Lisbon from a golfer’s perspective

A golfer’s life is divided in two: before and after he or she started playing golf. Golf is a watershed. Those two words are made for one another. Does the same go for holidays? Are a golfer’s holidays different from those when they did not play golf? What is our perspective of a country, region and city now that we play golf? Our editor Lia Grooters put it to the test. She left for Lisbon with her golf clubs and looked at the city and the region through the eyes of a golfer.

It is over 10 years ago I visited Lisbon for the first time. It was a great experience. Many times, I returned and the city and its surroundings never ceased to surprise me. The people are friendly and Lisbon itself with its quarters Chiado, Bairro Alto and Alfama made an indelible impression on me. The river Tagus cuts the city in half and a copy of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge connects the two parts. Lisbon is a romantic city with all kinds of entertainment. That does not change whether you are a golfer or not. You visit the city after playing 18 holes or in between two golfing days. Lisbon is a city to fall in love with. A love that deepens the more you visit the city. For days, you can stroll through the city without getting bored. The city’s nightlife is dazzling. Doca’s with a huge amount of restaurants, and Bairro Alto are favourite hotspots. On weekends, all of Lisbon visits these quarters. Very busy, but also a lot of fun.
Nothing beats having an espresso early in the morning in one of the bars in Bairro Alto’s narrow streets with Lisbon’s working population. Do not be afraid to be a tourist among the Portuguese. When visiting Bélém with its famous Torre, you will soon find out two third of the tourists is Portuguese. Definitely worthwhile is the famous tramline 28 to Alfama, the higher situated quarter.
You get the same feeling with Lisbon’s surroundings. You definitely want to come back. Famous places are Cascais, Estoril, Sintra on the north side of the river Tagus and Setubal, Sesimbra on the south side of the river. The Costa Azul lives up to its name. While driving on the elevated coastal road you can enjoy a fascinating panoramic view.
Last but not least, golf. In plenty! As can be expected in Portugal, they have built several beauties in this part of the country. Most of them were built in the past 10 to 15 years. Often surrounded by resorts and private villas.
Just open a brochure on golf courses in this area and you see the most beautiful pictures. This area is very popular with golfers, who book a trip individually or travel to the area of Lisbon with a tour operator.
Most amateur golfers who just started to play golf, will not have an easy time on most courses in this area. The first hole often is a challenging par 5 and there are numerous tricky water hazards to overcome. However, even amateur golfers who like a challenge and will not let a setback get them down, can really enjoy golf here.

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What strikes one most is the fact that green fees for individual golfers are a bit steep. It makes sense to book your trip through a golf tour operator. Packages that include accommodation and green fees are usually a lot cheaper.

For more information:
www.visitlisboa.com
www.estorilcoast.com www.costa-azul.rts.pt
You can find more information on golf tour operators on our links page.
For information on TAP’s flights visit www.tap.nl