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Vidago Palace
Ponte de Lima
Vidago Palace
Ponte De Lima Golf Course is located some distance inland, away
from the punishing northerly winds that can be gruelling on the
links courses. It is a typically mountainous course that is set in
heavily wooded terrain, distinctive to northern Portugal. Built
in 1995, this par-71 course is spread across a vast six kilometres
terrain, abundant in vegetation and it possesses some restored
mansions that serve as service facilities. The two 9’s are dissimilar
in design, the first nine set amongst age-old trees that passes
though a raving, and the second nine are situated in the valley of
Quinta de Pias, enclosed by vineyards, cornfields and apple and
pear trees.
Introduced in 1936, Vidago Palace is an established golf course
that plays an important role in the golf product of Northern
Portugal. The new layout was redesigned by Cameron & Powell,
often praised for their specialist work in golf course design. They
extended the course to a full eighteen hole, par-72 layout, that
kept with the overall visual and spiritual charm of its natural
smooth terrain. But Vidago Palace saves the best to last, as the
final four holes are nothing short of breath taking, boasting
fantastic views of its panorama, the Vidago Palace and the
remote villages in the distance.
Quinta do Fojo
Oporto
In stark contrast to the bigger courses in the area, Quinta do
Fojo is a pleasant 6-hole course that plays to a total of par-60,
when played three times. Unveiled in 1997, this enjoyable course
is located across the river from Porto, which proves popular for
midweek golfers to practise their shots on the shorter holes.
Quinta do Fojo is a golf course you visit to sharpen your short
game and every golfer could do with that.s it takes its place as
one of the top courses along the coast.
Porto’s links course portfolio is boosted by a genuine links course
with deeply rooted values and traditions. Inaugurated in 1890, this
par-71 course plays to a professional length of 5640 metres. This
would be slightly shorter than modern day courses, but what’s
lost in length on this old style course, is made up on narrow and
undulating fairways, with strong northerly winds. The course is
located 17 kilometres south of Porto, close to the wonderful
beaches of Espinho. As part of the “Espinho Golf Week”, Oporto
Golf Club has been hosting a competition called the “Skeffington
Cup” since 1891 without any intermission.
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