Nothing quite whets the appetite for a game of golf than a good course photograph, especially one taken from a drone that shows the layout and the surrounding terrain in all its glory. I’ve booked many a round of golf on the strength of a beautiful picture – lots of golfers do.
I saw a cracker last summer – the only problem being that you couldn’t play it. Still a work in progress. This was the Dunas Course at Terras da Comporta, acclaimed golf architect, David McLay-Kidd’s first course design in continental Europe. Finally, however, after many years of stop-start, this wonderful course – located an hour’s drive to the south of Lisbon, close to the beautiful Alentejo coast – is open for business.
It’s been quite a journey for McLay-Kidd and co, who first visited Comporta way back in 2008. “Breath-taking” is how he describes this part of Portugal’s coastline – this coming from a man who has given us Bandon Dunes in Oregon, USA, and the Castle Course at St Andrews.
The spectacular Dunas Course at Terras da Comporta from above
(Image credit: James Hogg)
“If you look at any top 100 list, it is peppered with golf courses that are through pine, barren, scrubby vegetation and sand dunes, he says, “from the courses in Melbourne, Australia, to Long Island in the US, to those around the British and Irish coastlines.
“So here we are in southern Europe in Portugal in exactly that terrain and yet no golf course has really capitalised on that. There was a massive opportunity for golf to build something.”
That opportunity was almost missed – several times. First came the financial crisis, and then, in 2020, you know what saw the whole world grind to a halt. Some years later than planned, and having partnered with Vanguard Properties – the largest real estate developer in Portugal – we’re all systems go.
I encounter my own setback immediately. Despite McLay-Kidd announcing on the tee “you’re always in the hole here,” I lose my very first shot to the left. Stiffness. The point he makes, though, is valid: it’s evident throughout the round that this course is very playable – not so punishing that you’ll lose lots and lots of balls.
Hole 16, a terrific driveable par-4,, is a good example. McLay-Kidd points out the aggressive play. I take it on, but come up 30 yards short. I’m now facing an awkward but not impossible bunker shot. However, I’m still in play, and not swallowed up by a huge, man-made lake.
And I could…
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