Going for Golf

Lisbon - A capital place to visit

Bom Sucesso

I visited the latter, which bills itself as a ‘design resort’, with contemporary architecture at the cornerstone of its concept. Here they have brought together 23 of Europe’s cutting-edge designers to create an eclectic mix of modern home choices and it is apposite that they also chose to employ the services of one of golf’s foremost architects to design the course. Donald Steel, one of the world’s most influential golf course designers, hasn’t let them down.
Bom Sucesso is a superb layout with most holes running through dished valleys, with the houses set well back and above the play. Significant tree planting has lent great maturity to what is a young course (opened Sept 2008) and there are some beautifully appointed greens, which will test your putter to the max.

It is a course for all, with white tees providing test enough for the world’s top players, yet from the forward tees, long carries are eliminated. Then there are the spectacular views afforded from many holes, none more so than from the tee on the fearsomely difficult par-five 17th. This signature hole provides a panorama of vistas from the tee-box with Óbidos Lagoon to the east, the sea to the west and mountains and forest in between.

Golfers who are looking to stay at Bom Sucesso currently have a choice of well-appointed modern one and two-bedroom homes and there are future plans for a five-star hotel, spa and conference centre. However, I was soon heading back south to tackle a quartet of the Estoril Coast’s finest.