Ponte de Lima - Porto & North - Portugal

An underrated course compared to others on the Portugese list.

Typifies the green Minho region: lush flora i.e. vine wrapped trees, and rabbits bouncing around the back nine are only amplified by what may be one of the signature holes, the par 5 3rd, the last 150m of which is played through a vineyard.

Elevation on the front nine, and meandering creek on the back nine provide variety, as do mid-fairway trees on the 7th and 12th, an isolated green across the road to the course on the 9th, and the beautiful walk from 3rd to the 4th tee through a quinta as local vintners look on.

While ultimately a parkland course, there are few weak holes.

A splendid game of golf on a course that couldn't be more true to one of the most beautiful and authentic regions in Europe. Well maintained and warm service in the clubhouse.

Amazing course - one of the best I've ever played. Every hole was interesting and very scenic and the fairways and greens were in excellent condition. I can't wait to play this again but would recommend having a buggy. I must add the staff there were extremely helpful and friendly especially the lady in the shop!

The course at Ponte de Lima is unique in my experience with two vastly different nines To say that the front 9 is quirky is an understatement with it being routed through some of the hilliest woodland that you could ever imagine. Not only are there severe changes in elevation to contend with, you must add numerous blind shots and plenty of uncertainty as to where you should actually aim. Although we were assured by the locals that not everyone takes a buggy, we decided that these nine holes are pretty much un-walkable unless of course you are a supreme athlete or a complete masochist. There are plenty of holes worthy of a positive mention including the long 4th which runs severely downhill for the whole of its 622 metres. The 5th and 7th are both excellent doglegs that require uphill approaches to attractive greens and the 8th is a cracking 196 metre par three situated over a valley. Things calm down considerably on the back nine as the routing follows a much flatter piece of land. Again there are a number of quality holes and the sequence between the tough par four 12th with water protecting the green and the par three 15th with its testing tiered green being the most memorable. Brian W

If there’s a more disparate pair of nines on a golf course then I’ve yet to play them: the front nine holes here are so up hill and down dale compared to a back nine that stretches out within a typical parkland setting - talk about a game of two halves!

Apart from the wacky, severely sloped downhill 9th hole (which crosses a road then turns 90 degrees left towards a green with a small ditch surrounding it), I actually preferred the front nine as it offered a rich variety of holes; especially the rather unique short par four 4th, where tee shots are played through a very narrow corridor with trees to the right and a vineyard immediately to the left! And the long par three 8th hole - a mirror image of “Calamity” at Royal Portrush - is also one of the toughest short holes that I’ve ever played; no wonder it’s ranked stoke index 6 on the card.

The back nine is a literal walk in the park after what’s gone before, with the highlight hole for me being the par four 14th, which features a railway-sleepered ditch running across the front of the green. Ponte de Lima offers quite a unique golf experience in many ways and it’s one that golfers should only play with a golf buggy – even if riding for just the hilly front nine.

Jim McCann.