Best golf courses: Portugal

Golf in Portugal: The Championship course at Penina, designed by Sir Henry Cotton and opened for play in 1966, is the oldest golf course in Portugal. Nowadays there are an abundance of top golf courses, especially in the Algarve and Around Lisbon, which cater to both the travelling golfer and the growing number of Portuguese golfers. Some of the best weather for golf in Europe can be found here in Portugal. To make the most of your golfing trip, and to help in your planning, you can look up the location of the best courses in Portugal on our customised maps.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Rsrt guests only
Lisbon
Ross, Mackenzie

Visitors?

Rsrt guests only

Nearest city

Lisbon

Designer

Scottish course architect Philip Mackenzie Ross (known as Mackenzie Ross).

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Visitors welcome
Setubal
McLay-Kidd, David

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Setubal

Designer

David McLay-Kidd

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Faro
Fream & da Silva

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

Original 18-holes designed by Ronald Fream (1989). Additional-nine (holes 4 to 7 of Pines, and 2 to 6 of Corks) designed by Jorge Santana da Silva (2010).

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Lisbon
Hawtree & Sons

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lisbon

Designer

Current course at this location designed by Hawtree & Sons (1962). Initially opened as a 9-hole course, then 14-hole and finally extended to 18-holes in 1992.

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Ponta Delgada
Cameron & Powell

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Ponta Delgada

Designer

Bob Cameron & Chris Powell (of Cameron Powell Assocs).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Funchal
Robinson, Cabell

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Funchal

Designer

Cabell B. Robinson

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Lisbon
Roquemore, Rocky

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lisbon

Designer

Rocky Roquemore

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Funchal
Jones Sr, Robert Trent

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Funchal

Designer

The original course, dating from 1937, was substantially redesigned by Robert Trent Jones Sr in 1991.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Faro
Murray, Terry

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

Terry Murray designed all three nines: Guadiana & Atlantico nines (opened 2000) and Grouse-nine (2008).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Porto
Sotto-Mayor, Duarte

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Porto

Designer

Duarte Sotto-Mayor

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Lisbon
Roquemore, Rocky

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lisbon

Designer

Rocky Roquemore

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Lisbon
Steel, Donald

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lisbon

Designer

Donald Steel

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Lisbon
Steel, Donald

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lisbon

Designer

Donald Steel

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Faro
Hawtree, Martin

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

Martin Hawtree

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Setubal
da Silva, Santana

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Setubal

Designer

Jorge Santana da Silva

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Porto
Olazabal, Francisco Javier

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Porto

Designer

Portugal's 15th best course (Golf World, 2022).
Continental Europe's 132nd best course (Golf World, 2023).

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Portimao
Pennink & RTJ II

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Portimao

Designer

Original design by Frank Pennink (1975). Extended to 27-holes and redesigned by Robert Trent Jones Jr (2011).

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Ponta Delgada
Ross, Cameron & Powell

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Ponta Delgada

Designer

First nine-holes laid out by Philip Mackenzie Ross (1936); extended to 18-holes by Bob Cameron & Chris Powell (1992).

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Lisbon
Roquemore, Rocky

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lisbon

Designer

Rocky Roquemore

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Setubal
Mayor, Duarte Sotto

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Setubal

Designer

Duarte Sotto Mayor
3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Portimao
Cotton, Henry

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Portimao

Designer

Sir Henry Cotton (1907-87) designed the course at Alto Golf in 1986; the course opened in 1991.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Portimao
Fream, Ronald

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Portimao

Designer

Ronald (Ron) Fream

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Portimao
Vasconselos & Graves

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Portimao

Designer

Pedro Vasconselos (1994) with later improvements by Robert Muir Graves.

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Faro
Hawtree, Martin

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

Martin Hawtree

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Faro
Mitchell & Lee

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

Holes 1-5 and 15-18 were designed by William Mitchell (1974). Holes 6-14 designed by Joseph "Joe" Lee & Rocky Roquemore (1989). Major revamp by Beau Welling & Paul McGinley (2014).

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Faro
Mitchell, William

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

William Mitchell

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Lisbon
Robinson, Cabell

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lisbon

Designer

Cabell B. Robinson

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Faro
O'Connor Jr, Christy

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

Christy O'Connor Jr.

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Setubal
Jones Sr, Robert Trent

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Setubal

Designer

Robert Trent Jones Sr.

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Faro
Palmer, Arnold

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

Arnold Palmer

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Porto Santo
Ballesteros, Seve

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Porto Santo

Designer

Seve Ballesteros

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Lisbon
Steel, Donald

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lisbon

Designer

Donald Steel

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Lisbon
Steel, Donald

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lisbon

Designer

Donald Steel

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Lisbon
Pennink, Frank

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lisbon

Designer

Frank Pennink

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Faro
Roquemore, Rocky

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

Rocky Roquemore

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Setubal
Roquemore, Rocky

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Setubal

Designer

Rocky Roquemore

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Faro
da Silva, Santana

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

Jorge Santana da Silva

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Lisbon
King, Michael

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lisbon

Designer

Michael King (European Golf Design)

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Lisbon
Ballesteros, Seve

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lisbon

Designer

Seve Ballesteros

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Faro
Pennink, Frank

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

Original design by Frank Pennink, with later modifications by Martin Hawtree.

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Portimao
Fream, Ronald

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Portimao

Designer

Ronald Fream (designed the opening four and closing five holes).

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Faro
Faldo, Nick

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

Nick Faldo

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Porto
Cameron & Powell

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Porto

Designer

Original nine-hole course designed by Philip Mackenzie Ross (1936); extended to 18-holes by Bob Cameron & Chris Powell, of Cameron Powell & Assocs (2010).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Faro
Roquemore, Rocky

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

Rocky Roquemore

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Visitors welcome
Faro
Nicklaus, Jack

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

A Jack Nicklaus Signature Course.

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Lisbon
Jones II, Robert Trent

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lisbon

Designer

Robert Trent Jones II (lead designer Kyle Phillips).

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Faro
Lee, Joseph

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

Joseph "Joe" Lee

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Faro
Steel, Donald

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

Donald Steel

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Faro
Cotton, Henry

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

Original design by Sir Henry Cotton, with later changes by Rocky Roquemore (2003).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Faro
Cotton, Henry

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

Original design by Sir Henry Cotton, with later changes by Rocky Roquemore (1997).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Lisbon
Townsend, Peter

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lisbon

Designer

Peter Townsend (European Golf Design)

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Faro
Ballesteros, Seve

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

Seve Ballesteros

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Faro
Cotton, Henry

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

Sir Henry Cotton (1907-87) designed the course at Benamor in 1986; the course was completed and opened for play in 2000.

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Faro
Lee, Joseph

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

Joseph "Joe" Lee

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Portimao
Swan, Howard

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Portimao

Designer

Howard Swan

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Portimao
European Golf Design

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Portimao

Designer

European Golf Design

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Visitors welcome
Lisbon
Dye, Cynthia

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lisbon

Designer

Cynthia Dye McGarey of the Dye Design Group.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Lisbon
Jones Sr, Robert Trent

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lisbon

Designer

Robert Trent Jones Sr.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Portimao
Cotton, Henry

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Portimao

Designer

Sir Henry Cotton

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Faro
Pennink, Frank

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Faro

Designer

Original design by Frank Pennink; later modifications by Robert Trent Jones Sr (1985).

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Wkends restrictd
Lisbon
Hills, Arthur

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Lisbon

Designer

Arthur Hills

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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