When you think of golf in Portugal, you probably jump straight to the Algarve. Fair enough. But the Lisbon coast has been closing that gap for a while now and Oitavos Dunes is a big reason why.
It's just over 30 minutes from Lisbon Airport and it's regularly talked about as the best course in Portugal. Golf World has also had it ranked inside the world's top 100, which tells you the hype is not just local. The European Tour Golf Sixes event was held here in 2019 and the tour has visited a few times before that.
Set on the edge of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, Oitavos is a proper links-style test. Arthur Hills routed it through towering dunes and wispy native grasses, with the Atlantic never far from view. If you like your golf firm underfoot and shaped by the wind, you'll feel right at home here. Pick the brave line and you'll make birdies, get a bit greedy and it can bite back quickly.
Off the course you've got a modern clubhouse, a solid practice set-up and plenty to do nearby, from coastal walks to long seafood lunches in Cascais. It's ideal for couples and groups who want championship golf without being miles from a great city break.
Who is this for? Golfers who want a top-tier Portugal course near a proper city, with beaches and great food on tap.
Who is it best for? Anyone happy flighting the ball down in the wind, particularly low to mid-handicappers who enjoy links golf and a strategic test.
