While Lisbon is a great European destination where tourists can delight in discovering the huge opportunities in terms of sightseeing, shopping or nightlife, the capital of Portugal also provides its visitors with the possibility to practice all sorts of sports, golf included. There are plenty of golf courses and clubs in the surroundings of Lisbon that can be resorted to by tourists who either want to merely practice or to take golf lessons.
Searching out these clubs and courses gives tourists not only the opportunity to delight in their favorite pastime, but also to explore the marvelous vast surroundings of the capital and to get to know better this part of Portugal. The following is but a short list of the best golf clubs and courses in the vicinity of Lisbon.
Lisbon Sports Club is not located within the city of Lisbon proper, but in the nearby municipality of Sintra, in the village of Belas, some 20 kilometers from the capital. The history of this club goes back to 1880, though the present location was established no sooner than 1962. The course proper does not impress by its dimensions, but it is a very challenging venue with difficulties yielded both by the nature set where the course is located and by the way the 9 holes have been placed.
The golfing infrastructure is complemented by other sports facilities (several tennis courts, a swimming pool). The club house makes available a bar and a restaurant. A sauna is also located within the perimeter of the club.
Aroeira is a golf club some 20 kilometers southwest of Lisbon. The club welcomes its guests with two challenging golf courses, suggestively called Aroeira I and Aroeira II, forming the largest golf complex in the surroundings of Lisbon. Both of these are 18-hole courses, and they appeal by their location in a stunning scenic nature set. Thus, Aroeira I is located in a pine forest and challenges players to overcome the difficulties of its notable slopes. It was also home to some remarkable competitions and tournaments. The Aroeira II golf course is pegged out by lakes and bunkers, which enhances the inner difficulties of the game.
A golf school has also been set up at the initiative of the club.
While enjoying the stunning nature set of the Carregueira mountains, Belas Clube de Campo is a championship golf course renowned for the challenging features of its golfing infrastructure. The course was designed by the famed William Roquemore, and of all the 18 holes, two have been drawing players’ attention for years: the so-called Augusta (hole number 2) and the Big Hole (hole number 18).
The club also makes available a pro-shop, a restaurant and a bar. The complex is located in the Lisbon area, some 20-minutes drive from the city of Lisbon proper.
Troia Golf is managed by the Troia Resort, being located in the Troia Peninsula. The course is located in a set which combines the characteristic features of the seaside (plenty of sand) with the typical elements of a forested hilly area. It is, thus, deemed the most difficult course in Portugal, which is of no little importance for players who want to test their skills to the full. The course is pegged out by a lake. The clubhouse was built in 2008, welcoming guests with a bar and a restaurant, and great views of the 18-hole course.
The resort can be easily reached from Lisbon by car, a distance coverable in about 40 minutes.
Santo Estevao Golfe is located some 30 minutes from Lisbon. The scenic countryside set allows visitors to enjoy the view while heading for this 18-hole course or while delighting at leisure in playing their favorite sport. The course is pegged out by a lake which increases the difficulty of the game, at least as far as some of the holes are concerned. The clubhouse welcomes its guests with a pro shop and a restaurant, blending in perfectly with the rusticated atmosphere of the area.
Campo de Golfe da Belavista might not be embodiment of excellence when it comes to golf courses, but it is at hand for visitors of Lisbon who want to practice their skills while spending their vacation in the capital of Portugal. First of all, the course is located within the city of Lisbon proper, and secondly, it is the first municipal golf course in Lisbon, which means guests don’t necessarily have to be part of an exclusive circle of members in order to be granted access to the course.
Speaking of the course, this is challenging enough due to its inclined slopes and to the several artificial ponds which peg out the area.
Ribagolfe is one of the most spectacular golf complexes in the Lisbon region of Portugal. Located some 30 minutes away from the capital, the complex consists of two courses (Ribagolfe I and Ribagolfe II), of which the second is officially deemed the members’ course. Both are 18-hole courses and boast of stunning nature sets. In fact, the natural elements (trees, lakes, slopes) are the ones which enhance the level of difficulty of sundry holes.
The Campo Real golf course pertains to the namesake 5-star luxury resort which is located on the Silver Coast of Portugal, only 30 minutes north of Lisbon. The course has been laid out by following the design of the legendary Donald Steel, and it strikes by the natural quality of its infrastructure. It is deemed a fairly difficult course, and the exquisite services and facilities offered by the clubhouse, as well as by the resort (spa center, horse riding opportunities, restaurant, as well as other sundry sports fields), all these can turn a day spent at Campo Real into an unforgettable experience on the Silver Coast, minutes away from Lisbon.
The 18-hole course of Quinta do Peru Golf and Country Club maintains an air of nature beauty, while being located in an area (Azeitao) famed for its historical patrimony and gastronomic and oenological traditions. It is suitable for both amateurs and professionals, but what is worth mentioning is the club proper also makes available golf lessons for guests interested in being initiated into the secrets of this sport. Tennis lessons are also available.
It can be easily reached from Lisbon by following Auto-Estrada do Sul (A2) and heading southwards.
Clube de Golfe da Quinta da Marinha pertains to the luxury Quinta da Marinha Resort, which boasts of a wholesome location on the celebrated Estoril Coast of Portugal. The 18-hole course is located some 25 kilometers west of Lisbon, and the fact it was designed by the reputed architect Robert Trent Jones speaks for the quality of its sports infrastructure. On top of the inherent challenges of the game, the course also delights guests with a mix of geographical sets: the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Sintra range on the other.
Quinta da Beloura Golf is located between the neighboring Sintra and Cascais, minutes away from Lisbon by car. It pertains to the exclusive Pestana golf club chain, and given the characteristic features of the course (it is quite flat, with no challenging slopes), it is ideal for people who simply want to enjoy a good time without facing the difficulties of an exhausting game. However, the several lakes which peg out the field add a certain degree of difficulty to the field, so professionals don’t make the impression they waste time.
Paco do Lumiar Clube de Golfe is one of the most frequented golf courses and clubs located in the city of Lisbon proper, mostly due to its policy of welcoming guests regardless of their membership quality. The 9-hole course is complemented by a clubhouse where visitors can relax at the bar or at the restaurant, as well as where they can rent parts of the necessary gear.