Everything You Need to Know About PGA Aroeira Lisboa

I was delighted when recently invited to attend the celebrations for the new rebrand of PGA Aroeira Lisboa.

Having previously attended Slieve Russell in Ireland when it received the same accolade, I know how the status allows the venue to develop and be enhanced. I have been watching how Slieve Russell has grown into a ‘go to’ venue for both US visitors and PGA professionals alike since its appointment.  

I love the idea that a single course represents its home country and sets the standards for its contemporaries. It is important that these venues are still accessible to all golfers and the PGA National status actually requires this from the owners.

PGA National Status

"All PGA Nationals feature courses of the highest standards, capable of hosting international standard golf tournaments whilst being accessible to the general golfing public. 

"World-class teaching facilities are available at each PGA National through an associated PGA National Academy that combines leading instruction with unrivalled practice facilities. This combination promises golfers of all ages and abilities the opportunity to enjoy the sport in the most comprehensive and desirable surroundings in each country."

To be selected and to qualify for this status is a genuine feather in the cap for Details - Hospitality, Sports & Leisure on behalf of Arrow Global in Portugal.

I have played PGA National Scotland at Gleneagles, PGA National England at The Belfry and PGA National Ireland at Slieve Russell. These are all exceptional golf facilities and to be accepted into this family will ensure that the appropriate level of investment and development is made into what is already a very good quality golfing venue. 

I have seen at first hand the skill and expertise employed by Details staff having had the chance to play these venues in the spring of this year. There has been a root and branch programme of works to ensure that the playing surfaces are the best that they can be.

Aroeira No. 1

Historically, this golf course was good enough to hold the Portuguese Open in 1996 and 1997. 

One of my favourite Sky Sports golf commentators Wayne "Radar" Riley was champion at Aroeira in 1996 having come from his win at the 1995 Scottish Open defeating both Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie. 

I really like the layout of the course and the extensive upgrades include a state-of-the-art irrigation system that will drastically reduce the amount of water needed for course maintenance.

Frank Pennink created a meandering, natural design that provides a wildlife haven supported by avenues of Pine trees that frame each hole beautifully. It is pleasing on the eye as it fits so naturally with the local landscape and contours. 

The original design has been retained and enhanced being brought up to date to ensure it is the most sustainable and environmentally friendly product that can be achieved.

It earned the nickname of ‘Wentworth of Lisbon’ when initially developed and the recent enhancements can only add further to its reputation and playability.

It is brilliantly located within 30 minutes of the city of Lisbon and I am sure it will attract a global audience such is its easy to access location.

Given the excellent climate and infrastructure, I anticipate that many PGA professionals will also seek to use this as a training base for pupils and students. They will not be disappointed at the range of facilities that are being offered.

Aroeira No. 2

The current Aroeira Challenge course will also have a similar make over to be rebranded Aroeira 2. I am a devoted fan of Donald Steel and his original work at this venue was of the highest standard. 

I love how both courses are framed by a variety of domestic and holiday properties but they do not impinge on the golfing or wildlife experience in any way.  

I was astonished at the level of development work that had been completed since my last visit and it is clear that this work will lead to a great golfing experience for all players once it has had time to fully settle in. 

Aroeira 1 was not the fully finished article when I recently played it but I expect it to develop into a pristine flagship venue very soon. The work planned for Aroeira 2 is also impressive. 

If you want to experience the venue and play these courses, please visit https://www.golfbreaks.com/en-gb/holidays/lisbon/pga-aroeira-lisboa/.

Timeline of Developments

These timeline pictures give an idea of the extensive and highly professional renovations and improvements that have been completed by the Details team since my last visit in May 2024.

It is incredible that the team has been able to get the course ready and playable for the grand opening in such a short period of time.

These courses were designed to be premium products and they are now enjoying some well-earned TLC that will bring them back to their former glories.

The infrastructure for the resort in terms of accommodation and restaurants are also being improved and enhanced to ensure that the venue fully lives up to its flagship status.

These are not just my thoughts on this venue as it was my pleasure to award the venue our Highly Recommended status accolade from the reviews submitted by golfers for golfers on behalf of Golfshake. 

100% of those who completed reviews recorded that they would visit again or would recommend a visit to a friend. These kind of satisfaction levels are excellent and are to be celebrated.

Carlos Fonseca has been a fixture at the venue for over 32 years and was asked to receive the award by senior executives from Details in his current role as golf manager. He is an experienced agronomist and his excitement at this project was infectious. I genuinely enjoyed listening to his experience and obvious love for the courses and venue.

Crowne Plaza Caparica Lisbon

Our party didn’t stay at Aroeira, electing instead to utilise another hotel within the Details group called the Crowne Plaza Caparica Lisbon. 

This was a superb facility, 20 minutes from the city centre, with extensive sports facilities that include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, steam bath and saunas and a nine-hole golf course. 

The children’s play area was excellent for all age groups and I would seriously consider this venue if travelling with family in the future. What better way to introduce budding new golfers into the game than an informal nine-hole golf course followed by a swim. Having a swim and steam bath after a flight before sampling the excellent local cuisine and wine is my idea of heaven. I loved this hotel. 

Fonseca Vineyard

I also managed to fit in a visit to a local vineyard to sample a wine tasting. Lisbon is the centre of Portuguese wine production and the Fonseca Vineyard has been in the same family for six generations producing award winning wines and spirits. It has its own restaurant and wine bar and is a gastronomic gem.

If you are interested in golf, gastronomy and wine, this is a great venue to visit. 

They also offer a great Portuguese app facility allowing wines to be purchased and delivered directly to your home address. A great idea if you are travelling light and don’t want the hassle of carrying bottles of wine through the airport. They deliver to 50 countries making the purchase of high quality locally produced wines simple and cost effective.

Palmares Ocean Living & Golf Resort

We then extended our trip via an enjoyable three hour drive on excellent roads from Lisbon to Faro to be able to enjoy the delights of the Palmares Ocean Living & Golf Resort, which is also managed by the Details group, whose clubhouse was recently awarded the accolade of best in Europe at the World Golf Awards.

On this occasion I was able to sample the delights of the venue with another excellent meal.

I have written about Palmares before with its three loops of nine holes. The golf course is a wonderful eclectic mix of links and parkland. I particularly like the holes that run close to the railway lines and parallel to the beach. 

It is located on the Atlantic coast close to Meia Praia beach. It’s the largest beach in the Lagos region that has a wonderful low-key atmosphere and vibe. It is pristine and its size ensures that it never feels crowded despite its popularity. 

The marina area is a popular for kite surfing and other water-based activities. 

Golf, Sun, Surf & Sand 

Meia Praia in English means ‘Half Beach’ and this originates from it being a half strip of beach between Lagos and Alvor that is divided by the Riberia de Odiaxere river.

The use of the elevated tee boxes on each loop is stunning and hazards are easy to see as they present themselves in a clear and obvious manner. Avoiding them is more of a challenge as they are strategically placed. 

It was clear that it has also benefitted from another extensive rehabilitation programme. The greens in particular were of an excellent standard. Despite their relative age they were true and a genuine pleasure to putt upon.

It was a glorious experience to be the first out on the course behind the greenkeeping staff to be able to easily play 27 holes before a leisurely shower and 40-minute trip to Faro Airport ready to return home.

Pace of play has been highlighted within our golfer reviews as a problem in the past, especially at the crossover points between the loops. This was not the case during my visit and we moved seamlessly between the courses with no interruptions or delays. 

It’s clear from discussions I had that staff are aware of this as an issue and it is being well policed to ensure that golfer experiences are not hampered by rounds of a different pace.

I love playing at Palmares and would highly recommend the experience to any standard of golfer. There is a range of tees allowing for all standards of players to enjoy the scenery and layout. 

The climate here provides for around 300 days of sunshine per year and is ideal for autumn and winter golf from UK based golfers. 

The accommodation at Palmares is outstanding. 

My golf apartment overlooked the golf course and swimming pools and had its own sun deck and patio. The interior fittings are exceptional with a kitchen area and dining room that catered for up to 12 guests. It offers a range of facilities from self-catering to Michelin standard restaurants.

This is a top-quality golfing venue - and if you want to sample it yourself, check out https://www.golfbreaks.com/en-gb/holidays/lagos/palmares-golf-club/.

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