another test for golfers as they make their way towards the eighteenth and final hole. After a good round of golf, the clubhouse provides the perfect place to unwind and take in the sunset and views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Onyria Palmares Beach House Hotel, Algarve
Next on the list is the Onyria Palmares Beach House Hotel, situated in the Algarve and immersed in natural surroundings. Known to be a haven for calm and relaxation, the hotel provides the ideal base for swimming, golfing and exploring the scenic surroundings. With just 20 rooms that each feature a balcony, guests can watch golfers live in action as they play their way around the on-site Onyria Palmares Golf Club.
The hotel’s parkland-style golf course is ranked 26th in Europe by Golf World Magazine. Featuring 27 holes set out in three nine-hole loops, the Alvor, Lagos and Praia courses can be played in any sequence for a varied and interesting game.
Robinson Club Quinta Da Ria East, Algarve
Another renowned golf resort in the Algarve, the four-star Robinson Club Quinta Da Ria East is a luxury, full-board hotel with a range of suites and apartments, and its own selection of on-site restaurants.
There are two on-site golf courses – Quinta da Ria Golf Club and Quinta de Cima Golf Course. Quinta da Ria is the less challenging course, set in the Ria Formosa Natural Park and comprising two loops of 9 holes. The course is a par 72 and measures 6,016 metres in length. The Quinta de Cima provides a greater test of golf, with doglegs, bunkers and lakes placed strategically to test your skills.
Along with golf, the hotel also offers group exercise sessions and a wide range of evening entertainment which includes live music and dance shows.
Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort, Algarve
Last but not least, the five-star Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort is in Southern Portugal on the Algarve Coast. The hotel features four swimming pools, traditional Portuguese dining, relaxing roof terraces and golden beaches nearby.
The rolling greens of the Dom Pedro Vilamoura Victoria Golf Course have played host to the Portugal Masters from 2007-2019 and the PGA World Cup in 2005. The course is a par 72, and the 18-hole course stretches across 13 hectares of natural beauty, lakes and reservoirs. There’s also a first-class driving range and 2,500m2 putting green to help visiting golfers finetune their skills.