Setubal & Sesimbra golf holidays
The area South of Lisbon, just over the (very impressive) bridges crossing the Tagus, is inhabited primarily by city commuters; many of whom enjoy a game of golf at the weekend, which has given rise to a number of rather nice Golf Clubs and a few resorts too. Once you get down into the province of Setubal and the seaside town of Sesimbra you enter a greener environment with a rather relaxed ambience - perfect for golf holidays close to Lisbon.
Setubal is more of a business town with traffic and trade heading to and from the Troia ferry that links the South of Portugal with the capital. This makes it great for out-of-season golfing as the town is alive and kicking all year long (it also means that prices are local as opposed to tourist). You may not find much English spoken and you may well find that you are the only tourists in town! However, the locals are very friendly and willing to help so deploying your best sign language should ensure that you end up with what you were after!
Sesimbra on the other hand, is an out-and-out holiday spot due to its long sandy beaches that are sheltered from the Atlantic by the Lisbon headland. An old Portuguese town sits on the hillside sloping down to a seafront (and a classic Portuguese fortress) that has been nicely developed over the years with hotels and restaurants. From here the courses at Aroeira, Quinta do Peru and Montado are very easy to get to as is the legendary Troia.
Troia & Comporta golf holidays
Heading further south, crossing over the Sado estuary on the bright green ferries from Setubal, you will land on the sand of the unique Troia peninsula. A spit of alluvial deposits that is predominantly a Nature Reserve with the odd little village here and there. The scenery is towering pines, sand dunes, Atlantic or riverside beaches, wetlands and paddy-fields: a unique, away-from-it-all, environment.
Amongst all this natural beauty are two of the best golf courses to be found in Continental Europe: the long-standing Troia and Dunas da Comporta - the new kidd on the block. Both are exceptional layouts and will leave you with some unforgettable golfing memories.
Aside from the golf, there really is little else to do apart from relaxing on the beach, so just go with the flow: more of a golf hideaway than a golf holiday perhaps?
Setubal, Sesimbra, Troia & Comporta golf courses
The golf courses in this part of Portugal may well be unfamiliar names but they are every bit as good as elsewhere we can assure you, plus there are plenty of them!
The easiest course to get to from Sesimbra is Quinta do Peru, a nicely designed course through cork-oak groves with a well-to-do membership that ensures it is always in fine shape. A great start to any golf holiday.
Heading slightly further up the coast, the oaks turn to pine and amongst these towering trees are the two courses at Aroeira (and a resort hotel). Both are well worth playing with the later course (Aroeira II) being more of a test over undulating terrain.
The toughest and most spectacular golf courses in the Alentejo area, and for many the best courses in Portugal, lurk just across the Sado estuary at the top and bottom of the Troia peninsula: Troia and Dunas da Comporta. Both are fantastic layouts and tough tests of golf. Troia has a dreamlike sand-and-pine setting with water on both sides, beautifully dangerous golf: the new course at Dunas da Comporta has to be seen to be believed.
And these aren't the only four courses in the region. Travel a little further east and you reach the often overlooked Montado. Another solid layout through quiet pines and twisted oaks (with a very good value three-star hotel on-site).
For a tougher test carry on east into the wildlands of the Estremadura province where you will find Riba I & II. Two more courses that will examine your golf under the hot sun all year round.
Where to stay in the Alentejo
Where you base yourself depends very much on which golf courses you have on your hitlist and how much sightseeing versus sunbathing you wish to do post-golf. Working our way from North to South the options for accommodation are as follows...
Just across the Tagus, and very close to Lisbon, is the Aroeira complex of two golf courses and a good hotel in a modern residential development. A great spot to combine some sunny golf with easy access to the capital city Lisbon.
On the south side of the bulge of land just below Lisbon is the holiday resort of Sesimbra, which offers a long stretch of sandy beach and a small old Portuguese town. The location is perhaps the ultimate compromise between access to Quinta do Peru, Montado and Troia Golf Clubs, with an old town to stroll in the evening, plus it's within reach of Lisbon for a day out sightseeing. In Sesimbra, the characterful Hotel do Mar is one of the original hotels and our favourite place to stay at the end of the beach; or there is the more modern Sesimbra Oceanfront hotel to consider as well. 
Crossing over the Sado down to the Troia peninsula there are two very distinct options for your place to stay: the modern marina development at the very tip of the isthmus around the Troia marina or the sleepy little village of Comporta further down amongst the wetlands and rice fields. At the Troia end of things the Design Hotel overlooking the quay is a dazzlingly modern hotel; contrasting totally with the seclusion of Comporta where the AlmaLusa hotel offers a much more secluded seaside vibe.
Setubal & Sesimbra - around and about
Life in Sesimbra revolves mainly around the beach with holidaymakers lazing away on the golden sands or lunching in the shady backstreets. There is a small fort to visit midway along the beach or the castle at the top of the hill that offers great views over the landscape. It's also worth taking a stroll around the point to the active fishing port with its colourful wooden smacks and plenty of activities, including sailing, ocean-fishing and canoeing trips if that takes your fancy?
For a more active day of rest, Setubal has everything: shops, bars and restaurants in the old part of town that offer 'local' prices - so extremely good value. Setubal can be visited on the way back from golf at Troia (if you've the energy left!) or a visit after one of the more local courses (or on a day off?!?) as it's only twenty minutes away. The star attraction at Setubal is the fortress (once a Pousada) with its blue-tiled chapel and sunny terrace, where you can lunch or take a coffee and gaze out from the parapets over the town, the sweeping Sado river, the Troia peninsula and the Atlantic Ocean: breathtaking.
And you may even bump into a Mariachi band strolling the backstreets!
Food & Drink
As always in Portugal you'll never be too far from a fish restaurant in either Setubal or Sesimbra! The abundant Atlantic bounty is to be found adorning the counters of myriad restaurants hidden in every backstreet in both towns or along the seafront: most will let you choose your fish before you sit down. Specialities like clams in butter and garlic or the ubiquitous Sardinhas are not to be missed!
A country with fertile soil and endless hours of sunshine must be good for wine production? Well it certainly is! Aside form the crisp whites (such as Vinho Verde) that accompany seafood platters so well there are some delicious, full-bodied reds in the are too. A tasting at the impressive Fonseca vineyards in Azeitao is a must for any oenophiles and you are sure to leave with a few bottles - so leave some room in your luggage!
There are some friendly little restaurants in Azeitao too, so you could make a day of it...
Getting to Setubal & Sesimbra
Travelling to your golf holiday in Sesimbra or Setubal could hardly be any easier with so many flights to Portugal's capital city: Lisbon. From the airport you just head south over the Tagus on the motorway and in just under an hour you will be arriving at your hotel (or striding towards the first Tee). Setubal is located just five minutes form the motorway, Sesimbra will take about twenty minutes depending on traffic and the time of year.
We can arrange flights for you to Lisbon with British Airways, TAP or any of the lo-cost airlines or we are equally happy to let you book these yourselves if you prefer?
We can arrange a hire-car for the duration of your holiday, alternatively we have a very reliable coach and minibus company that we use if you prefer to be chauffeured from golf course to hotel and back during your golf holiday in Setubal or Sesimbra.
Getting to Troia
A fun little trip on the twenty-minute ferry from the centre of Setubal. Just turn up at the slipway and buy your ticket from the man patrolling the queue. Drive on, then drive off twenty minutes later practically into the Clubhouse!
You could even travel over as foot passengers (if you were staying in the centre of Setubal for instance) and walk to Troia Golf Club from the far side, although it will take about half-an-hour. Or you could stay at the new marina in Troia?
