Lisbon from a golfer’s perspective

A golfer’s life is divided in two: before and after he or she started playing golf. Golf is a watershed. Those two words are made for one another. Does the same go for holidays? Are a golfer’s holidays different from those when they did not play golf? What is our perspective of a country, region and city now that we play golf? Our editor Lia Grooters put it to the test. She left for Lisbon with her golf clubs and looked at the city and the region through the eyes of a golfer.

It is over 10 years ago I visited Lisbon for the first time. It was a great experience. Many times, I returned and the city and its surroundings never ceased to surprise me. The people are friendly and Lisbon itself with its quarters Chiado, Bairro Alto and Alfama made an indelible impression on me. The river Tagus cuts the city in half and a copy of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge connects the two parts. Lisbon is a romantic city with all kinds of entertainment. That does not change whether you are a golfer or not. You visit the city after playing 18 holes or in between two golfing days. Lisbon is a city to fall in love with. A love that deepens the more you visit the city. For days, you can stroll through the city without getting bored. The city’s nightlife is dazzling. Doca’s with a huge amount of restaurants, and Bairro Alto are favourite hotspots. On weekends, all of Lisbon visits these quarters. Very busy, but also a lot of fun.

Lisbon Nightlive

Nothing beats having an espresso early in the morning in one of the bars in Bairro Alto’s narrow streets with Lisbon’s working population. Do not be afraid to be a tourist among the Portuguese. When visiting Bélém with its famous Torre, you will soon find out two third of the tourists is Portuguese. Definitely worthwhile is the famous tramline 28 to Alfama, the higher situated quarter.
You get the same feeling with Lisbon’s surroundings. You definitely want to come back. Famous places are Cascais, Estoril, Sintra on the north side of the river Tagus and Setubal, Sesimbra on the south side of the river. The Costa Azul lives up to its name. While driving on the elevated coastal road you can enjoy a fascinating panoramic view.

Last but not least, golf. In plenty! As can be expected in Portugal, they have built several beauties in this part of the country. Most of them were built in the past 10 to 15 years. Often surrounded by resorts and private villas.
Just open a brochure on golf courses in this area and you see the most beautiful pictures. This area is very popular with golfers, who book a trip individually or travel to the area of Lisbon with a tour operator.
Most amateur golfers who just started to play golf, will not have an easy time on most courses in this area. The first hole often is a challenging par 5 and there are numerous tricky water hazards to overcome. However, even amateur golfers who like a challenge and will not let a setback get them down, can really enjoy golf here.
We visited Quinta da Marinha and Quinta do Peru

Quinta do Peru

Prepare yourself for a unique golf experience, that is what the brochure on this 18 hole, par 72 golf course says. Is it really a unique experience to play this course? What does it matter! What matters is the fact it is a beautifully designed course that is fantastically embedded in the countryside. Pine trees bordering the holes give the course a natural character. There are several treacherous holes on the course. The green of hole 10 for instance, is bordered by 5 bunkers and for many golfers it is difficult to reach the green without a bunker shot. Portugal suffered from a long drought this summer. However, looking at the water hazards of Quinta do Peru, you realise this course has enough water for years to come. You have to overcome several nasty water hazards. Especially hole 8 will be etched in every woman’s memory. You just cannot avoid the water and from the tee you need a really long shot to cross it. It is also no wonder the bottom of hole 12’s water hazard is covered with golf balls.
The greens of Quinta Do Peru are in excellent condition. Once your ball is on the green you experience how fast these greens are.
Next to all these tricky hazards, there is a lot to enjoy. Take for instance hole 10 (the one with 5 bunkers surrounding the green), that offers a splendid view of mount Arrábida. Those are the times you forget you did not play your best game on all holes.
Course info on: Quinta do Peru

Quinta da Marinha

With such a name, this course must be close to the ocean. And it is. The famous architect Robert Trent Jones designed the Quinta da Marinha 18 holes golf course. The first nine holes face inland. The second nine face the Atlantic Ocean. It is definitely not an easy course to play, but on the other hand, it is very challenging. The amateur golfer who just started to play golf, will find this course quite tough. However, there is nothing more satisfying than playing this course reasonably. There are few water hazards, but the holes where you have to cross water, are quite tough. Teeing off on hole number 5, men need a long shot to cross the water hazard.
The most spectacular holes are holes number 13 and 14. Number 13 is named Atlantic Ocean, and of course, it leads you to a sensational view of the Atlantic Ocean.
Hole 14, Ravine, is a short par 3 and is played over a gorge. It requires cautious play. There is no way you would want to descend into the gorge to retrieve your ball.
The clubhouse’s name is Cosí fan Tutti. We soon found out the name has nothing to do with Mozart’s famous opera Cosí fan Tutte or with the literal meaning “this is the way all women do it”. The manager told us the name had a nice Italian ring to it and it suited the restaurant’s Italian cuisine. We share his opinion.
Course info on: Quinta da Marinha


What strikes one most is the fact that green fees for individual golfers are a bit steep. It makes sense to book your trip through a golf tour operator. Packages that include accommodation and green fees are usually a lot cheaper.

For more information:
www.visitlisboa.com
www.estorilcoast.com
www.costa-azul.rts.pt
On this pages you will find information for your stay at this area. For information on TAP’s flights visit www.Tap.com.