PENHA LONGA

When I first pulled into Penha Longa I took a distinct dislike to the place. Riding a buggy around for an evening photo session, I made up my mind we wouldn’t include the Sintra/Cascais resort in our presentations. Which only proves just how wrong I can be!

“You can’t judge a golf course until you’ve played it!” This is a statement I’ve often told my golf buddies or perhaps a club secretary when trying to blag a complimentary round!

But it’s true! I’ve often gone out on a new course, initially in the evening to take my pictures and get the precious images securely in the bag then take out the clubs the next day usually after breakfast when the good light is all gone.

Otherwise, I’m tempted to try and do both things at once - which never works!

NEXT MORNING

The next morning at Penha Longa, I teed up on the Atlantic Course. It’s predominantly parkland and quite hilly

and all dark from the night before took off in the wind. I completely changed my mind! I’d go as far as to say, this is one of the best parkland courses in Europe!

So what gave me such a poor initial impression and swung me 180? At the time of my visit, the cart paths were a broken mess, the greenkeeping decidedly ‘iffy’ and off in the near distance, there was a race track making the most irritating noise.

None of the above is good for a resort course but I can tell you that playing a course such as this was compensation enough for such insignificant inconveniences.

COVID CONUNDRUM

I must add that my visit was smack in the middle of Covid and perhaps that impacted on course investment and upkeep. I’m hoping to get back early this spring (2023) so watch this space for an update. Once things start moving again, I’m sure they’ll tend to the minor peripherals.

THE ATLANTIC COURSE

Let’s give this resort a bit of context. It was built within the Sintra/Cascais district which is definitely the most upmarket area of Lisbon. There are 27 holes designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, one of my favourite architects. Why? The Trent Jones family have stuck to their mantra of .’Following the land first’. And this is what you’ll find here

Penha Longa’s Atlantic course is a rolling parkland, uphill & down dale with a great visual appeal on almost every hole as you blast your tee shots from on high, shaping them to suit the lie of the fairway. It has that rare quality of being long but entertaining all the way around. If the wind picks up, especially on the back nine, it’s a strong test and one that went down well with European tour players when the event was held here twice in the mid-90s.

EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE

I must make a special mention of the standard of service here. We spent one night in the Penha Longa Resort and the rooms, the dining experience in the Mercatto Italian Restaurant and the attentive staff were exemplary. The Arola Restaurant overlooking the golf course is linked with the next door, Michelin-starred ‘LAB’. Chef Sergi Arola's namesake, The Arola uses the same kitchen. The food, therefore, is exceptional. Also on the resort, Midori is the only Asian restaurant in Portugal to be awarded a Michelin star.

We hope the Penha Longa ‘Atlantic’ course will soon return to form but have to say, the overall experience is still worth it.