PGA Aroeira No. 2

Aroeira Golf Resort is a 900-acre paradise for golfers and non-golfers alike. It's situated on the Setubal Peninsula within a glorious preservation area. Lisbon is a mere 20 kilometres to the north, so naturally Aroeira benefits from a temperate microclimate that allows all-year-round golf, which is fortunate as the resort boasts two top quality golf courses.

Designed by Martin Ebert when he worked with Donald Steel, the course opened for play in 2000. The course is a par 72 measuring 6,401 metres and was built to European Tour recommendation standards. Penn A2 grass was used on the greens, which can be cut to a height of only 2mm, the first course in Portugal to do so.

Like Aroeira (Pines Classic), Aroeira (Challenge) is superbly crafted through heavily wooded, gently undulating terrain. However, unlike its stable mate, Aroeira (Challenge) also boasts six large lakes around which many of the holes are routed.

The holes are long and cleverly shaped using the natural contours of the land and some of the bunkers have a Scottish pot bunker style. The greens are large and slick. Avoiding the trees, sand and water will be a constant battle. Golfers of all standards should enjoy the course but to play to handicap here is a feat not many will achieve.