Costa Terra

Portugal's golf scene has undergone a dramatic transformation. A course outside the Algarve claims the number one position, whilst six new entries reshape the rankings and historic venues stage remarkable comebacks. The 2026 Update Top 50 reveals unprecedented movement across all regions, with Lisbon & Central emerging as the nation's new powerhouse. View the complete Top 50 Golf Courses of Portugal Ranking 2026 Ranking Update: A Historic Reshaping With approximately 86 eighteen-hole courses spread across five distinct regions, Portugal continues to deliver exceptional quality relative to its modest course inventory. The 2026 Top 50 represents the most volatile ranking in the country's modern history, with only four courses maintaining their previous positions. A deeper-than-ever panel of well-played locals and international contributors helped make this the best yet. 2026 Top 50 At A Glance Power Shift at the Summit Terras da Comporta (Dunas) is in the number one position, marking the first time since 2008 that a Lisbon & Central course has claimed Portugal's top ranking after a full ranking refresh. Monte Rei (North) holds at number two after a fifteen-year reign as undisputed champion, whilst Quinta do Lago (South) surges three places to third, reclaiming the podium and establishing itself as the Algarve's premier traditional resort course. Six Dramatic New Entries The 2026 rankings welcome six courses, all entering the Top 25: UPDATE - 22 Jan 2026 - Troia Golf – Robert Trent Jones Snr's 1980 design returns triumphantly after resolving conditioning issues from early 2025. The course has new ownership and management, and in 2026, it will be closed for play. We had it ranked 4th upon the release of the ranking. As soon as we know more, we will update the ranking. #8: Pinheirinho Comporta - formerly known as Herdade do Pinheirinho #10: Terras da Comporta (Torre) – The second Comporta layout establishes the region as Portugal's premier new destination #13: The Els Club Vilamoura – Ernie Els Design brings modern championship standards to the crowded Vilamoura market #18: Montado Hotel & Golf Resort – Continues Lisbon & Central's emergence as golf's growth region #21: Ombria Golf Course – Fulfils 2023's prediction as the anticipated Algarve newcomer The Biggest Climbers Pine Cliffs Resort: Enters the Top 50 at #38 Quinta do Vale: Up 16 places to #32, proving Seve Ballesteros's vision endures Vilamoura Golf (Millennium): Up 14 places to #31 Boavista and Benamor: Both enter the Top 50 at #40 and #45, respectively Salgados Golf Club: Up 12 places to #37 Dom Pedro (Pinhal) and Dom Pedro (Laguna): Both up 10 places, strengthening Vilamoura's portfolio Best Portuguese Golf Courses by Region Lisbon & Central firmly establishes itself as Portugal's quality leader despite the Algarve's numerical dominance. The Silver Coast and Comporta corridor – anchored by West Cliffs, both Terras da Comporta layouts, and Praia D'El Rey – forms one of Europe's most exciting coastal golf destinations. Algarve maintains the majority of the Top 50, demonstrating depth across western resort clusters (Vilamoura, Vale do Lobo, Quinta do Lago) and eastern championship venues (Monte Rei, the Quintas da Ria and de Cima). Quinta do Lago's three-course portfolio places all layouts in the Top 20, whilst Vilamoura's renaissance sees five courses ranked, including The Els Club's impressive top 15 debut. Porto & North contributes just one ranked course, but Estela Golf Club's rise to #11 proves quality over quantity. The links layout north of Póvoa de Varzim remains the finest golf north of Lisbon. Madeira & Porto Santo and Azores together provide four island courses, led by Santo da Serra at #24 and Furnas at #22. These Atlantic outposts offer distinctive golf within spectacular volcanic and subtropical settings. What the Rankings Tell Us Lisbon & Central's Renaissance The capital region's emergence represents Portuguese golf's most significant geographical shift in two decades. With Terras da Comporta (both Dunas and Torre), West Cliffs, Herdade do Pinheirinho, Oitavos Dunes, and Praia D'El Rey all positioned in the top thirteen, Lisbon's coastal corridor now rivals the Algarve for championship pedigree. The Silver Coast's clifftop terrain and Comporta's duneland provide dramatic settings that contrast sharply with the Algarve's more manicured resort aesthetic, generally speaking. Monte Rei's Graceful Transition Jack Nicklaus's only Portuguese design, Monte Rei's #2 position and Continental Europe Ranked status confirm its historic pedigree. The heavily sand-protected holes around attractive water hazards remain Portugal's purest championship test. Vilamoura's Four-Course Surge All four previously ranked Vilamoura courses climbed positions, whilst The Els Club debuts at #14. This collective rise seems to indicate continued improvement across the resort's five-course portfolio well-received by the panel. Historic Summary of Portugal’s Rankings 2014: Establishing the Foundation Portugal's Top 40 emphasised quality over quantity, with Monte Rei commanding the summit and the Algarve providing the lion's share of ranked courses. Royal Obidos entered at #20 as Seve Ballesteros's final architectural work, whilst Palmares climbed following Robert Trent Jones Jr's comprehensive remodel. The eastern Algarve quintas – Monte Rei, Quinta da Ria, and Quinta de Cima – established the region as Portugal's championship heartland. 2016: Mid-Decade Momentum The fifth edition maintained Top 40 structure whilst showcasing that all ten elite Portuguese courses occupied Continental Europe Top 100 positions. Oceanico (now Dom Pedro) Old climbed to third, Royal Obidos surged seven places to thirteenth, and Vale do Lobo Royal, Estela, and Vale da Pinta all made appreciable gains. Troia rose two places to fourth after addressing earlier conditioning concerns. 2018: West Cliffs Sensation Rankings expanded to Top 50 despite just 87 clubs operating nationally. Cynthia Dye's West Cliffs made a sensational debut at #2, having already crashed into Continental Europe's Top 100 at #16. The clifftop design generated immediate superlatives and established the Silver Coast as a premier destination. Quinta do Lago South rose to ninth, Vilamoura Victoria climbed to nineteenth, and Estela advanced to twenty-first. 2020: Steady Evolution With only 75 facilities supporting just over 15,000 registered golfers, Portugal maintained Top 50 status whilst placing eleven courses in Continental Europe's Top 100. Monte Rei announced its South course under Nicklaus Design construction. Palmares, Quinta do Lago South, and Quinta do Lago North all rose two places, whilst Ribagolfe (1) surged fourteen places to #29. Four courses debuted: Santo Estêvão, Ribagolfe (2), historic Estoril, and Quinta do Vale. 2023: Expansion and Anticipation In the eighth edition, Palmares climbed to third, Quinta do Lago Laranjal advanced to tenth, continuing its steady ascent since 2012, and Vilamoura Victoria rose to sixteenth. Vale do Lobo Ocean soared eleven places whilst Quinta da Ria rebounded eight positions. The rankings teased four imminent debuts – Ombria, Costa Terra, Pinheirinho, and Terras da Comporta (Dunas) – all described as making "substantial impact" on future rankings. That prediction proved accurate. Planning Your Portugal Golf Trip Portugal's compact geography allows for a remarkable variety of courses within modest driving times. Faro airport provides direct access to eastern Algarve champions Monte Rei, Quinta do Lago's three-course complex, and the Quintas da Ria and de Cima. Combine these with The Els Club Vilamoura and Dom Pedro Old Coursefor a week exploring championship pedigree alongside resort convenience. Lisbon's coastal corridor deserves dedicated attention. Terras da Comporta's two courses will eventually pair with Troia, whilst the Silver Coast delivers West Cliffs, Praia D'El Rey, Herdade do Pinheirinho, and Royal Obidos. Oitavos Dunes and both Aroeira layouts complete a Lisbon hub within an hour's drive of the capital. Porto & North rewards adventurous golfers with Estela, the nation's finest northern links, whilst Madeira and Azores offer distinctive Atlantic golf on island escapes. Santo da Serra and Palheiro showcase Madeira's subtropical splendour, whilst Furnas provides the Azores' volcanic drama. Looking Ahead Portugal's golf market shows signs of maturation after decades of resort-focused expansion. The new entries at Comporta, Pinheirinho, Montado, and Ombria suggest that the focus has shifted toward distinctive sites and architectural pedigree rather than quantity. David McLay Kidd's work at Comporta and Ernie Els's Vilamoura contribution exemplify this quality-first approach. Portugal's position within Continental Europe's elite appears secure, with 10-15 courses now in the discussion as Top 100 Europe contenders. As the golf world seeks authentic experiences beyond heavily manicured resort golf, Portugal's coastal drama, Comporta's duneland, and the Silver Coast's clifftop settings position the nation perfectly for sustained growth. View the complete Top 50 Golf Courses of Portugal Ranking

More Portuguese resorts for your consideration We embarked on our resort golf feature last January and thought we could maybe publish five or six articles for this topic. It turns out now, a year later, we’ve produced more than a dozen write-ups, with scope to revisit a few more mainstream European countries that still have more to reveal. Over the next couple of months, we’ll dive back into the Spanish Costas and take another look at France and Italy, but first we’re going back to the west side of the Iberian peninsula to sunny Portugal. We’ll start in the north, near Porto, then travel down past Lisbon before finishing in the south coast Algarve region. Vidago Palace Vidago Palace was built by King Carlos I in the early 1900s but it never became the monarch’s intended summer retreat as he died before it was completed in 1910. Instead, this regally appointed building became a hotel and in 1936 a 9-hole course (designed by Philip Mackenzie Ross) opened for business. In 2010, after a 5-year refurbishment of the entire property, the course re-emerged as an 18-hole layout with six of the original holes intact. The hotel boasts 60 guest rooms (41 Classic, 16 Superior, 3 Privilege), along with 6 Junior Suites and 4 Suites. In addition, there are 4 bars and restaurants, with breakfast served in the stunning Winter Garden on the ground floor. The spa offers hydrotherapy and thermal treatments, complemented by indoor and outdoor swimming pools. All told, Vidago Palace is a magical place to visit, presenting visitors with a unique journey back in time to a forgotten era of elegance and grandeur. Bom Sucesso One of 28 worldwide golf facilities in the European Tour Destinations roster, the resort of Bom Sucesso lies near the medieval town of Óbidos, with an 18-hole layout designed by Martin Ebert when he worked with Donald Steel. Holes on the golf course occupy a property close to the Lagoa de Óbidos, where fairways weave between substantial residential clusters, with water coming into play at a couple of holes. Accommodation comprises a range of 77 fully equipped villas and townhouse – created by 23 masters of contemporary architecture – which are set around the resort. They all feature a private furnished patio and access to an outdoor swimming pool (private or shared). There’s also a variety of other sports on offer, including 4 tennis courts, 2 padel courts and a multi-game court. CampoReal The course at Dolce CampoReal Lisboa is located around a 45-minute drive north of the capital in the Torres Vedras district, and it’s another early millennium production from Martin Ebert when he and design partner Tom Mackenzie were with Donald Steel’s company. Host venue for the LET’s Ladies Open of Portugal in 2010 and 2011, CampoReal is a fine test of golf, with holes laid out across rolling terrain. The hotel has 151 guest rooms and suites available for stay and play golfers and these extend to 133 deluxe and superior deluxe rooms, 11 suites and 7 premium rooms. There’s also self-catering apartment, townhouse and villa options outwith the main hotel building. The spa includes signature massages by therapists and a “water circuit” with sauna, jacuzzi and Turkish bath. Aroeira Aroeira Golf Resort on the Setubal Peninsula incorporates the Pines Classic course (formerly known as Aroeira 1) and Challenge course (renamed from Aroeira 2) and both 18-hole layouts are routed around a sandy-soiled pine forest which lies only a couple of kilometres from the golden sands of Praia Fonte da Telha. Both courses staged editions of the Ladies Open of Portugal between 2002 and 2004 and the Open de Portugal on the men’s professional circuit was also held at the older Pines Classic in 1996 and 1997.  The nearby 4-star Aroeira Lisbon Hotel opened a couple of years ago now and it’s already established a reputation as one of the best in the area. The accommodation amounts to a total of 66 double rooms in three varieties (standard, pool view and garden view), plus a couple of large suites. Massage therapists operate in the hotel’s wellness centre and there’s a handy shuttle service to both the clubhouse and the Aroeira Beach Bar. Morgado Russell Talley designed the course at Morgado Golf & Country Club when he worked with European Golf Design twenty years ago. This 36-hole golf facility is run by NAU Hotels and Resorts, who also operate another 18-hole course (called Álamos) at the same location near Portimão on the Algarve coast. The par 73 Morgado layout was first to appear here – with the par 71 Álamos unveiled three years later in 2006 – and this course hosted three editions of the Open de Portugal from 2017 to 2019. The on-site 4-star hotel has 98 air-conditioned guest rooms in total – 16 Standard (30m2), 52 Superior (36m2), 25 Deluxe (88m2) and 5 Duplex rooms composed of two rooms connected by an internal staircase – and the buffet restaurant can seat 90 residents. There’s also a lobby bar with terrace and a clubhouse snack bar. During the summer, all four outdoor swimming pools are popular, especially the two that are reserved for children. Salgados The Salgados course is situated 30 kilometres east of Morgado, laid out within a coastal Nature Reserve near Albuferia, where the palm-fringed fairways are set around quite a few large and testing water hazards. It’s also owned by NAU Hotels and Resorts so if you like alternative styles of golf then combining games at Morgado and Salgados is a great idea. All sorts of exotic birds reside in the small lakes, ponds and streams that are strung out along this stretch of the Algarve shoreline and if you factor in the fresh sea breezes that often blow in off the Atlantic then it can be quite a challenge to try and finish with the same golf ball that you first teed up on the 1st hole. The 5-star Salgados Palace hotel is positioned next to the course, with 228 guest rooms that range in size from 41 to 148 square meters. All the rooms – whether it’s a standard double, double with pool/sea view, or one of the various suites – have space, light and view in common. The spa has a 15-metre heated relaxation pool, jacuzzi, sauna and Turkish bath and there are four outdoor swimming pools. If you have any comment to make on the above article then please use the “WRITE A RESPONSE” link at the bottom of this page. Jim McCann Editor Top 100 Golf Courses

Lisbon – more golf resorts around the capital city We began a series of resort golf features a few months back with a look at The Argarve, which many consider to still be the top region for resort golf in all of continental Europe. We then followed that write-up with three similar articles on the Spanish Costas, the Canary Islands and Mallorcain the Balearics. It’s now time to return to Portugal to highlight some of the great golf on offer around Lisbon. We’ve made several trips to the region in the past few years and it never fails to impress. In this short report, we focus on two main geographical areas: the first is a cluster of three golf facilities located just over an hour’s drive north of the capital on the Silver Coast and the second is another small group of resorts in the Cascais municipality to the west of Lisbon on the popular Portuguese Riviera. PRAIA D’EL REY The recently renovated 5-star hotel at the Praia D’El Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort is one of three accommodation options at the resort, along with apartments and townhouses in The Beachfront and The Village. Cabell Robinson designed the 18-hole Praia D’El Rey layout with some of the fairways routed through undulating wooded terrain and others laid out on the flat, sandy-soiled shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean – it’s quite an intoxicating mix that provides unqualified variety from first tee shot to final putt. WEST CLIFFS A short 10-minute drive along the coast lies the new development at West Cliffs Ocean and Golf Resort, which is served by the same accommodation choices available at Prai D’El Rey. There are also Twin Villas available and in the future there will be around 500 housing units and a couple of high-end hotels constructed. Cynthia Dye designed the golf course and it opened to critical acclaim five years ago. However, it’s recognised as a tough track so you’re advised to choose your tees carefully and avoid the native areas of vegetation lining most of the fairways. ROYAL OBIDOS Running along the southern boundary of West Cliffs, the Royal Obidos Spa & Golf Resort is anchored by the 39-bedromm Evolutee boutique hotel which overlooks the Seve Ballesteros-designed course, with the accommodation complemented by the adjacent Mandalay Spa. Two editions of the Open de Portugal were held here in 2020 and 2021 and the event is due to be staged at Royal Obidos again this September, when Germany’s Marcel Schneider will defend his title. PENHA LONGA Situated seven kilometres inland from the coastal tourist destination of Estoril in Cascais, the Penha Longa Resort is set within a 545-acre National Park where a 194-room luxury hotel sits cheek by jowl in a beautiful setting with a 19th century palace that was originally founded as a monastery five centuries previously. The 18-hole Atlântico course is a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design which is routed across hilly, forested terrain and the signature 6th hole is framed by an old Roman aqueduct running diagonally alongside the green. OITAVOS DUNES The hotel at Oitavos Dunes is a very modern construction of steel and glass, boasting 142 surprisingly spacious bedroom and suites, each with full-height glass doors and a large balcony. The course is one of the few non-American offerings from Arthur Hills, opening for play 20 years ago. If you ignore spurious magazine rankings that have claimed it as a world-class layout then you’ll enjoy it as one of the best courses in Europe – even if the wind gets up, which it often does when you’re less than three kilometres from one of the most westerly point in continental Europe. QUINTA DA MARINHA Positioned immediately to the east of the Oitavos Dunes property, the recently renovated Onyria Quinta da Marinha Hotel extends to 198 rooms, with €1.5 million also spent refurbishing 27 on-site villas. The Quinta da Marinha course is a Robert Trent Jones Sr. layout from the mid-1980s which has had the holes re-sequenced due to the non-construction of an intended clubhouse. This makes things a little disjointed but it’s still a terrific track to play and one that bears many of the classic RTJ design traits involving sand and water. TROIA It would be remiss not to mention the Troia Resort located on the Tróia peninsula to the south of Lisbon, which is accessed by a frequent ferry service from Setúbal. With the Aqualuz Troia Lagoa and Aqualuz Troia Mar & Rio hotels and the Trioa Residence apartments and villas nearby, golfers are spoiled for choice wihen it comes to accommodation options. The course is another Robert Trent Jones Sr. design, with the Praia da Questa and the Praia da Costa da Gale beaches running along the west side of the sandy soiled property. COMPORTA DUNES Twenty-five kilometres further south, a new development is due to open next year at Comporta Dunes, outside the small coastal town of Carvalhal in the Alentejo region, and it’s a David McLay Kidd design that broke ground almost ten years ago before work ground to a halt when the owner ran into financial difficulties. Real estate developer Vinguard Properties and boutique hotel operator Amorim took over the property in 2019, hiring Conor Walsh (who’d worked on the completed first nine holes) to finish a project that had started six and a half years earlier. It’s fully expected that Amorim will also operate a small luxury hotel on site. Jim McCann Editor Top 100 Golf Courses