Hotel & Tours Group

Celebrated for its sublime port wines and sultry fado music, Portugal is also a country awash in championship golf courses. Its tee culture was born in the 1920s, came of age in the 1960s, and has showed no signs of slowing down in recent years. The country can be divided into four distinct golf regions, making it easy for you to bunker down in any given area. Or, because Portugal is small, you can spread the love and tour the country course by course.

With a rich Moorish heritage, countless beaches and more than 30 golf courses, the Algarve on the southern coast is the place to start swinging your clubs. The area is blessed with a temperate year-round climate, and each course takes full advantage of its majestic natural setting. A wonderland of sand dunes, marshes and bird life, the Ria Formosa Natural Park provides the border for Pinheiros Altos, boasting two unique 9-hole layouts, and San Lorenzo, which has been designated an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. For play with spectacular Atlantic views, few compare to the Ocean Course at Vale do Lobo, and for experiencing the Algarve’s distinctive resort atmosphere, the Old Course at Vilamoura is a must.

While the Algarve is Portugal’s premier golf destination, the rest of the country is not to be missed, as the north, the Lisbon area and Madeira offer the opportunity to savor gastronomy and culture between putts. Beautifully situated between Lisbon and the Estoril Coast, the Penha Longa Hotel & Golf Resort makes a lovely base for exploring the capital city’s historic Alfama district and the quaint hill village of Sintra. Farther north, when touring Porto and the wineries of the Douro Valley, squeeze in a game at the Miramar Golf Course, one of the country’s oldest. Whether you’re interested in the cork forests of Alentejo, the medieval architecture of Coimbra or the beaches of Madeira, you will find the perfect course—like the perfect wine and food pairing—to incorporate into your days.