Portugal Golf Breaks

Revolutionary: Penha Longa Resort introduces cutting-edge robots

Posted on by

Penha Longa Resort proudly announces a transformative leap in sustainable golf course management in Portugal with the integration of nine robots to assist in maintaining the 13-hectare fairways. This pioneering initiative, a first in the Iberian Peninsula, marks a monumental advancement in the golf industry.

These state-of-the-art robots not only ensure immaculate fairways but also promote environmental responsibility. Using this innovative technology, Penha Longa has reduced its carbon footprint by an impressive 18,729 kg of CO2. This decrease is equivalent to planting approximately 825 trees, underscoring the commitment to environmental conservation.

Located 45 minutes from Lisbon, Penha Longa is a golf gem and one of the most sought-after destinations among the best Portugal golf breaks.

By autonomously tending to the grass with unparalleled precision, these robots elevate the standard of care beyond traditional methods. Equipped with integrated GPS technology, they guarantee unmatched cutting accuracy, while their lightweight design and daily maintenance program uphold superior fairway quality.

From an agronomic standpoint, this innovative technology not only enhances the excellence of the course but also promises to reduce the need for inputs such as fertilizers, herbicides, and water in the foreseeable future.

Penha Longa remains dedicated to pioneering sustainable practices and setting a standard of excellence in golf course management.

Penha Longa Resort: an award-winning golf jewel

Ranked among the top 30 golf courses in continental Europe and the top 10 in Portugal, Penha Longa Resort‘s 27-hole course, designed by the renowned Robert Trent Jones, Jr., epitomizes escapism in golf. With bold fairways, daring approaches, and artistic greens, it offers an adrenaline rush and a relaxing journey through one of Portugal’s most inspiring landscapes. Exciting at every turn, this championship challenge and host of the Portuguese Open is a masterful test of variety and excitement for all who visit Lisbon.

The Penha Longa Golf Club features two courses, the Atlantic Championship and Monastery, offering completely different experiences along the stunning hills of Sintra. Founded in 1992, the Penha Longa Golf Club accommodates over 100 golf members, extending Penha Longa Resort’s five-star service to members and visitors alike, offering personalized activities such as competitions with other golf clubs and social events. 

Penha Longa Resort is among one of the most requested destinations in Tee Times Golf Agency among those looking for their best Portugal golf holidays. What are you waiting for to discover this golf paradise?

The road to 125 years of golf in Portugal: a journey through time

Posted on by

Golf in Portugal has a rich history that dates back almost 125 years. The story began in 1890 when the Oporto Niblicks Golf Club, now Oporto Golf Club, emerged as the first course on the Iberian Peninsula and the fifth in continental Europe. 24 members gave life to the founding golf club in Portugal.

Initially enjoyed by Britons who had left their country, golf found its home near the mouth of the Douro River in Porto. By 1900, the golf course had expanded from 9 holes to 18. As the 20th century progressed, Lisbon also embraced golf, and the Lisbon Sports Club and Estoril Club created their courses, expanding the niche.

Today, the Oporto Golf Club honours its history. Its undulating holes wind through the Portuguese geography with the same charm as the holes on the best courses in the United Kingdom. Philip Mackenzie Ross remodelled the course in the late 1950s and was responsible for maintaining the original imprint.

 

Sir Henry Cotton’s vision to transform golf in Portugal

In the 1960s, Sir Henry Cotton’s vision transformed the Algarve by introducing the Penina Resort Championship course. At this crucial moment, it integrated golf into the region’s tourism offering, laying the foundation for future developments. Cotton also designed Vale do Lobo and one of the golf jewels in the south of the Algarve: Quinta de Benamor. A par 71 of 6,100 yards that shines among hills and leafy trees.

The late 1970s and 1980s saw a boom in golf courses in the Algarve, with iconic designs such as Palmares, Vilamoura Old Course, and San Lorenzo enriching the landscape. At the end of the 1980s, Portugal had 23 courses.

The 1990s saw a golf boom, which doubled the number of courses, surpassing 50 in the millennium. The Algarve remained a hotspot, but other regions, including the north, the central continent, Madeira and the Azores, joined the golf scene. In that decade, we founded Tee Times Golf Agency, offering Portugal golf breaks to worldwide golfers who began hiring our services.

As The Clubhouse Algarve Magazine explains, Oporto Golf Club proudly claims the Skeffington Cup, created in 1891, to be one of the world’s oldest continuously contested golf trophies. This rich history illustrates the development of the sport, becoming an integral part of Portugal’s culture and sport.

In 2024, we commemorate 75 years of the Portuguese Golf Federation as we approach the celebration of the 125 years of the Oporto Golf Club. Golf in Portugal is an example of a harmonious coexistence between sport and nature, with spectacular golf courses that serve as a perfect transition between land and sea. The century we live in promises to add more colour and personality to Portugal’s golf legacy. And we will be there, providing the best service for those who choose to enjoy their Portugal golf holidays with us.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, Portugal’s golf courses offer something for everyone. From the Algarve’s stunning coastal courses to the Oporto’s historical courses, Portugal is a golfing paradise that should be on every golfer’s bucket list. So, why not book your next trip to play golf in Portugal today and experience the country’s rich golfing history for yourself?

Golf in Madeira is preparing to fulfil a dream with Sir Nick Faldo’s support

Posted on by

Thanks to multiple champion Sir Nick Faldo, golf in Madeira has been reinvented once again with the resurgence of the Ponta do Pargo Golf Course. Fifteen years after the project fell victim to the global financial crisis in 2009, this masterpiece will materialise on the “Hawaii of Europe” in 2026.

The site of Sir Nick Faldo’s new European project is located on the western cliffs of the famous Portuguese island. With more than 200 meters of elevation change, from the green of the 16th hole, hidden next to the famous lighthouse that guards the coast, to the tee of the 7th hole that rises above 400-foot cliffs towards the Atlantic. The 7th, 8th and 9th greens are at the world’s edge, clinging to the cliff’s border.

 

Golf in Madeira is special

Faldo commented in an interview published by Destination Golf: “We have something special in Madeira; being able to sculpt the course on the site itself is exciting. We believe this will be a dream course that every golfer will want to play. The scale of the place is difficult to explain; the cliffs are massive.”

Faldo Design has worked closely with local authorities to reactivate this golf project in Madeira fully. They are currently selecting the design team, which is expected to be on-site in early 2024, as the major groundwork on the front nine holes is almost complete.

Sustainable golf course design has been a core principle for Faldo Design for decades. After reviewing the original 2007 design, they have adjusted some holes and reduced the irrigated areas, using a local grass (Kikuya) that will reduce water requirements and allow a smooth transition between the field and the native flora that overlooks Ponta do Pargo its majestic beauty.

For a long time, at Tee Times Golf Agency, we have been offering the best golf packages in Madeira with a high-level offer. When Ponta do Pargo is completed, it will join a list that includes Santo Da Serra Golf, the Palheiro Golf Course, and Porto Santo Golfe for those looking for the best Madeira golf breaks and relaxing experiences.

The project promises to be the best golf in Madeira experience and is expected to be playable even in challenging weather conditions. Fans are already preparing to enjoy the best golf in Portugal on the Atlantic Ocean.