By Jason Armstrong, The Golf Guide
I recently had the chance to experience a brilliant few days of golf in Portugal on a press trip organised by Azalea, working with Portugal Golf.
The trip gave me the opportunity to play two very different courses — Terras da Comporta’s Torre Course and PGA Aroeira Lisboa — as well as taking part in the Open de Portugal Pro-Am.
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It was well organised from start to finish, I met some great people along the way, and it was one of those trips that really shows why Portugal remains such a strong golf destination.
Terras da Comporta – The Torre Course
The Torre Course was probably the most interesting course of the trip simply because of how new and different it feels.
Opened in 2025, Torre is the first signature golf course designed by Sergio Garcia. The 18-hole, par-72 layout runs through natural sandy terrain, pine trees and huge open landscapes, with the course designed to sit naturally within its surroundings.
It has already made a serious impression too, being named the World’s Best New Golf Course for 2025 at the World Golf Awards.
What I liked about it was how natural everything felt. There are large sandy areas throughout the course, plenty of strategic decisions off the tee and a real sense that every hole has been shaped around the landscape.
It is a course that looks fantastic, but it also makes you think.
The setting helps massively as well. Terras da Comporta feels completely different from the busier Portuguese golf destinations many golfers will already know. You are surrounded by pine forest, sandy terrain and huge open spaces, while still being within reach of Lisbon.
The Torre Course also sits close to the highly rated Dunas Course, meaning you can easily build both into the same golf trip.
For anyone looking for somewhere new to play in Portugal, Comporta should be very high on the list.
PGA Aroeira Lisboa
PGA Aroeira offered something completely different.
The details
Where Torre feels new and modern, PGA Aroeira No.1 has history behind it.
Designed by renowned architect Frank Pennink, the par-72 course is surrounded by mature pine trees and has long been known as the “Wentworth of Lisbon.” It has previously hosted the Portuguese Open and has the feel of a proper traditional championship course.
It is a very different test to Torre. The trees frame the holes beautifully, but they also punish you if you start spraying it off the tee.
Accuracy matters.
That history became even more relevant on this trip because of the Open de Portugal, giving us the opportunity to experience PGA Aroeira in a proper tournament setting.
Playing in the Open de Portugal Pro-Am
The highlight for me personally was getting the chance to take part in the Open de Portugal Pro-Am.
I played alongside Alfie Plant and Frederik Kjettrup, and it was a brilliant experience being out there with professional players and seeing the course from a completely different perspective.
Playing a course yourself is one thing. Playing it around a professional tournament gives you a much better appreciation of the setup, the preparation involved and just how good these players are.
It was also one of the best parts of the trip socially.
I met some great people over the few days, including former Premier League footballer Stephen Warnock.
We’re basically besties now — although I’m not sure he’s been officially told that yet.
Joking aside, that is one of the things I enjoy most about trips like this.