Portugal's top 50: 6-10

Earlier this year the Golf Monthly team had a debate, sometimes heated, about the best courses in Portugal. Doubtless you'll have your own favourites, but in the end we went for the following

Quinto do Lago Laranjal
Fergus Bisset
By Fergus Bisset
published

6 Oitavos Dunes

Stats: par 71, 6,893 yards GF: From €110, but check website for specials W: oitavosdunes.com

Opened in 2001, Oitavos Dunes is the work of American designer Arthur Hills - one of only two European courses to bear his name. Set over natural sand dunes the course has the feel of a windswept Scottish links. It's an out-and-back layout over firm ground to testing greens with views of the sea and mountains.

7 Troia   

Stats: par 72, 6,910 yards GF: Contact club for details W: troiagolf.com

When Sam Torrance won the Portuguese Open of 1983 at Troia, he was the only player to break par over the four days. That gives an indication of the challenge presented by the Robert Trent Jones Snr-designed layout. It's a beautiful, rolling course set through a sandy pine forest with views to the mountains.

8 Quinta do Lago (Laranjal)

Stats: par 72, 7,087 yards GF: €82-€115 W: quintadolagogolf.com

The newest layout in Quinta do Lago's impressive portfolio has already earned a reputation as one of the Algarve's finest tracks. Designed by Jorge Santana da Silva and opened for play just last February, the course delivers a great mix of holes as it winds through an attractive old orange grove.

9 Oceânico (O'Connor)

Stats: par 72, 7,336 yards GF: €105-€155 W: oceanicogolf.com

Designed by Ryder Cup star Christy O'Connor Jnr, this Oceânico-owned course opened in October 2008. A wonderful layout through skilfully landscaped terrain dotted with palm trees, it's already mature beyond its years in terms of playing condition. The course is a worthy inclusion in the top-10.

10 Quinta de Cima

Stats: par 72, 7,203 GF: €75 W: N/A

Set on the Sotavento coast of the eastern Algarve, the Rocky Roquemore-designed course at Quinta de Cima was constructed with tournament play in mind. As such, it's a challenging layout where heavy bunkering, streams, lakes and undulating greens demand a good all-round performance from players, never mind their standard.

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly. 

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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