Lisbon – Portugal’s new golf destination?

For more than 30 years, the Algarve in the south of Portugal, with its perfect weather conditions and hundreds of prestigious golf courses, has been considered as being a golfer’s paradise and one of the top golf destinations in Europe.

Whilst this still remains true, the north of Portugal seems to be catching up the south in the golf stakes, with the likes of Lisbon rivalling the Algarve in catering for truly dynamic golfing experiences.

From being crowned as ‘Europe’s Leading Destination 2009’, to winning the title of ‘Europe’s Best Vacation Destination’ in 2010, in recent years, Lisbon has won a whole host of travel awards, beating competition from the likes of Copenhagen, Lyon, Barcelona, Prague and Berlin.

Alongside Lisbon’s unprecedented rise to being considered one of the best holiday destinations in Europe for the modern traveller, golf in the area has been growing with similar vigour and prestige.

Last year saw several new golf resorts open and golf events held in Lisbon and its surroundings, such as the first phase opening of the Royal Obidos Spa & Golf resort.

Covering a vast area of 65 metric acres, this 200 million euro development located just seven miles from Obidos to the north of Lisbon, comprises of an 18-hole Sevy Ballesteros-designed golf course, a five-star hotel, a clubhouse, spa, conference centre, restaurants and bars.

Following approval and the classification of the new golf course by the Portuguese Golf Federation (PGF), the official opening of the Royal Obidos Spa & Golf Resort took place on 2 January 2012, verifying that Lisbon’s growing presence in the international golf scene looks set to nurture in 2012.