I have played most of the golf courses in Portugal - and these are the best

Golfshake's Travel Editor Andy Waple has played more than 50 of the 90 golf courses in Portugal at least once. These are his favourites and are among those you really must play.

I first struck a golf ball in Portugal in 1988 at Quinta do Lago and was immediately hooked. Since then I’ve travelled the world with my clubs, but if asked where I would always want to return it would be Portugal.

The courses are fab and varied, the Portuguese are great and so obliging, the food and wine is fantastic. To cap it off it’s so easy to get to and more often than not the weather is just great.

So where should you play? These are my favourites, not a ranking, but merely a subjective list built up over 40 years of golfing pleasure.

Estela

There will be plenty of UK golfers who have never heard of Estela, a very fine course near Porto. It’s set on the Atlantic coastline with some pure links-like holes particularly early on, and it is fairly tricky. People who like a distinctive local feel will find much to savour here and the clubhouse food is excellent. Despite its relative obscurity its qualities have not gone unnoticed and it has hosted many professional and top amateur tournaments.

If you would like to play here, Golfbreaks can take you there.

Vidago Palace

Well out in the sticks inland in the north is this hotel course set among rolling countryside. The hotel was built as a royal palace but was never used as such and is now a luxury retreat. Stand out features are the huge USGA spec greens and the imposing pink granite tee surrounds. This course would be much more sought after by golf tourists if it was situated in the Algarve.

See Golfbreaks for the best packages to Vidago Palace.

Old Course Vilamoura

Another long favourite of mine that’s undergone improvements in recent years particularly to its formerly dodgy drainage. The Old Course is very pleasing on the eye, is more traditional than many and is now very well maintained under new ownership of Details, a sports management company backed by significant funds. Vilamoura in general is getting a quality uplift, but it’s hard to imagine this being beaten in the area if the very private and exclusive Els Club is discounted.

You could experience it for yourself courtesy of Golfbreaks.

PGA Aroeira 2

Another reworking by the same company, Details, has elevated this fine layout into a course to be truly reckoned with. It’s flat and tree lined, and in my opinion a better course than its sister Aroeira 1. Investment to both courses is paying off here though and I don't think anyone would be disappointed to play these once average tracks.

Enquiries can be made today through Golfbreaks.

Oitavos Dunes

If you want a challenge then head to this course at Cascais near Lisbon. It starts with four gentle pine lined holes before opening up into the dunes where it can become very brutal if the wind gets up. The 18th, a dogleg par four that tempts the big hitters into taking off too much, is a fabulous finisher. This course is a classic and one you should not miss.

Book your break to this spectacular design by clicking here.

Palmares

This is a course that holds a special place in my heart because I played it donkeys’ years ago before it was extensively redesigned by Robert Trent Jones Jr in 2010.

It is hard to make out many, if any, of the original holes, but the redesign follows the same contours from high ground where the stunning clubhouse is situated overlooking the Bay of Alvor and Meia Praia to the Atlantic coastline below.

Trent Jones has done a fabulous job transforming an already good course into an awesome one. He introduced three loops of 9 holes and while all three are good, the Praia loop is the most memorable.

Golfbreaks has some tremendous packages to discover the joys of Palmares.

Quinta do Lago South

The jewel in the crown of the three courses at this exclusive luxury resort really is a must play. Long regarded as one of the best in Portugal, it has maintained its appeal due to great views, tricky holes and top conditioning. The North Course is more forgiving and Laranjal possibly more testing, particularly on the greens, but it’s the South that holds top ranking in my opinion.

Want to play the South Course? Here is what you need to know...

West Cliffs

There will be those who disagree with me by saying this is the best course on the Silver Coast north of Lisbon, claiming it’s too hard. Well it shouldn’t be if you swallow your pride and select the right tee boxes to match your handicap and ability. Admittedly it does have strong competition on its doorstep at Praia D'El Rey and Royal Obidos, but to me West Cliffs is different gravy.

You make your way here through Golfbreaks.

Monte Rei

Regularly listed as Portugal’s finest, it suffered from a devastating wildfire in 2021 which destroyed much of the off course native vegetation. The fairways were saved by the irrigation system but access to water has been a big problem in recent years due to a series of droughts. It is however an undisputed fine layout with classic American style bunkers and greens. It has been taken over by Details, the company running many of the fine courses that have seen financial problems in recent years. A huge investment programme is underway and it is set to challenge again for the top spot snatched from it by Dunas at Terras da Comporta.

There are some fantastic deals available on Golfbreaks.

Troia

It’s nicknamed "Troia the Destroyer" because it is tough to score well here. Missing the narrow fairways and landing in the sand-strewn native vegetation will cost you a shot on many of the par fours. Greens are tiny by modern standards and many are surrounded by bunkers. Another course that’s suffered from under investment, it’s now in the hands of Details with cash to spend on a rescue mission. This course, formerly a firm favourite of better players is destined for a renaissance and, being only 20 minutes drive away from Terras da Comporta, it’s perfectly situated.

Speaking of which, if you can only play one course in Portugal, this is my choice.

Dunas at Terras da Comporta

There are a pair of courses here in this relatively unexplored region, Alentejo. The most recent, Torre, designed by Sergio Garcia, is extremely good but it can’t yet compete with the fabulous Dunas course. Relatively new, it only opened in 2023 - it is simply the best in Portugal - and that is some accolade in a nation of true gems. It runs through a huge forest on marvellous sandy sub soil and it’s so secluded it’s hard to appreciate it’s virtually on the beach. If there is only one course to play in Portugal then this is it.

Do you want to find out for yourself what the hype is all about? Visit Golfbreaks for more information!

Now that you've seen Andy's favourite golf courses in Portugal, you might be feeling inspired to book your own trip there, or maybe even to experience this or other European destinations in the coming weeks or later in the year.

Ultimately, having played all over the world, for Andy, there is nowhere else quite like Portugal, and that's the highest recommendation that we could imagine.