Photo: lele3100 · CC BY 2.0 · Resized for web
Lisbon / Silver Coast, Portugal
Penha Longa Golf Club
Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s 1992 design in the Sintra hills near Lisbon — set within a UNESCO World Heritage landscape, host of the 1994 Portuguese Open.
Course overview
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened in 1992, Penha Longa's Atlantic course occupies 18 holes on a sloping site within the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape. The layout descends through pine and eucalyptus forest, with elevation changes and Sintra's distinctive rock formations providing a dramatic backdrop. The course measures 6,313 metres from the championship tees and hosted the Portuguese Open in 1994. A nine-hole Monastery Course completes the 27-hole complex within the Ritz-Carlton resort. The closing holes return uphill to the clubhouse, with views over the Atlantic visible from the higher ground.
The essentials
- Architect
- Robert Trent Jones Jr.
- Established
- 1992
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,313 m
- Handicap
- HCP 0–28
- Location
- Sintra, Portugal
Character & atmosphere
A hillside parkland course within a UNESCO-listed landscape — elevation changes, Sintra rock formations, and the downhill dogleg 6th make strategy and course management the deciding factors.
Highlights
Why play here
- Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., opened in 1992.
- A challenging round for golfers who enjoy a proper test.
- Part of a full golf resort, with facilities on site.
Signature Hole
6
A downhill dogleg par-4 that uses the natural slope of the Sintra hills to dramatic effect — the tee shot must hold the corner to open up an approach to a green framed by eucalyptus forest and the geological formations of the natural park.
Facilities
Practical guidance
Plan your visit
How to get there
Lisbon Airport is around 30 minutes from the Penha Longa estate. Car hire or a private transfer are the most convenient options. The A16 motorway leads directly to the Sintra area.
Where to stay
The Óbidos area on Portugal's Silver Coast combines dune-and-pine links golf at Praia D'el Rey with one of the country's most photogenic medieval towns. The coast here is less developed than the Algarve, which suits golfers looking for something quieter and more authentically Portuguese.
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Portugal
Explore Lisbon / Silver Coast
Portugal's Atlantic coast north of Lisbon, home to Praia D'el Rey's dune-and-pine links.