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Best golf resorts in Europe for beginners
Visitors have long flocked to Lisbon to soak up the fabulous architecture, history and cuisine. Head out of capital, onto the glorious Silver Coast and you will find one of Portugal’s finest golf resorts. Home to sun-soaked beaches and world-class golf Praia D’El Rey occupies a privileged position close to the medieval town of Obidos, famed for its whitewashed houses and Moorish castle.
Long a much-sought-after golf destination, the reputation of the resort has been bolstered further with the opening of the nearby West Cliffs in 2017. The new links-style looks set to join Praia D’El Rey as one of Portugal’s finest golf courses.
Ranks 38th in Continental Europe and 6th in Portugal
Praia D’El Rey’s par-73 championship course is perched dramatically along the region’s Silver Coast. It’s a landscape perfectly suited for golf. Set amid dense pine forests and lofty dunes, the course is incredibly varied, with players switching back and forth between links-style holes which meander along the sand dunes and those that carve their way through the trees and vegetation.
The course builds gradually, opening gently with three undulating holes played along the coastline, before heading inland with several cleverly bunkered treats. By the back nine, almost every hole is worthy of note and will provide a true test of every part of your golf game. The stretch of tough holes on the back nine culminates in the monstrous 17th which, measuring 620 yards uphill and often played into a stiff Atlantic breeze, can only be described as a beast.
Ranks 18th in Continental Europe and 2nd in Portugal
West Cliffs Golf Links is the most-talked-about new course to open in Continental Europe for a decade.
Opened for play in summer 2017, the layout is so good that many are already positioning West Cliffs as the best golf course in Europe and that reputation is only set to enhance as the golf course matures.
Designed by Cynthia Dye, the niece of acclaimed architect Pete Dye, the layout is sculpted over 200 hectares of rolling duneland. Gifted with a site naturally suited for golf, Dye has done a remarkable job to create a natural and sustainable course that blends seamlessly with the landscape.
Set against the glistening backcloth of the Atlantic Ocean, the course is nothing short of spectacular with sweeping vistas of the Berlengas Islands and the Obidos Lagoon.
Tipping out at 7,003 yards, players will require formidable length if they wish to play from the back tees. Nonetheless, with several teeing options, accessibility to golfers of all abilities will be assured.
At the heart of the resort is the luxurious Marriot hotel. Set along the resort’s private sandy beach and bathed in glorious year-round sunshine, the hotel was the first 5* hotel in Western Portugal and having recently received a swanky new upgrade continues to set the bar for luxury in the region. All 177 rooms offer unrivalled views of either the Atlantic Ocean or the golf course.
Delivering the very best in Portuguese hospitality, the hotel serves up an extensive array of facilities for guests to enjoy. Sport’s fanatics can make the most of a tennis academy and numerous water sports options. For something a little more relaxing, there is also an indoor or outdoor pool, health club and Turkish Baths.
There are also five restaurants serving local and authentic cuisine, while the clubhouse, which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, is the perfect place to relax after a day on the fairways.
Golfers can also enjoy their own slice of heaven at Praia D’El Rey. An oasis of relaxed style and world-class luxury there are an array of properties on site, ranging from beachside apartments to spacious villas and elegant townhouses. Owners can make the most of the resort’s golden beaches, championship golf and extensive facilities.
I was here for 5 days over NYE and had a great time. Weather was great and the courses played like proper links courses with the wind coming from the ocean. Played Praia D’el Rey and West Cliffs and both courses are great. Praia D’El Rey is a little less complex to play and has a beautiful design and scenery. West Cliffs is a tough course but beautifully designed. Very enjoyable for the better golfer! All in all a great experience and very recommendable!