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This is the first municipal golf course to be built in Portugal and is located in the very heart of Lisbon, close to the airport.
Belavista is a short, although fairly difficult, course, due to its reasonably undulating terrain, several bunkers and six artificial lakes (interconnected by a series of pipes and serving to collect rainwater, which is then used for watering the course). The course has three par 3 holes, whilst the others are all par 4.
Capable of satisfying the needs of both tourists and the naturally curious players, the Belavista course is the first municipal golf course to be built in Portugal and its practice range will remain open until n p.m. Due to its easy access and its location near the airport, the course may be played by visitors stopping over only briefly in Lisbon and not wishing to miss such a golden opportunity for striking a few golf balls.
This is the first municipal golf course to be built in Portugal and the only course situated in the centre of Lisbon, roughly 1 km from the airport. It is a short nine-hole course, with three par-3 and 6 par-4 holes.
Tel.: (351) 21-847-12-01
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A winding and increasingly difficult course, divided into two quite distinct parts, with the hills of Sintra acting as a backdrop and making this one of the best courses in Portugal.
Spreading out amongst the hills, Belas Country Club provides an excellent view over the hills of Sintra with the Palacio da Pena on top, and even as far as the headland of Cabo Espichel, on the southern bank of the River Tagus. Designed by the renowned golf architect William Rocky Roquemore, the course is set in the Carregueira hills and is divided into two quite distinct parts: the first half crosses a naturally preserved landscape, whilst the second half runs by some houses that are part of the development and it has since been improved by the planting of one thousand trees. There are two holes that are particularly notable for their beauty and their challenging qualities: the second hole, a par 5 called Augusta was built in homage to the 131(1 hole of the famous course where the US Masters tournament takes place; hole number 18, a memorable par 4 final hole, was christened the "Big Hole" because of the second shot that players must make some 180 metres from the green, which is well protected by a fearsome lake. It was chosen as one of the best 10 courses in Portugal, finishing gth in the biennial poll organized by the European Golf magazine, and hosted the Grand Final of the European Challenge Tour in 1998.
Spreading among the hills, the 7km course of the Belas Country Club provides an excellent view of the Sintra mountain range, the Pena Palace and, on the south bank of the river, Cabo Espichel.
Tel.: (351) 21-962-66-00
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It is one of the oldest and best-known golf courses in the country. The Portuguese Open has been held here on several occasions, as well as international Amateur Championships, and champions such as Max Faulkner and Severiano Ballesteros have walked its fairways. Famous for its location near the luxurious seaside resort of Estoril, the course was designed by Mackenzie Ross, who made such excellent use of the pine-trees and eucalyptuses, Together with the uneven terrain, these obstacles make playing here a test of accuracy rather than distance. It is a short course and presents a fascinating challenge for all players. For less experienced golfers, there are another nine holes that can also be played.
You should end your round by sampling the excellent Portuguese cuisine on the balcony of the clubhouse restaurant, from where you can enjoy a spectacular view over the Atlantic Ocean. Incidentally, it was at Estoril that Ballesteros played his first professional tournament outside Spain in 1974, and his first round ended in a rather unpromising score of 8g... on his its birthday.
The host of several Portuguese Opens, the course at Estoril has an uneven terrain, making its 18 holes and par 69 more a challenge of accuracy rather than distance.
Tel.: (351) 21-468-01-76/54/67
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This versatile tree-lined course with only nine holes provides golfers will all kinds of different playing situations and it also has one of the country's best practice areas.
Estoril-Sol is a nine-hole course offering golfers a challenge that is both pleasurable and varied. Set between Sintra's historic beauty and Estoril's more modern environment, with the holiday resort of Cascais close by, it is an ideal course on which to practice one's short iron shots, while for players with a bigger handicap it provides an opportunity to end with an encouraging score. Different tees for first and second rounds provide variants for those wishing to play a full 18 holes. Because of its high quality and the surrounding landscape, Estoril-Sol has been described as one of the most beautiful nine-hole courses in Europe. Beyond the course itself is a full practice area, where the golfer can work on all aspects of his game, with tees and greens suitable for long, medium and short woods and irons. Chipping and bunker tactics have not been forgotten either. There is also an excellent putting green designed for practice purposes and built according to USGA specifications.
Very close to Quinta da Beloura is Estoril-Sol, considered one of the most beautiful nine-hole courses in Europe and providing a fun and varied challenge. It also has one of the best practice grounds in the country.
Tel.: (351) 21-923-24-61
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This is one of the most historic Portuguese golf clubs: established in 1880 by English residents in Lisbon, it was only in 1964 that the club made its permanent home here, after being housed at Alges, Carcavelos and Ajuda.
Situated very close to Lisbon and blending harmoniously into a romantic and densely vegetated landscape, this is a course that requires both skill and imagination, because of a watercourse that affects the nature of the game played over at least twelve of the holes. The course, which originally had only 14 holes, begins with a par 3 that presents a number of difficulties (woods to the left, a stream on the right and bunkers on both sides) issuing an immediate challenge to players right from their very first shot. On hole number 3, even before golfers have had time to warm up properly, they are faced with another similar par 3, only that this hole is even more difficult to play because of its length of 180 metres. Right up until the final hole, a tricky par 4 crossed in the middle by the stream, players continue to enjoy an unforgettable contact with nature, having the chance to admire the cypresses, eucalyptuses and wild flowers, while at the same time being faced with shots that constantly tax their imagination. The original house on this estate has been converted into the clubhouse. Its colonial style is very welcoming, and from its balcony one can see the fairways of holes number 5 and 18. It is one of the great bastions of Portuguese golf.
On the other side of the road is the Lisbon Sports Club, a course demanding both skill and imagination because of the water hazards which strongly influence 12 of the 18 holes
Tel.: (351) 21-431-00-77
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The Penha Longa course has hosted European Tour events and is considered one of the best courses in Portugal. The imposing landscape in the background was once a source of inspiration for Lord Byron.
The most remarkable feature at Penha Longa is its beautiful panoramic view of the hills of Sintra, which once inspired the romanticism of Lord Byron. The fabulous i8-hole Atlantico course is only 20 minutes from Lisbon and forms part of the Protected Landscape Area of Sintra and Cascais. Robert Trent Jones II designed the course to best take account of the steeply sloping terrain and excellent views of the surrounding landscape, across the hills to the sea beyond. This means that both the first three and last three holes are laid out in a valley wooded with pines and studded with granite rocks, whilst the sixth to the thirteenth holes have been built on a hill offering extensive views over the surrounding landscape. The course's special tournament characteristics have earned it the reputation of being one of the best courses on the European Tour. It hosted the Portuguese Open in 1994 and 1995, the Estoril Open in 1999 and the Grand Final of the European Challenge Tour in 1998. In 1995, it was voted the best course in Portugal and still ranks amongst the top 5 chosen in the biennial poll organized by the European Golf magazine.
Only 20 minutes from Lisbon is the fabulous Penha Longa course, host of the 1994 and 1995 Portuguese Open. The characteristics of this championship course are excellent maintenance levels and beautiful panoramic views over the Sintra mountain range.
Tel: (351)21-924-90-11
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This course provides an excellent complement to the main course at Penha Longa and has the same majestic backdrop as the Atlantic course.
In 1995, Penha Longa inaugurated a new nine-hole course (the Mosteiro course) to increase its existing supply and provide an alternative for the existing and already well-known course, which is considered to be one of the best in Portugal. Designed by the highly regarded architect Robert Trent Jones II (who was also responsible for the original course), the Mosteiro course passes by the Penha Longa Palace, which has been built on the site of the former monastery that gave it its name. This course has less undulations than the Atlantico course and is easier to play. It is more accessible to players with high handicaps, although its fast greens and natural obstacles present a challenge to all players. The Mosteiro is also an attractive course, deriving a special beauty of its own from its surrounding lakes, particularly at holes 4, 5 and 8. All around the course, the verdant hills of Sintra, which once inspired Lord Byron, the famous romantic poet, provide a constant backdrop.
Penha Longa now has a new nine-hole course, Mosteiro, as an alternative to the principal course.
Tel.: (351) 21-924-90-11
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Close to the historical town of Sintra and not far from Cascais, the course is well located, dotted here and there with lakes and covered with thousands of trees of different species.
With fine views over the Sintra hills, the Quinta da Beloura course is heavily wooded and has been built on flat terrain, providing a very pleasurable and not at all tiring round of golf. It is one of the most recently built courses along the Estoril coast and is situated halfway between Cascais and Sintra. Forming part of a residential and office development, the project was designed by the renowned American golf architect William Rocky Roquemore.
More than 40,000 trees of the most varied species have been planted along the fairways. Oaks, pines, palm-trees, cedars and mangoes give the course a green border, whose beauty is enhanced by a series of different lakes. These obstacles also make the course more difficult, as, for instance, at the parallel holes number 16 and 17, whose narrow fairways are divided by a lake, requiring very accurate drives. At the eighteenth hole, a 384-metre par 4, the green is hidden behind the largest lake, which creates an exciting and beautiful finish to your game.
With excellent views of the Sintra mountain range, Quinta da Beloura, with a flat tree-lined course, provides a pleasurable round.
Tel.: (351) 21-910-63-50
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A flat course very close to the sea, set in a private estate whose residents are some of the most important figures in the world of Portuguese politics and finance.
The Quinta da Marinha course stretches down to Guincho beach with some of the most majestic scenery in Portugal. Located in a private estate of no hectares and wooded with thousands of pine-trees, it was designed by the famous architect Robert Trent Jones, who worked on the flat terrain to produce a course with five par 5*5 and six par 3's. The most spectacular hole is the thirteenth, a 339-meter par 4 sloping down towards the sea and ending in a green where the golfer has the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop. The whole of the course, which is now one of the best-known on the Estoril Coast, is surrounded by beautiful panoramic views. For most of the course, however, the fairways face inland with the beautiful outline of the Sintra hills in the background. Many bunkers and a number of lakes make the players' task even more difficult. Hole number 10, for instance, has a green that is entirely surrounded by water. There will soon be another new course to accompany this one at Quinta da Marinha.
Close to Praia do Guincho is the Quinta da Marinha course. The most spectacular hole is the 13th, a 339 metres par 4, that plunges towards the sea.
Tel.: (351) 21-486-94-88
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