Penha Longa Atlantic Championship Course Review

Penha Longa literally translates as big rock. Fixed to the top of this rock that overlooks the resort is a crucifix that indicates the site of the 14th century monastery.

This location is simply beautiful, situated within a parkland environment that is protected by its UNESCO World Heritage status. It is also a site of scientific interest due to its unique ecology.

A past host to European Tour events, this 27-hole layout offers all that a travelling golfer desires. Superbly conditioned practice facilities and a golf course of environmentally sensitive design that blends and moulds itself into the existing landscape.

The resort offers exceptional standards of food with three Michelin standard restaurants on site. As a venue for golfing gastronomy, I have not experienced better. Regular readers know of my love for fine food and wine and I suffered sensory overload here due to the quality of the fare offered and enjoyed.

There are eight restaurants in total on the site, seven in the resort and one in Lisbon. There is a gin offering that includes around 150 different ranges. Food ranges from casual snacks to fine dining experiences all supported by highly knowledgeable and attentive staff who add greatly to the overall experience.

I ate at the Midori Restaurant, the only Asian restaurant in Portugal to be awarded a Michelin star. It was simply sublime and an exceptional gastronomic experience. It was a challenge to drag ourselves away from the restaurant area given the exceptional quality of what we have been provided.

It was a wonderful way to add value to what proved to be an exceptional golfing experience. 

Penha Longha Atlantic Course Review

Designed by the world-famous Robert Trent Jones Junior. The gentle opening hole and the final set of holes sit in a heavily wooded valley with the mountains towering around them.

The course layout has a wonderful rhythm, feeling like a rollercoaster as different challenges are offered on each of the tee boxes. This is a true championship test of golf requiring accurate play and shot making. 

This is a course to nurse the ball around into position to offer the best angle to play into the green.

The maintenance and conditioning of the course was simply exemplary. The bunker placement was visible and deliberately intimidating, but I also noted that there had been some attempts to soften the edges of the bunkers and to give a much more natural footprint.

Around the periphery and edges of the bunkers were areas of small growth of grasses, cactus flowers and fauna that was very difficult to play from.

They provided great visual definition for the course and were in perfect keeping with the rest of the naturalistic setting and landscaping into which this golf course has been designed.

The golf course was slightly dwarfed by the God given sublime landscape of the protected park into which it sits, and the golf course is reduced to become a smaller component part of the overall ecology.

This is an excellent thing and there is a clear partnership between the golf course and its surroundings. This golf course empathises with and is a crucial part of the overall landscape. Simply put it is beautiful!

Every short hole had its own individual challenges for all obstacles and difficulties were visible at the outset to be able to allow the golfer to set a definitive plan of attack. 

Execution of that plan is the next obstacle as the bunkering is placed strategically. Our group contained a range of skill sets and handicaps and all reported that the design afforded them all an equal challenge.

Position is more important than length off the tee. I found that I used a full range of clubs off the tee to try and manoeuvre around the route that seemed clear on the tee box. 

I noticed that some of the tee boxes had been angled against the best line of play. Beware of setting yourself parallel to the tee box markers and expecting to execute the desired tee shots. I have seen Trent Jones use this technique elsewhere in his 280 golf courses across six continents, but it was obviously apparent here. It’s easy to handle once you recognise its prescience by simply ignoring the tee markers and aligning yourself to the intended direction of travel. 

The ground on which the course is situated is historic, dating to Roman times. I love how the historic elements have been preserved and incorporated and celebrated by the designer. The Roman aqueduct on the 6th hole is simply a delight and provided me with a golfing memory for a lifetime.

Holes to Remember

Hole 4 was the first time I dare use my driver off the tee, it was clear the safest line was left of fairway centre. Having achieved this there remained an awkward shot into a green that is 40 metres long.

Hole 5 is the first of the par 3s. An elevated tee box providing a great view of every hazard waiting to protect the green.

Hole 6 is a beautiful golf hole that is framed by the Roman aqueduct. Although a par 5 this offers a genuine birdie opportunity if you can thread the tee ball between the trees and bunkers allowing a shot to the green. My drive was unusual for me in that it did exactly what I called for off the tee. I was left with 209 yards to the flag. There were bunkers in a necklace affording protection from a highly visible and intimidating lake left and another line of bunkers to the right.

I pulled out my hybrid and struck one of the sweetest, smoothest shots I have played all year. It flew laser guided, cleared the bunkers, hopped onto the green and hit the flag. I do not have the adequate words to describe the joy that this shot provided. A two-putt birdie followed with me floating off the green.

Hole 7 is a par 3 of 169 yards that uses the aqueduct as a frame to its left side. Everything right is wet with a lake glistening its welcome. 

Hole 8 brought me back to earth with a bump as I pulled my tee shot left into a pot bunker. This is a genuine three shot hole for most mortal golfers, so I was very happy to escape with a bogey 6. Cross bunkers patrol the lay-up areas at a variety of lengths. This is like a three-dimensional chess challenge. Another great golf hole.    

Hole 9 is another beauty given the tightness of the fairways around the landing areas for the tee shot.

There is a wonderful par three, the 15th played over water towards an island green.171 yards from the championship tee box. Good enough to test any golfer of any standard.

Hole 16 affords a stunning view from the tee box. All the hazards imposingly obvious with a clear route for the desired tee shot.

Most locals play here in the early morning because of the climate and our post lunch round was played at a cracking pace. It literally is the closest I've ever come to playing millionaire’s golf.

I genuinely felt blessed and grateful at the opportunity to enjoy and test myself against this venue. 

Final Thoughts

Penha Longa provided some of the finest golfing gastronomy it's ever been my pleasure to devour and enjoy.

The supporting infrastructure of the pro shop and buggy staff was exemplary, professional but unobtrusive. We used the buggy for speed and convenience, but this is a walkable golf course.

Don’t forget the shorter 9-hole Monastery course, that is also an excellent test and highly enjoyable experience. This really is a venue that could take up a full golfing day interspersed with some impeccable gastronomy.

If given the chance I would play here again in a heartbeat.

Cascais as a tourist destination is superb with pedestrianised areas that provide extra areas for a multitude of restaurants. Look out for the roads that are painted yellow to locate these venues. 

The seafood I sampled was some of the best I have ever tasted, and the nighttime atmosphere and economy were wonderful. Our trip concluded with a morning in a magnificent sailing boat enjoying the glorious weather and views. 

Our trip was arranged to coincide with the Coala Festival that was held in a city park. It was an annual celebration of Brazilian culture and music and had attracted some of the biggest names in that genre. The atmosphere as we walked to the venue was fantastic and we had a joyous night celebrating all things Cascais with thousands of others in the stadium. A memorable experience to round off a memorable trip to one of the finest golfing areas I have had the pleasure to visit. 

I am already planning a private return trip such was my appetite whetted for this wonderful region, its people and the sublime golf it enjoys.

For more information, please visit https://www.ritzcarlton.com/pt/hotels/lisrz-penha-longa-resort/golf/ or see our travel partners Golfbreaks for the best deals and offers.