Cascais Golf Courses

There aren't too many golf holiday destinations that allow you to sample the delights of a richly historical capital city as well as a diversity of golf second to none. Lisbon is one of them.......

Often rated behind its sibling, the Algarve, Lisbon offers so much to the golfer. Like so many European capital cities, Lisbon has its roots touched by the Roman Empire, but much of its traditions and architecture is influenced by the later arrival of the Moors.



From a golfing perspective the region can be loosely split in two. Noth Lisbon & the Estoril Coast and south Lisbon.

My first port of call was to the stunning course at Oitavos Dunes in Quinta Da Marinha, a small and affluent area of Cacais

Arthur Hills designed the course, which has risen to one of the most popular tracks on the European Tour rosta, and his name should tell you most of what you need to know about Oitavos Dunes. Hills' design awards are legendary in the US, and the fact that he was tempted to over the Atlantic for the project suggests he fell in love with this corner of Western Europe.

The course feels linksy and with wind a daily factor, its a challenging test. All the Par 3's are stunning, the third being a typical links par 3. The stroke index 1 Par 4 6th is a brute in to the prevailing wind. The flyover course guide does not demonstrate how tough the 14th is in to the wind, with the Pro's often hitting 1 Iron's in to the green - one of the best 3's in the world.



The clubhouse is beautiful and is brilliantly designed to ensure shelter out side from whichever way the wind is blowing.

All in all, Oitavos Dunes is one of the finest golf courses in Europe, let alone in Portugal and with around 16,000 green fees played per annum its not crammed with players, allowing you to enjoy the stunning views, fast greens and challenge that is Oitavos.

Awesome Arden

Update on a few courses,

In October, I enjoyed a few round in Spain..

Monte Mayor (the marmite course) you either love it or hate it..... I'm of the latter......

Almenara - fantastic 3 loops of nine we played the Alcornoques and Los Lagos. Great track and one of the best value courses on the Costa Del Sol, its right next door to Valderrama.

Rio Real I like the course, if you ignore the pipework showing along the old river bed! had agood run round the back nine, 2 birdies and 4 pars......

La Cala Europa Played like a dog!!! - still a good track though!!!!

Torrequebrada really good track and clubhouse, but the greens really let it down when we played it...

I then travelled to Golf Holiday Turkey and played a couple of courses, The NAtional at Belek - very good track and the best in the area - and the Gloria Old Course, pretty good and in good condition very much a resort course though.

Following my trips away, I have had the pleasure of playing two UK courses since the turn of the year.


Firstly the 2010 Ryder Cup Course at Celtic Manor

Overall the course was not in great condition, and the greens need some serious work before next year. The Pros have complained of them being way to soft. The front nine was (in truth) pretty forgettable, but the back nine is stunning.... and 18th is an awesome Ryder Cup hole.

Took the money off the ginger prince, which is always good.

More recently, I had the absolute pleasure of playing the Forest of Arden (the Arden Championship course). Which I rate as in the top 5 of inland courses in the UK, the back 9 is quite simply brilliant, Fantastic use of the land, and definiton on the course is second to none. It is a much better course than the Brabazon and very under valued.....

Luton Who?

Had the pleasure of visiting Luton Hoo with Mrs GolfTraveBlog.... excellent hotel, taken an old fashioned building, renovated it and kept its traditional values (very good afternoon tea!!!!)

I played the golf course......mmmmmm not sure.....

Apparently English Heritage interferred significantly. No Bunkers as it "would detract from the natural habitat" - I ask you.....

Still a good venue for corporate golf days

Scotland, bonny Scotland

Took a trip to Scotland to visit Paul Lawrie, and we chatted a few things through. We then took a drive down the coast to Carnoustie, I had a meeting with the team at the Carnoustie golf hotel, and then got to play the Championship course, it was under winter protection but what an AWESOME course it is and I made 3 down 18........

The we drove to the Gleneagles Hotel, expensive and a tad pretencious, but absolutely stunning, for corporate golf days and events its a must..... a couple of days later we played the Kings Course, which was excellent but it blew a gale. 2 Birdies were a pretty good return for the day and took the money!!

In between this we visited Devere Cameron House, it has to be one of the best Hotels I have visited. Great service, location and views to die for across Loch Lomond.

The golf course is the Carrick

Its a great golf course and the whole resort is a must for your golf break in scotland

some terrific holes, very playabale and fantastic service

long time no blog...

What a poor effort......I put it down to playing too much golf!!!!!!

Anyway apologies for that. Its been a busy summer of golf and let me tell you where I've played over the last couple of months.....

Played at Piperdam in Scotland before the Open Championship at Carnoustie. It was an invitational day from the Andalucian Tourist board. It P**sed it down wth rain, but I persisted and came in 2nd (and ahead of my scumbag brother!!!) so it was worth it....

Had a good day playing with Ricardo from Almenara Golf Resort and also Salva from the hidden gem that is Santana.

Caroustie was fantastic and it was so brilliant to see Padraig win. I'm good mates with Padraig'sagent from IMG and he was delighted and partied hard for a few days. hopefully this result will mean more European players can "do the job" on the final day.

In August I played the Oulton Hall Golf Day on the Euro Pro Tour Pro Am. Great day. Good hotel and quite a nice course although it was a little tight in places, but generally well kept.....didn't play too well but enjoyed some of Richard Barker's hospitality.


Looking forward to the Rugby world cup starting this week.....come on Ireland

Angel Cabrera

Well done to Angel Cabrera for his win at Oakmont (what a brute of a course) in the 2007n US Open. Kept his nerve and held off a pretty focussed Tiger.

I also had a good win yesterday at Whitttlebury in the Mixed Foursomes - won at the 19th Hole..... Hit a great shot in to the green over water.......pretty pleased!!!!!!!!

Off to France soon to play La Baule and St Jean De Monts - anyone who has played these two please let me know.....

Marriott Worsley Park Pro Am

As earlier reported, I took my place at the Oceanico Group Pro Am event at Worsley Park last week. What a fantastic time I had. The weather wasn't great, but I was pleasantly surprised with the course, a couple of cracking holes, including the 7th, 12th and 13th my favourites.

What was great was that I played with a good Pro (Denny Lucas) and also Steve Davis (World Snooker God). I've got to say the banter was excellent and we finished the 10 holes in 11 under par to tie for first place, Steve was great company and a total legend!!!!

The Marriott Hotel at Worsley Park was very good, nice hotel and certainly one of the better properties in the North West