Advice For Those Who Are Going To Play Golf In Cascais
Set on the Atlantic Ocean, west of Lisbon, Cascais is quickly becoming a favorite among golfers visiting Portugal and wanting to play courses outside of the popular Algarve region in the south.
Not only are the courses plentiful and varied, but the natural beauty on offer is simply stunning. Cascais has received many awards over the years including the ‘Established Golf Destination of the Year’ in 2003 from the International Association of Golf Tour Operators.
But what should you expect when choosing a golfing holiday in the Cascais region? Let’s take a look.
Stunning beauty
First and foremost, you will definitely note the incredible beauty along this stretch of coastline. With the blue Atlantic Ocean stretching onwards onto the horizon, each round will be accompanied by a welcoming cool breeze from the sea. Believe us when we say that you will welcome this thanks to the sun blazing down on you during your round.
Here, many of the golf courses are built in areas that have been untouched by human hands. This means natural fauna and flora surrounds you. Sometimes it's hard to focus on golf with the incredible beauty you will find while walking each course during your round.
Incredible course options
In the Cascais region, there are seven courses to choose from. Many of these are set along the coastline, offering challenging, links styled layouts that will test the golf game of even the most seasoned veteran. Courses include:
- Quinta da Marinha
- Oitavo Dunes Course
Designed by renowned golf architect Robert Trent Jones, Quinta da Marinha was first opened in 1984. Set along the coastline, this course is a major favorite in the region and is known for its challenging nature as well as a number of unique Par-3 holes.
Opened in 2001, Oitavo is a relatively new course designed by Arthur Hills. It is found between the historical town of Sintra and Cascais and while offering incredible views of the sea, is also surrounded by natural wooded areas filled with pine trees. Golf magazine has rated the course one of the top 100 in the world.
It’s not just about the golf
With one of Europe’s finest cities just a few minutes away – Lisbon – it pays to spend some time away from the golf course (if you can manage it!). Lisbon has many cultural attractions to explore, while the local cuisine is simply out of this world, especially if you love seafood. Take a trip to the historical attractions around Sintra and discover incredible ancient buildings and castles.
A trip to the Cascais region has something for everyone, but if it's an incredible golfing experience you are after, you will not be disappointed.