Royal Obidos - Lisbon & Centre - Portugal

Royal Obidos sits on the beautiful Silver Coast of Portugal. A for Golf´s standards new golf course, it was built to meet tournament standards. Different tee´s range up to well more than 7000 yards. It will be a multiple Challenge Tour host later in the year.

The course is settled into the very hilly landscape which is slowly falling off towards the ocean. However Royal Obidos does not posses any ocean front holes. You can see the water from here and there, especially from the great view of the club house, but it´s nowhere close to the water.

The course basically is a range. It does not own any trees, at least none that really come into play. That makes it really prone to the strong winds around the area. Seve made a good job of very often putting the tee´s well above the fairways. That makes the holes extremely exposed to the wind and adds a lot of fun challenging the conditions.

The course design however is really weak in my eyes. Even though it lacks the ocean front holes of Praia or West Cliffs, it still sits on a beautiful peace of land. I think it was just not well used. I understand the idea of leaving it open and make the holes and the surroundings very visible, but they must have taken every tree down. This makes the course feel so artificial which is extremely opposite to the other courses around it.

I played the course about two weeks ago and I forgot most of the holes already. A lot of them are simply long. I you take on the shorter tees though, the course immediately becomes dull. I miss the options to play the course in different ways. Unfortunately the course also plays extremely lush. The ball roles absolutely nowhere and with them growing rough out it´s definitely not meant to be. And the many lakes around there make no sense to me. On a peace of property this strong you do not need huge water hazards. Instead you make it look like a Floridian Ressort Golf course.

Coolest stretch of holes is definitely #2 and #3. Although they look very superficial as well, the views are great and they are very tricky holes to play offering different options to play them. That was really fun. Unfortunately the course becomes more boring after that.

Maintenance in general is really good. Especially the fairways are absolutely pure. However if you fall in love with the bent grass greens on West Cliffs these greens are not comparable in any way.

A lot of critiques from my side towards the course. All in all it´s still a good golf course on a stunning peace of property. It´s well conditioned and is definitely very different to the courses around.

However I strongly believe the property was wasted with a poor design and the decision to make the course play very soft instead of firming it up. It just lacks the character a really good golf course has.

Recommended? Yes! Would I play it again. Yes! On my last trip I played Praia and West cliffs both three times each and Royal Obidos once. Would definitely play the same split again.

Beautifully well maintained and challenging layout a short hop from the coast. Very much a resort course style, with generous fairways and plenty of bail out areas. It main defence is the length and elevation changes - getting on in regulation is a serious challenge. It’s well open to the elements and the fairly constant Atlantic wind adds a club or 2. There’s plenty of well considered bunkers too and the greens have enough undulations to add another level to the challenge.

There are a good spread of tee boxes, with the reds being far enough forward that it keeps it fair. No real gimmick holes, which is a relief, but it would have been nice to see a couple of shorter par 4s to add a little variety.

Definitely we’ll worthwhile playing.

Played in a group of 12 - 2 rounds. Hcp varied from 5 - 24. Played West cliffs and Praia in same week and have played almost all the courses in the top 20 currently. This is a course that is underrated and our group all would rate it higher than west cliffs and Praia for both the course and the experience. Because I went off the ratings we played West Cliffs and Praia more than Obidos but if we came back we would prioritise Obidos. Yes you need a buggy but the same would be said of all the others. The course was pretty empty unlike the others. The clubhouse is superior and with just a few tweeks would easily be in the top 10. It is more open than all the others and more water features ++ so it is different. Perhaps for a very low handicapper it does not offer the same challenge as West Cliffs or Praia and it is not a links course but was a very enjoyable experience that was shared by all our group.

I’d agree with the other reviewers, it’s long and has too many par 5s and 3s. It is friendly off the tee but is certainly a challenge, not as good as West Cliffs but better than Oitavos which is ranked much higher.

Of the 4 courses in the near vicinity, Obidos is on a par with Bom Successo and a big step behind West Cliffs and Praia del Rey. There is room off the tee which is a positive but the elevation changes and lushness of fairways make the experience a slog. It is a challenging course and one designed for tournament play. The front 9 is definitely more attractive and interesting with the back having a very American stadium course feel. The thing is though that to be fair, Seve did a good job in the design considering the land he had to utilise. If you have only one day in the area, play West Cliffs, if you have more time then add Praia to your schedule and if you have even more time in the area play West Cliffs again.

A newish course, some quite long green to free transits, lots of water and sea views but no seaside holes so not really my kind of course, but a fun relaxing fairly quick game when set alongside its siblings, and worth a go on those terms. Greens and general upkeep were good, elevation changes keep you on your toes and you'll use every club in the bag - but you'd better be hitting your driver straight.

The course here is one that can be described as very well-conditioned and manicured with perfect putting surfaces and wicked run-offs around the greens, the style that can be seen regularly at European Tour events. If you add in eight holes that have water in-play and a number of great ‘risky’ shots, it is easy to see that the course has been created in the eye of the designer, the great Seve Ballesteros. The first hole for a mention is the 2nd a par-5 with trouble all of the way, probably too much if I am honest; the tee shot especially. There is a long carry over water to reach the fairway and for those who cannot make it, the fairway bail-out to the right is very narrow – negotiate this and then the lay-up and you are still approaching a semi-island green – there is no doubting Seve’s style lives on here. The par-5 5th is a strong hole, especially as you have a choice of attacking the green in two but the lay-up is the sensible play as there are four great bunkers about 50 yards short of the green. The 12th is another stand-out hole; very demanding off of the tee and you need to be precise and find the plateau of a fairway as anything leaking right will be wet - all carry for the approach which is likely to be a mid to long-iron. I am not a fan of the ultra-short 13th hole; uphill and around 140 yards and unable to see the green (I struggle to enjoy par-3’s when you cannot see the green and the hole). There is a little rest bite at the 16th and 17th in terms of no water to deal with but to the last; I am a fan of this closing hole in big way. It is a par-5, it is from an elevated tee, there are bunkers to deal with and then another semi-island green with bunkering beyond the green, this is all that a modern 18th should be – no weak finish here (courses in this group know who you are!). A visit to this region to include Prai De’l Rey, Bom Sucesso, CampoReal and Royal Obidos is a very strong tour indeed.

Having just returned from a weeks golf tour to Lisbon, i am suprised to see Royal Obidos so far down the rankings. I played praia del rey, royal obidos, bom successo, troia and campo real, and i have to admit royal obidos was my 2nd favourite behind the stunning praia del rey resort. There isn't a bad hole on the course, and seve's clever architecture is evident on the large, undulating greens which roll ever so smoothly and quickly. The course is tough and long-7300 yards of the black tees with water hazards and thick rough a plenty, but certainly deserves a place higher up the rankings-in the top 10 best courses i have played in the world. My portugal top 5 is1.Praia del rey2. San lorenzo3. Quinta North (new)4.Royal Obidos5. Monte rei

A really good course, that I thoroughly enjoyed. Only downside was the construction noise on the first nine holes (are they building another 9 ?) and holes 16 and 17 which were a bit weak. But the rest was great.

Royal Obidos is a must play if you are holidaying in this area. Much preferred it to Praia D'el Rey, and the greens amongst the best I have ever played. A challenging course with holes 2, 4 and 7 a driver's delight. Strong finish with 16, 17 and 18 sporty and strategic. Money has been thrown at the project with a delightful clubhouse, many helpful staff and high standards of green keeping. Play if you can!