Destination Golf Portugal 2016 * | Page 69

Ribagolf II Aldeia dos Capuchos Montado Idyllically situated close to Lisbon downtown, in a quiet and beautiful region, Aldeia dos Capuchos offers you the best of both worlds. Declared by the Portuguese State as a project of national interest, this Resort received the Architecture Council Award for its excellence. With ten hectares of green areas, Aldeia dos Capuchos is the magical place to enhance your senses. With 1402m of total length, the golf course of Aldeia dos Capuchos is an excellent course for a quick game. With the sea as background, the golf course allows you to play wonderfully trough 9 holes (7 par-3’s and 2 par 4’s) of beautiful design. Small undulations, a big lake and several bunkers will certainly sharpen up your game. Host to many professional tournament from the European Challenge Tour, Montado has received praise from the best players in Europe. Set in flat terrain, the Montado has been built to the south of Setúbal in a landscape planted with old corkoaks, young olive-trees, chestnuts and pines, whilst all around it wind a series of creeks and natural lakes. A feature hole at Montado is the scenic thirteenth, a par 4 that affords a fine view of Palmela castle and provides an excellent opportunity for a birdie. Surrounded by the famous muscatel vineyards that were first planted here more than a century ago, the Montado course has already hosted international tournaments, such as the Axa Challenge Tour and the Grand Final of the European Challenge Tour (1997). Ribagolfe II Santo Estêvão A shorter test than its sibling but still measuring more than 6,800 yards, Ribagolfe II is a great compliment to Ribagolfe I. Blessed with the same indigenous cork oak canvass, the course designers have crafted a more forgiving but equally appealing golf course with wider fairways and landing areas. The huge, moderately contoured greens, however, provide a stiff test if you’re to score well. The newest course in the Costa Azul region, Santo Estêvão opened in 2004 and is set in the fertile rolling landscape of the Northern Alentejo region. Designed by Donald Steel, the course plays up to more than 7,000 yards, with well-designed, strategically-placed bunkers and greens offering a layout that will challenge golfers of all abilities and the gently undulating land makes for an easy, pleasant walk. 67