2 weeks away from our Portugal golf trip!

[hammergolf]

Counting the days! Playing Oitivos Dunes, Royal Obidos, West Cliffs, and Praia Del Rey. 

[Chanceman]

When do you go? I have a mate who will be at R Obidos from Sept 27/28 to about Oct 2.

[hammergolf]

On 9/10/2023 at 3:23 PM, Chanceman said:

When do you go? I have a mate who will be at R Obidos from Sept 27/28 to about Oct 2.

We fly out Thursday. First round is at Oitivos Dunes on the 23rd, Royal Obidos on the 24th and 29th, West Cliffs on the 25th and 27th, and Praia D’el Rey on the 26th and 28th. If your mate is on those courses any days, would love to meet him and have a drink after the round.

Edited September 18, 2023 by hammergolf

[ivygynonc]

How was your trip?  It sounds like an amazing week of golf.  Looking forward to your review.  

Edited October 2, 2023 by ivygynonc

[stanford88]

Looking forward to hearing your review!

[hammergolf]

On 10/1/2023 at 8:49 PM, ivygynonc said:

How was your trip?  It sounds like an amazing week of golf.  Looking forward to your review.  

Just got back from two weeks in Portugal. It’s always been one of my favorite countries to visit because of the people, the weather, and views. Now I can add golf into those reasons. My guys on the trip absolutely LOVED Portugal and the courses. We played Oitivos Dunes, Royal Obidos twice, Praia D’el Rey twice, and West Cliffs twice. If you are looking for a very reasonably priced fall golf trip with PERFECT weather, give Portugal’s Silver Coast a look. 
 

OITIVOS DUNES

Good design with a mix of tree lined and open links style holes. Really nice collection of par3 and par5 holes. Situated on the cost with sone nice views. Conditions were good with very tricky greens with a strong couple finishing holes. 

 

ROYAL OBIDOS

Interesting design by Seve with quite a bit of elevation changes. Was in great condition since The Portuguese Open was placed there the week before. In was overwatered and playing a bit soft, but in good shape with really thick, brutal rough. A few guys lost balls just steps off the fairway. Some great views and quirky holes. Definitely worth the play.

 

 

 

WEST CLIFFS

Amazing views and design. Definitely the tougher of all the courses with very undulating greens. Course was designed by Pete Dye’s niece, and it’s definitely visually intimidating but has more room than it looks. Really great elevation changes, and use of the land. This is one of those courses some will love, and some will hate. A couple of the greens have some “interesting” slopes and kickers that you need to play multiple times to learn. Greens were really good speed, fwys were average, but Ray Charles must be in charge of the bunkers…. They were absolutely awful. Some holes more rocks than sand, some holes with no sand at all. If this course was conditioned properly it could be a top 100 contender. This was by far the favorite course of the group. Had a nice holeout eagle from the fwy on #4! 
 

 

 

PRAIA D’EL REY

Really fun course to play with some very nice views. Challenging enough, but not as demanding as West Cliffs. Cool mix of tree lined and Oceanside links holes. Course was in good shape and had a good mix of tough and easier holes. The guys really enjoyed this one too. 


 

 

[hammergolf]

On 10/7/2023 at 7:35 PM, stanford88 said:

Looking forward to hearing your review!

It was a GREAT trip! Exceeded my expectations and can’t wait to go back.

[ESOX ZO]

Oh man, I'm planning a 2025 trip and had NZ on my radar and priced out but this looks amazing. 

[LukeDonaldsTiger]

Great post! I was there in 2019 and loved West Cliffs and Praia. Especially West Cliffs is a great looking and challenging course.
The whole area is reasonably priced and great getaway from the cold in the fall. 

The beaches around Praia (=beach) D‘El Rey are absolutely beautiful, too. Easy to get there from Lisbon by rental car, but not much else to see, to be honest.

Coimbra was boring and Porto was too far for us and our schedule.

Lisbon is absolutely worth a day, beautiful city. Estoril (20 minute drive) has an old school course that had the best greens I have putted on in a long time. Close by race track can get loud, took slow me a while to realize it’s not a bunch of bikers on the highway 🙄

 

Glad you liked it as much as I did. I would play West Cliffs and Praia more than the others. Bom Successo (also in that area) was undergoing heavy maintenance and I heard the resort was a failed project and looks pretty depressing, so I felt we didn’t miss anything. Didn’t play Oitavos Dunes but heard good things, too. 

Edited October 17, 2023 by LukeDonaldsTiger

[hammergolf]

4 hours ago, ESOX ZO said:

Oh man, I'm planning a 2025 trip and had NZ on my radar and priced out but this looks amazing. 

Not sure if Portugal has the amount of courses like NZ, but it’s prob 1/3 to 1/2 the price. All in it was around $2k for the week.

[hammergolf]

4 hours ago, LukeDonaldsTiger said:

Great post! I was there in 2019 and loved West Cliffs and Praia. Especially West Cliffs is a great looking and challenging course.
The whole area is reasonably priced and great getaway from the cold in the fall. 

The beaches around Praia (=beach) D‘El Rey are absolutely beautiful, too. Easy to get there from Lisbon by rental car, but not much else to see, to be honest.

Coimbra was boring and Porto was too far for us and our schedule.

Lisbon is absolutely worth a day, beautiful city. Estoril (20 minute drive) has an old school course that had the best greens I have putted on in a long time. Close by race track can get loud, took slow me a while to realize it’s not a bunch of bikers on the highway 🙄

 

Glad you liked it as much as I did. I would play West Cliffs and Praia more than the others. Bom Successo (also in that area) was undergoing heavy maintenance and I heard the resort was a failed project and looks pretty depressing, so I felt we didn’t miss anything. Didn’t play Oitavos Dunes but heard good things, too. 

It was great trip and even exceeded our expectations. Weather was perfect, and prices were really cheap. There is a new resort opening just south of Lisbon in Comporta that will be very good as well. Definitely is a great and reasonably priced destination for a fall golf trip.