The United Kingdom has added Portugal to its travel ‘Green List’ enabling golfers visiting Cascais to travel quarantine-free from May 17
Cascais, Europe’s most westerly point and home to a group of Portugal’s finest golf facilities, is ready to welcome golfers back to the fairways, as UK families and groups are in search of their idyllic 2021 destination.
Renowned as one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations, Portugal is often one of the first European escapes considered by the British people, and this year, it will be the number one choice. Offering an all-year round climate, unrivalled leisure activities and a coastline to match, the warmest of welcomes is just a short flight away.
Undiscovered by many, Cascais presents a collection of unique and picturesque championship golf courses, painted by the panoramic Atlantic Ocean and Sintra Mountains. Each venue showcases a range of traditional and modern golf facilities, with immaculately conditioned championship courses, premium accommodation, exceptional gastronomy, and authentic scenery.
From Monday, golfers will have the ability to discover each of the seven golf venues in the region, including two of Portugal’s Top 10, Oitavos Dunes, current host venue for the European Tour’s GolfSixes Cascais, and Penha Longa, former European Tour Venue and the only golf resort in Portugal to feature three Michelin Star restaurants.
The Cascais golf portfolio also boasts a variety of challenging layouts, including Estoril Golf Club, one of Portugal’s oldest and most traditional golf clubs; Belas Clube de Campo, Portugal’s first ever GEO Certified golf course; Quinta da Marinha Golf Club, designed by the world-renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones; Lisbon Sports Club, featuring picturesque views of Lisbon’s surrounding countryside that have remained unchanged since 1922; and Pestana Beloura Golf Resort, located in the historic World Heritage village of Sintra.
Each venue is located within 20 minutes of the country’s capital, Lisbon, a central hub for European travellers with direct connectivity to 102 major cities. Just a short flight from London, Munich and Paris, Cascais is the perfect way to explore Europe once again in 2021.
Playing Golf in Cascais has never been safer, with each golf venue following strict public health guidelines. Golf Courses, hotels and tourist businesses in the region have all been widely approved by the Portuguese authorities ‘Clean and Safe’ accreditation, whilst Portugal has been approved as a ‘Safe Travel’ destination by the World Travel Tourism Council.
Speaking after Portugal was added to the UK’s travel ‘Green List’, Carla Gomes, Director at Visit Cascais, the region’s tourism board, said “We are delighted to see Portugal added to the United Kingdom’s travel ‘Green List’, it has been a challenging period and our partners in Cascais could not be more excited. All seven golf venues in the region have been hard at work preparing for this moment following strict public health guidelines and are ready to showcase their state-of-the-art facilities, premium accommodation, and stunning natural scenery that each of them offers. With travel restrictions prominent for many months now, we would like to be the first region to welcome back golfers, offering our first-class hospitality and creating unforgettable memories to last a lifetime.”
Oliver Key, General Manager at Penha Longa Golf Resort, added “The team at Penha Longa are ecstatic, it has been the news we have all been waiting for. Welcoming global travellers through the doors of our facilities is the reason we work at such a magnificent venue, from our golf shop assistants to our hotel manager, the first-class service is just a short-flight away.”
The past year has opened the imagination of many golfers, a trip to Europe requires more than just a good golf course. Cascais, traditionally a hotspot for royal families and wealthy individuals, presents award-winning traditional and high-end gastronomy, each with a distinct and personal touch. Fresh produce from land and sea is locally sourced in a sustainable manner, expertly prepared to the highest standard, all heightened by views indescribable in the world’s most surreal sunset.
The region also offers a relaxing way of life, with an abundance of leisure, wellness, and sporting experiences, painted by historical landmarks and tales of ancient civilisations dating from as far back as 1 AD.
For those that prefer to stay closer to home, there are a variety of bespoke wellness experiences in one of the many sophisticated health centres, including Penha Longa Spa & Wellness, named Southern European Luxury Resort Spa 2020, The Oitavos Spa, and Onyria Quinta da Marinha Spa, that effortlessly complement the region’s on-course offering.
ENDS
For more information on Cascais visit www.visitcascais.com or follow the region on social media:
Facebook: @Welcome.cascais.live
Instagram: @visit_cascais
Youtube: VisitCascais
Press Contacts
Shreena Patel
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Situated amongst Europe’s most westerly point, beside the beauty and tranquillity of the Atlantic, lies one of Portugal’s most established and emblematic golf destinations, winding through historic towns and stunning natural landscapes. Undiscovered by many, Cascais presents a group of Portugal’s seven most illustrious golf courses, a range of traditional and modern golf facilities, each with immaculate conditioned courses, premium accommodation, and exceptional gastronomy, showcasing the finest local produce, expertly prepared to provide an authentic cultural experience all year round. Nothing adds more to the region’s overall experience than golf, offering a relaxed, safe and peaceful atmosphere, a unique way to experience the famous Portuguese lifestyle, the perfect place to unwind and spend a day, or a lifetime. First-class golf, exquisite leisure, and hospitality, create an unrivalled way of life.
ABOUT THE CLUBS
Estoril Golf Club
The Estoril Golf Club is located only 25 minutes away from Lisbon and 3 minutes from the centre of Estoril, featuring restaurants, hotels, a casino and a beach. It is one of the oldest and most emblematic club in Portugal, redesigned in 1936 by MacKenzie Ross, and has hosted two of Portugal’s most important tournaments over a number of years; The Portuguese Open 20 years and The Portuguese International Championship Amateur 63 years.
A long list of famous golfers have played on the Estoril Golf Course, including Seve Ballesteros, Colin Montgomerie, Sam Torrance, Gene Sarazen, Peter Allis and Bernard Gallacher.
Overlooking Estoril and the sea, the 5200m long course is set amongst pines, eucalyptus and mimosa trees, giving a uniquely colourful touch that demands excellent tactics, forcing players to show accuracy rather than distance.
Quinta Da Marinha Golf Club
This carefully maintained Par 71, 18-hole golf course was designed by Robert Trent Jones. It offers stimulating challenges amidst the natural beauty of a variety of landscapes. The 5845-metre course takes players past calm lakes and secret pine woods, with breath-taking views of the hills on one side and the ocean on the other.
The course features many of Robert Trent Jones’ hallmark characteristics including elevated Greens & Tees, a number of testing bunkers, and carefully placed water hazards. Every hole is different, with golfers having to use all of the clubs in the bag and play with strategy to make a good score.
The Club has previously hosted the Ladies Masters in 1988, the PGA Seniors Tour Championship in 2002, and a Challenge Tour event in 2007, won by current European Tour player Ross McGowan and featuring former Ryder Cup player Peter Baker.
Oitavos Dunes Golf Club
The Oitavos Dunes Golf Course, designed by Arthur Hills, was developed by Quinta da Marinha and opened in 2001. Since then, it has hosted the Portuguese Open 4 times (2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009). Oitavos Dunes has also been recognized as nº1 Golf course in Portugal and nº3 Golf course in mainland Europe, as a result of being named 68th in GOLF Magazine’s bi-annual list of TOP 100 BEST Golf Courses in the World.
Providing a true links experience, Oitavos Dunes’ setting is dramatic with magnificent views of the Sintra Mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and Cabo da Roca.
Penha Longa Golf Resort
Set between Guincho beach, Cascais and Sintra, the Penha Longa Golf Resort offers exceptional conditions for world-class golf. Founded in 1992, the 27 golf holes are surrounded by a natural heritage, a 5 star luxury hotel from The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company, three Michelin Star restaurants, and a unique Spa.
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the golf course features the Atlantic. The Championship Circuit has previously been ranked in the Top 30 Courses in Continental Europe. The opening and closing holes run through a wooded vale in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, while the middle holes cascade over scented hillsides. The proximity with the historical complex and its settlement in some of the holes, gives this course a unique flare of history and nature.
The Resort also features a historical walking routes through the heart of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, as well as a Country Club that allows visitors to partake in leisure activities such as Tennis, Paddel, and Squash. There are also Culinary Experiences such as Wine & Gin Tasting, Cataplana Workshops, Visiting the Market with the Chef, and Cocktail & Mocktail Workshops for those that hope to relax away from the golf courses.
Pestana Beloura Golf Resort
Pestana Beloura Golf Resort is located in one of the most prestigious areas of Portugal. The historic town of Sintra and the cosmopolitan resorts of Estoril and Cascais are just a few kilometres away and Lisbon international airport is within easy reach. The foothills of the Sintra Mountains offer a breath-taking backdrop to the Quinta da Beloura Golf Course.
The course, designed by the famous American golf course architect William “Rocky” Roquemore, will stretch both your imagination and your golfing skills, providing an enjoyable challenge to golfers of all levels.
Lisbon Sports Club
Lisbon Sports Club was founded by the British in 1922 and to this day still maintains its British feel and heritage. The 18-hole layout is set in one of the most picturesque and naturally beautiful areas of Lisbon’s surrounding countryside and is a mere 15 minute drive from the city itself.
When playing the course, the natural beauty and landscape will immediately strike you, as all holes are bordered by many different species of trees and bushes and it is common to see more partridges and rabbits on the fairways than golf balls. As there is no development whatsoever on the golf course it’s the perfect place to relax away from the day-to-day stress of city life.
Belas Clube De Campo
This is a championship standard, par-72 golf course of 6,109 metres. It is one of the masterpieces of the renowned golf course designer William “Rocky” Roquemore. The impeccably maintained greens, tees and fairways were seeded with Penneagle and Pennlinks grass and are set well into the valleys for protection against the wind. The course meanders amongst the hillsides, affording splendid views of the Sintra Mountains.
Located in the heart of a Forest Park, the resort is in full contact with nature, but only a few minutes from the centre of Lisbon, Cascais’ famous beaches and the historical village of Sintra too. The nobility of the region combined with the surrounding nature and proximity to urban centres makes this resort the perfect place to convey comfort, safety, and tranquillity.
The resort also offers a wide variety of premium apartments, townhouses, and plots for construction of single-family houses.
Sustainability is a key part of the resort, both on and off the course, with the search to find new innovative solutions for the betterment of the environment never ending. The golf course was certified by GEO Foundation in 2011, becoming the first golfing venue in Portugal and Iberian Peninsula to be awarded it.