Courses near Lisbon

[Beedee]

For many years my group of golf buddies have spent a week in the Algarve. We've played just about everything down there so we're trying the Lisbon area next year. The ones we've booked are

Belas
Oitavos
Penha Longa Atlantic
Estoril

I've never been to the area before so 4 new courses for me. Has anybody played any of these recently? Any particular comments on condition or layouts? Strict cart path rules? Stuffy or easy going? That sort of thing.

Cheers.

 

[irip]

For many years my group of golf buddies have spent a week in the Algarve. We've played just about everything down there so we're trying the Lisbon area next year. The ones we've booked are

Belas
Oitavos
Penha Longa Atlantic
Estoril

I've never been to the area before so 4 new courses for me. Has anybody played any of these recently? Any particular comments on condition or layouts? Strict cart path rules? Stuffy or easy going? That sort of thing.

Cheers.

I went about 20 years ago so not recently.
Estoril good fun course
Belas really nice
Penha Longa very nice courses and best halfway hut I have ever been in. Very much set up for tourists.
We ventured out a bit and played Praya del Ray which was outstanding

 

[YandaB]

Not long back from there, played Oitavos and Penha Longa. Got bucketed on playing Oitavos and buffeted about playing Penha. Both lovely courses, would like to play them in seasonal weather! Oitavos has back to back par 3's, one was our nearest the pin, it got renamed "where is the pin!". Penha came with the roar of cars racing around the Estoril circuit just over the valley on a couple of holes (wind direction dependent). Lots of elevation changes and some tough pin positions where your ball could (and did) easily roll off down the hill. We also ventured out further south to the PGA Aroeira course, OK but wouldn't rush back.

No strict cart paths on any of them (though Penha did have no go areas around tees and greens which is fine). Greens on Oitavos and Penha were excellent (PGA poor). Penha has a Michelin star restaurant which we didn't go in but looked quite posh, bar was fine. Oitavos clubhouse is modern fancy glass building but no stuffiness noticed.