Golfe Lisboa
Welcome! This site is a summary of my experiences revisiting the sport of golf in a new country (Portugal) after several years away from the sport. Here, I'll be reviewing practice facilities, golf equipment stores and (eventually) golf courses once I'm ready to get back out there.
Practice!
Practice makes perfect! See below for reviews of Lisbon area driving ranges, chipping areas and putting greens.
The One Hills Lisbon City Golf
One Hills is the only golf course in the area that Google Maps defines as Lisbon. It looks to be a good option for 9 holes in Lisbon, but I think there's a better practice range nearby that's likely less expensive for those who aren't a member of any organization. More about this below.The pricing is shown in the image. (See the bottom left corner for the range price).
FPG = Portuguese Federation of Golf members
L. Guest = Those with Auto Club of Portugal Golf membership cards (like myself)
Without either membership, the cost of a bucket of 50 balls is €8 and club rental is €30 for all or €6 per club 🫣.The range was about 30 bays, with half of them covered. It's hard to judge your distances because you must hit the balls into a lake and the distances are not labeled (in the lake). Overall, the range seems to be an older part of the facility - It's perfectly adequate but definitely more utilitarian, especially compared to the restaurant/bar area which overlooks the city. Lastly, there was plenty of free parking just outside the club.
Ribagolfe
Boa noite! Today I visited the driving range and the chipping area at Ribagolfe. I've never seen such a massive facility - There are two 18 hole golf courses there, but everything seems to be really spread out and it doesn't look to be a course for walking.The driving range was uncovered grass with at least 20 stations. The chipping area was not in the best condition as they were performing maintenance, but the design is awesome. There are two sand bunkers to practice shots from, and one of them was at least 2 meters (6.5 ft) deep! 🫨 There is also a 3rd bunker that is part of the driving range, allowing you to practice long bunker shots - I've never seen this at a driving range before. The putting green was also designed with a very challenging slope, so overall lots of fun and challenging practice options at Ribagolfe.Buckets of range balls were €6 (€4 with the ACP golf membership) and there was plenty of free parking. The restaurant is 1.5km (1 mile) away from the range, something to keep in mind for those who might consider taking Uber to visit. Lastly, it looks like the golf course is attached to some type of co-living community. If I'm lucky, this is where I will retire. ⛳
Quita do Peru Golf & Country Club
Quinta do Peru advertises itself as the oldest golf course in Azeitao. It also appears to be the only golf course in Azeitao, but don't let that dissuade you. Having had very little interaction with "country clubs" previously, I was a little uneasy approaching the gated entrance. However, just tell that attendant that you're here for the range and they will direct you to that part of the facility.The range is grass and you can hit from both sides of the range. There are roughly 20 bays on the north side and 20 on the south, bringing the total to about 40 bays. There is also a large putting green and a chipping area. Behind the north range is a large restaurant with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and reasonable pricing.All driving range and greens fees are clearly posted here and I seem recall a discount for the range tokens for ACP Golf members, like myself. Club membership rates are clearly posted here and unlike US country clubs, these rates cover unlimited play at the course, which is rated among the top 20 golf courses in Portugal, and two free range tokens per day. So, it turns out to be a pretty good deal if you live in the area and this is your regular hobby (especially considering the "overseas membership" option).
Academia de Golfe Lisboa
Today, we went to Academia de Golfe Lisboa. This facility has a 44 bay turf range (1/2 covered), a chipping area, a putting green, and a short game area. The chipping and putting area can be used for free. The short game area is essentially one turf mat, located right next to the restaurant, where you can hit a wedge about 40 meters to a green that's surrounded by two small sand traps. The short game area can be used for free if you've purchased a driving range token - otherwise it costs €3.All of the practice areas are in very good condition. Non-member pricing for a bucket of range balls is €6 and they have bulk discounts (five buckets for €25 or ten buckets for €40). The cost per bucket with the ACP golf membership is €3, but most staff don't seem to be aware of this - If questioned, ask them to look in the little notebook that they keep at the front desk. Inside there will be a hand written note describing the ACP discount. They also have a Facebook page where they post deals (e.g. a bucket of balls and 1 club rental for €7.5) and clinics (e.g. Bunker Clinic for €12).This facility also has ball tracking technology on some of the bays. In this case, the tracking technology was provided by an app called "Trackman" which was very easy to use. So, I'd definitely recommend this range for those who need to learn how far each club goes before going out to play on a course. Additionally the app has a number of different simulations to help make practice more effective and fun. I'll definitely be returning to this facility. Until next time. ⛳
Jamor - National Golf Training Center
To recap last weekend's trip to Jamor, overall I think the facility has some of the best non-member rates for both the range and playing than most other courses because it is a state-owned public golf course. A bucket of range balls was €3.5 and the putting and short game practice areas can be used for free. Both the range and the practice areas were very crowded when we arrived, compared to other facilities I've visited, but we didn't have a problem finding space for our group of 6. There were 27 bays, with about half of them covered. Twelve of the bays were equipped with a ball tracking technology called "Top Tracer Range." If you want to use this, I'd suggest downloading the app and creating a free account in advance. I was not able to get the ball tracking system to work for me as the system kept restarting, but another one of our group did get it to work for him. The image is an overhead view of the driving range and practice area.
Montado Hotel & Golf Resort
During the week I got a chance to visit the driving range at Montado Hotel & Golf Resort. It's a grass driving range with room for about 40 bays. Just like Quinta do Peru, there are two sides to hit balls from, although one side was under construction during my visit. Apparently, to get from the club house to the far side of the driving range there are two options. Three bold young men choose the option of walking along the right edge of the range (as balls were being hit from the other side of the range😲). Initially I thought that was the only option. Luckily, we found that walking left towards the course and following a windy path delivered us safely to the other side of the range.Upon arriving at the driving range, the ball machine was housed in a neglected shed, complete with plenty of cobwebs and two rusty metal buckets to carry the golf balls. To use the term rustic to describe the facilities is an understatement. And, remember to bring your bug spray! On the positive side of things, it was a very social driving range, with lots of conversations ranging from lessons being given, random older gentlemen (without golf bags) wandering up to the range to have a chat, and the kids arguing amongst each other about whose turn it was to carry the golf bag that day.I did not see the restaurant; however, they advertise a full menu online. For a place that is advertised as a "Hotel & Golf Resort," I did not see much of a resort area and the 1970's era designed hotel didn't look to be actually open. So make sure to call before planning an overnight trip.The most distinguishing feature of the practice facility was that the chipping area was right next to the spectacular 18th hole. The 18th hole forces players to drive the ball only an island, surround by water except for a narrow walking path. It was fun to watch several players navigate the challenge while working on my short game. I'll definitely return at some point to play the course.
Golf Stores
As an "everyman" golfer I was initially dissuaded by the high cost of golf equipment in Portugal and European online retailers. Luckily, with a bit of patience, I was able to find the hidden gems of golf equipment suppliers. I'll share those experiences here.
FitGolfe
I visited FitGolfe in Lisbon, in search of a used driver. Their used club selection was very limited, old, and costly. The lowest price I saw was €150 for a 15 year old driver in average condition. The sales person dutifully informed me that newer used clubs do come in stock, but customers purchase them very quickly. For new items, there wasn't a wide range of products - They only seemed to keep the most expensive items in stock. I was informed that new drivers start at €600. And the non-branded putter head cover (the only one in the store) was €65. (No, that's not an actual photo but it's really not far off from what I witnessed in the store.)
Nevada Bobs - Estoril
I went to Nevada Bob's Golf in Estoril and I highly recommend this store. It's huge, with everything from budget to pro-level equipment in stock. Their used club selection is fantastic and I found a driver that was 1/2 the cost of the prices I see online for it. Estoril location only - Other stores are like mini kiosks. (Yes, this is an actual picture of one of barrels of used golf clubs at Nevada Bobs)
Golf Bidder (online)
If you're looking for a specific used club I found that Golf Bidder is a nice online used club retailer. Since they are based in the UK and therefore have a larger population of golfers, they carry an enormous selection of used golf equipment. I recently received a set of irons that was rated as 7/10 on their website, but when they arrived they looked almost new. They also sell new golf bags, clothing and a limited range of accessories. Shipping to Portugal is about €10. (www.golfbidder.com/en/)
Muziker (online)
I've noticed that Muziker (a Central European musical instrument retailer 🤷🏾) is one of the best online stores for discount golf gear. For example, their replacement grips are 1/2 the price that I've seen elsewhere online in Europe or in physical stores in Portugal. As you might expect from their heritage focused on selling musical equipment, they don't necessarily have a complete range of golf equipment. So, if you're looking for a set of three of the same model wedges, you may not find this at this retailer. And if you see a deal that looks too good to be true, make sure it's not a left-handed club. Shipping to Portugal is about €10.
(www.muziker.pt/en/golf-shop)
Discount Memberships
Joining a membership association can cut your greens fees in half! Below, I'll describe what I've learned about membership in the two most prominent golf organizations: Automobile Club of Portugal Golf Association (ACP Golf) and the Portuguese Golf Federation (FPG).
Automobile Club of Portugal Golf
(ACP Golf)
So far, my main use of ACP Golf is for discounted greens fees. Examples in the Lisbon area are shown here. There are also a number of other benefits, shown here.Joining ACP Golf is probably the easiest route to start playing golf at a discounted rate; however, it's not completely straight forward. To join ACP Golf you must first become a member of the Automobile Club of Portugal (ACP). One way to do this is to purchase your auto insurance from ACP - I've been told that this is one of the best auto insurance options available so I went this route. There are other options that can be used to join ACP with the minimum cost being about €60 per year - More about that here.After joining ACP, you can then join ACP Golf for about €75. This brings the total to about €135 per year to have access to the ACP golf discounts and other membership benefits. Shortly after joining, you will receive your ACP Golfe membership card in the mail.
Portuguese Golf Federation (FPG)
Being a member of the Portuguese Golf Federation (FPG) can also significantly reduce the cost of your greens fees. From my research, the FPG and ACP Golf membership s do not seem to overlap. So, at one course you may get a better deal being a member of FPG and at the next course, ACP may give you the best deal. 🤷🏽As I understand it, there are two ways to join the Portuguese Golf Federation (FPG):1) First, become a member of a golf club and that golf club can facilitate your membership in the FPG. The best price I've seen for a golf club membership, in my limited research, is the overseas resident membership at Santo Estevao for €450 per year. As you might expect, the further you go from the center of Lisbon, the lower the prices seem to go. Also, note that joining a golf club at a certain membership tier gives you unlimited greens fees for free - Which is perfectly adequate if you don't want to explore other courses regularly.2) The second option for joining the FPG is to first join ACP Golf. Then, ACP Golf will facilitate your membership with the Portuguese Golf Federation (FPG). You'll email them proof of payment of the annual FPG fee and a copy of your ID, they will do their work, and you will receive your FPG membership information in a few days. Again this option will cost €135 for ACP Golf membership and €70 for FPG, bringing the total to €205 per year.One example, PGA Aroeira No.1 greens fees cost €90 without a discount and is €55 with the discount, saving you €35. So, playing about 6 times you'll recoup your €205 in membership fees. So, this is something that only regular golfers should consider joining.
Golf Courses
If you've gotten this far, you must have patience. And you'll need that patience as I rebuild my golf bag (and confidence) to get back on the course. Golf course reviews will eventually be in this section.
Jamor - National Golf Training Center
Jamor Golf is a nine hole course located within the largest national sports center in Portugal. The greater Jamor sports complex includes a 40,000 spectator stadium, 30 tennis courts, along with facilities for roughly 10 other sports. Because of this it is easy to get lost, so the best address for the golf club house is here, and this is the link to book tee times.The golf course is very walkable and is a great option for beginners. Most holes are sufficiently wide to allow you to recover from mishits. Despite this, there are still holes designed in a way to teach lessons about strategy. For example I made the rookie mistake of trying to hit over the tree on hole 4 and then when hitting out (from under the tree) ended up in the strategically placed sand trap 🙁.The greens fees are clearly posted here. The rates labeled "FPG" are for those who have joined the Portuguese Golf Federation and paying for 18 holes will essentially allow you to play the same 9 holes twice. The link to book tee times (above) is quite nice in that you can infer how many players are behind or in-front of you. We played on a weekday at noon and no one was behind us. We finished in about 2 hours and only had to wait a few minutes on the last hole. All in all, Jamor Golf is a great course to play a quick nine.
The Bucket List
In my limited research of golf facilities nearby I've started to realize that some of the best golf courses in Portugal are within an hour drive of Lisbon. So... Here is my Lisbon-area bucket list, containing the rankings, course links, and key features:
• #56 Santo Estevao (Santarem): Wide fairways & wooded countryside
• #17 Quinta do Peru (Setubal): Pine forests, mountain and mbr:JD
• #55 Lisbon Sports Club (Lisbon): Historic, shorter course and mbr:N
• #28 Ribagolfe Lakes Course (Santarem): Cork forests & Narrow fairways
• #24 PGA Aroeira No. 1 (Setubal): Pine forest without fairway bunkers
• #12 Penha Longa - Atlantic Course (Sintra): Roman aqueducts on the 6th and 7th holes
• #5 Oitavos Dunes (Cascais): Ocean-side & Golf Magazine Top 100
• #1 Terras da Comporta Dunas (Comporta): Massive sand dunes
• #29 PGA Aroeira No. 2 (Setubal): Six large lakes in pine forest
• #35 Ribagolfe Oaks Course (Santarem): Wider fairways than Lakes course
• #36 Belas Country Club (Lisbon): Sintra mountains
• #42 Estoril Golf Club (Estoril): Palace views
• #37 Quinta da Marinha (Cascais): Unusual routing - be preparedMore detailed list is here.
