Bom Sucesso - Lisbon & Centre - Portugal
Lugar do Bom Sucesso,
2510-662 Vau,
Óbidos,
Portugal
+351 262 965 310
5 km SW of Caldas da Rainha
Welcome
Michel Thiran
Martin Ebert with Donald Steel
Filipe Gonçalves
Visit Golfbreaks.com for a golf holiday at Bom Sucesso
The fairways at Bom Sucesso were laid out by Martin Ebert when he was one of the lead architects with Donald Steel’s design company and they comprise an 18-hole championship course that occupies a spectacular site alongside the Lagoa de Óbidos, an hour’s drive to the north of Lisbon. Set within a substantial residential development that lies close to Portugal’s Silver Coast, many of the elements of the course design were fashioned with a nod towards the old classic layouts such as building in a degree of randomness when shaping the putting surfaces and green surrounds. The first nine holes are played out on relatively level terrain whilst the back nine rises and falls across a more undulating landscape and it’s on this hillier part of the property where a round on the course ends in splendid style with a trio of impressive closing holes. Hole 16 starts this sequence; a tough, uphill par four that leads to the highest point on the course, a position that affords fantastic panoramic views of the surrounding area. The penultimate fairway on a left doglegged par five then swings downhill to a far distant green – located some 530 metres from the back tees – before the 18th heads back to the clubhouse, crossing a stream and a pond fronting the putting surface on the home green. |
Reviews for Bom Sucesso
We stumbled across Bom Successor by accident when we were fogged off at Praia d'el Rey recently. The first impressions were not great as the only hole visible when driving in was the scruffy and bland par 3 , 10th hole.
We persevered and were very glad we did. Once past the ordinary opening hole the course just got better and better. It's tough but also surprisingly captivating in parts. Great mixture of holes - from big par 4s of 450 yards plus to an almost drivable 4. Although the greens did not look great, they putted well and were smooth.
The par 3s are strong with anything from 5 irons to rescues off the backs.
The best hole is the par 5, 17th which is a classic risk and reward design but also beautiful. The finishing hole (par 4 of 440 yards) is just nuts and possibly too tough with a 100 foot drop to the fairway which left circa 200 yards in over 2 streams before the green.
In summary, a really decent track which compliments a strong cohort in the area.
Interest levels back up at the 8th; a 300 yard par-4 turning right but with a fairway sloping left gives a lot to think about off of the tee. A pretty par-3 opens the back 9 but the par-4 11th is another in the un-inspiring category. The 12th is a favourite of mine; a par-4 just under 400 yards, water to the right with the hole turning left to an off-set green – a very clever design, getting the player thinking the whole way. The 16th is an uphill par-4 at only 300 yards but the uphill element is not very flattering on drive-length! Some may say that the final two holes at Bom Sucesso are worth the green-fee alone. The 17th tee is the best photo opportunity as it is the highest point and has stunning views – the hole is a par-5 that is a massive dog-leg, around 400 yards straight and then turning left and downhill 180 yards and there is the green. All the way to the hole, you are moving downhill and with a hint of right to left it is unlikely that you will have a flat lie for your tricky approach lay-up. The 18th is a conundrum – the elevated tee is a very nice place to be, inviting a big last drive – watch out though as the stream at around 300 yards awaits and it is in range to those who normally hit around 250 yards. The stream needs crossing for a second time just short of the green, making this an absolute beast of a final hole – two pars at 17 and 18 and the first drink at the clubhouse terrace above, will taste so sweet. Quick note for the greens…. very good indeed, fast and true. Off-course, the spec and variety of the accommodation here is very high and would be my choice for the best golfing base to explore the region.