Portugal is well established as one of the world’s leading golfing destinations. Players flock here from all over Europe and beyond to test their handicap, perfect their swing and aim for that holy grail of a hole in one. If you are a keen golfer – or even a beginner intrigued to know what all the fuss is about, why not try out the golf in Sintra.
The Sintra area is home to some of the best and most well-known golf courses in Portugal, offering diverse terrain and challenges to please beginners and professionals alike. There are several championship courses in the area, along with golf academies, nine-hole courses for those who prefer to leave themselves with plenty of time for sightseeing or relaxing on the beach in the afternoons and a wide selection of sweeping 18-holes with wide fairways, beautifully manicured greens plenty of obstacles to ensure your round is fun but fierce.
The Sintra area has also become a popular location for golf and country club-style resorts, with plenty of five-star luxury establishments to choose from, surrounded by the rolling fairways and shaded tree-lined greens and offering an unmatched array of sports and recreational facilities to choose from. Check in and take your pick from the places to play golf in Sintra, from golf academies, tennis training camps, equestrian centres and football camps along with more pools and spa complexes than you could count.
Penha Longa Atlantic Course
The famous Atlantic course at Penha Longa was designed by renowned course-maker Robert Trent Jones Junior and sits within the heart of the beautiful Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, the area of protected land that stretches the distance from Cascais on the Estoril coast to the peaks of the mountain range of the Serra de Sintra. The Atlantic course weaves its way through a verdant landscape of manicured grassland and pine, oak and eucalyptus trees, twisting and turning, cresting rocky hillsides and dipping into water-lined rolling valleys.
The Atlantic Course is at Penha Longa is ranked amongst the top 30 courses in the European continent and is certainly one of the best places to play golf in Sintra. Its standing is cemented by its position as the host of the Portuguese Open Golf Tournament which takes place here annually, a meeting place for the best of the best in professional world golf. Penha Longa is also an interesting historical site in its own right. The estate is home to a fourteenth-century monastery as well as two palaces, a church and several famous water features that were added over subsequent centuries. Facilities include tennis, horse riding, club house, golf academy, Jacuzzi, sauna, spa, hotel and restaurant.
Green fees: Weekends: 18 Hole – € 130.00 Weekdays: 18 Hole – € 98.00 (concessions available to residents at selected local hotels)
Maximum Handicaps Allowed: Men 28, Women 36 Soft Spikes
Lessons:
30 minutes (1 Pax) – € 30.00
Quinta da Beloura
The attractive course at Quinta da Beloura is located on the flat land plane that runs between the town of Sintra and the beach town of Cascais, known as the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. The course offers some attractive views out across the rolling green hills and down to the Atlantic waters beyond, making it the perfect place for a leisurely round in which to test your golfing prowess whilst drinking in the exotic beautify of your unique surroundings. The course is dotted with challenging features, carefully designed as master touches of attractive décor, including several lakes and water features, which are likely to catch out even the most accomplished of players. Quinta da Beloura is host to a number of facilities to keep its guests happy and occupied, including a driving range, putting green, pro shop and golf academy as well as a restaurant and bar for relaxing after your round.
Green fees: Weekends: 18 Hole – € 72.50 Weekdays: 18 Hole – € 55.00
Maximum Handicaps Allowed:
Men 28, Women 36 Soft Spikes
Lessons:
25 minutes (1 Pax) – € 25.00, 50 minutes (1 Pax) – € 49.00, 9 holes on course (1 Pax) € 54.00 plus green fee
Golf Academy Estoril
Beginners or early stage golfers visiting the region may feel a little in awe of the 18-hole classic courses on offer. Those who wish to practice in a more low-key environment often enjoy a trip to the Golf Academy Estoril. This is the perfect spot for beginners with several par-3 holes designed to improve confidence and technique. The Golf Academy Estoril is situated at the foothills of the Sintra mountain range and offers attractive views out across the characteristic local scenery. Facilities include a driving range, putting green, pro shop and golf academy plus a bar and restaurant on site.
Green fees: 9 Holes – € 26.00 Juniors: € 10.00
Maximum Handicaps Allowed: No limit
Lessons: A wide variety of group and individual lessons is available at the Golf Academy Estoril. Consult the academy direct to discuss the options that best meet your needs.
Estoril Golfe Clube
Estoril Golfe Clube is one of the longest-established golf courses in the country, set up back in 1929 as a nine-hole course and expanded to 18 holes in 1945, and is the former host of the Portuguese Open golf championship. The course at Estoril Golfe Clube has undergone significant remodelling several times during its lifetime and offers a suitable challenging 18-hole course combined with a nine-hole option, which is popular amongst beginners. Thanks to its diversity it is now the ideal option for groups of mixed ability who are all looking for something different out of their golfing experience. Facilities include a driving range, putting green, golf academy, pro shop, restaurant, bar and swimming pool.
Green fees: Weekends: 18 Hole – € 71.00 Weekdays: 18 Hole – € 57.00
Maximum Handicaps Allowed: Men 28, Women 36 Soft Spikes
Lessons:
30 minutes (1 Pax) – € 20.00
There are so many courses in the Sintra region it would be impossible to list them all here, so instead we have focused on providing a cross-section of what is on offer. Check on line or at the local tourist office on your arrival for a full listing of all the courses in the wider area. Whatever your requirements or level, Golf in Sintra is certain to please.
