|
Golf
in Lisbon
Portugal is an unspoilt country of many charms and one that once
visited becomes stuck in the memory for some time. Here, amid the
searing midday sun and welcoming avenues of evening restaurants,
are friendly locals who are only too happy to welcome you to their
country with open arms.
 Indeed,
the food and wine make for an excellent evening's entertainment
and the climate is mild in the winter and warm in the summer. The
diverse countryside offers plenty of opportunities for exploring
and, of course, there are some wonderful golf courses dotted all
over.
The pace of life is slow and the locals, who have grown towards
the game of golf, tend to take that particular trait onto the course
with them.
The popular haunt of the Algarve may have at first attracted you
to the thought of a quick jaunt to the land of Figo and friends,
but it is the delights of Lisbon that have been acquiring the attentions
of more golfers every year. Lisbon, in fact, has been acquiring
a name for itself as a fitting neighbour to the highly thought of
Algarve. And it's easy to see why.
The capital city now boasts no less than twelve courses to the
west and north of Lisbon near the elegant resorts of Estoril and
Cascais, and to the south around the beautiful, unspoilt Costa Azul,
some 30 miles from the city centre.
The vast majority of hotels are all situated either beside or
not far from the courses, so you needn't travel unnecessary far
distances in muggy conditions just for a few holes of golf.
 The
Quinta da Marinha is a first class hotel with its own golf course
and is ideally only five minutes from the beach. It provides a very
tranquil and relaxed setting for your golfing holiday. A Robert
Trent Jones design and host to the Estoril Open a few years ago
this course is set in 100 acres of lush countryside and was recently
renovated to cope with the increasing number of visitors from abroad.
Villas de Sesimbra offers the benefits of a hotel with the space
and freedom of apartments and has a fantastic position underneath
the imposing walls of the Castle of Sesimbra with views towards
the sea. There are three courses nearby, Aroeira, Troia and Quinta
da Peru golf courses, and each offer a tough but enjoyable challenge.
On the hillside overlooking the bay of Sesimbra, one of the most
picturesque fishing villages on the Costa Azul, the well managed
Hotel Do Mar takes a justified pride in its standards of service
and cuisine. Some of the hotels are located not far from each other
so, essentially, you are spoilt for choice.
 The
hotel's main bar has a wonderful veranda overlooking the bay and
offers a perfect setting for relaxing in the evenings. Here, you
and your golfing buddies can sit back and reminisce the day's golf
while anticipating your next round in the sun.
All in all the thought of golf in Lisbon should be enough to make
you search for your golf shorts straight away. Who could possibly
turn down the chance to play some great courses with the sun on
your back and enjoy a few glasses of the local tipple in the evening? |
English Golf Courses 
