West Cliffs Golf Links
Managed by the Praia D'el Rey Resort
GPS; LAT; 39º 24’ 45.7” N. LONG: 9º 14’ 19.0” W.
West Cliffs Links Golf
Based in Obidos, Lisbon
The varied landscape and natural undulating terrain have helped create a stunning 18 hole, Championship Links Golf Course that runs alongside Lisbon’s Silver coast. Rolling sand dunes interspersed with coastal vegetation and dominant pine groves, make for a privileged and exclusive location. Their slogan is ‘it was always there’ as the course layout is the result of a long term study of the terrain’s conditions and characteristics in order to preserve the natural beauty and ecological balance of the site.
From every hole, there are stunning views over the Atlantic Ocean and the Obidos Lagoon. Highlights include the Par 3 5th hole, a slighter shorter version of the Redan template, with a green that slopes severely fro front to back and an epic Par 5 7th hole where you drive from a high tee down to a rolling fairway, where the contours hide a Hell’s half Acre type of hazard that must be carried with the second shot in order to finish well.
It is not a long course, but is exciting and dramatic and once you hit the fairway players will have relatively short shots to the greens, so will be enjoyed by golfers of all levels. In terms of water obstacles there are 3 large lakes and it is walkable but mainly due to the connections between holes 15, 16 and 17, a buggy may be preferable.b
The run of holes at the end of the round, which occupy the highest ground on the site, are particularly memorable. The Par 3 16th has most of its tees on a very high dune, but this same dune obscures part of the green from the lower, back tee (selective blindness is a major feature of the design at West Cliffs). The 17th is a mid length Par 4 with a sharp dogleg around another high dune. Golfers who hit a strong drive should get a view of the green, set way below the landing area, but any sort of mis-hit will result in a blind second over the big dune. Finally the 18th is a long but steeply downhill Par 4. The drive, from the extremely elevated tees, is threatened by another big dune – golfers can go safely right of it, but then their second will have to be played over a lake and sand hazards, while the player who successfully takes on the dune from the tee has an unobstructed second.
The golf course is to be managed by the nearby Praia D’el Rey Resort, thereby offering another world class Golf Course; Praia D’El Rey, a 5 star Marriott hotel, a Spa and self-catering luxury villas, town houses (The Beachfront) and apartments (The Village). The West Cliffs Golf Resort will shortly begin construction of their own hotel and villas.
The West Cliffs Links Golf course opened in June 2017 and was designed by Cynthia Dye (Dye Designs).
18 holes, Par 72
Black; 6337 m, Slope 134
White; 5889 m, Slope 130
Yellow; 5486 m, Slope 126
Blue; 5050 m, Slope 124
Red; 4650 m, Slope 118
The total length is 6337 m
Handicap; Men; 28 Ladies; 36
Facilities; Restaurant, bar, pro shop, driving range, putting green, golf lessons, rental clubs, trolleys and buggies.
Important note; Bring a rangefinder if playing in the near future as the Course is not yet GPS mapped.
West Cliffs Links Golf Resort address; Freguesia do Vau, Concelho de Obidos, Portugal
West Cliffs Links Golf Resort GPS; LAT; 39º 24’ 45.7” N. LONG: 9º 14’ 19.0” W.