161 - Quinta da Ria Golf Course

Location: Vila Nova de Cacela, Portugal

Rating: 7.8

Last stop on this Portugal trip and Quinta da Ria didn’t let us down. Set right on the coast, roughly a 45-minute drive east from airport is this quaint 2 course golf club. Quinta da Cima being its neighbour.

Quinta da Ria is a wonderful blend of semi-Portuguese parkland style course with a smattering of trees and then a linksy feel being smack bang on the coast, a stone’s throw away from the ocean but is a lovely hybrid of the two styles of course.

There’s some a very nice blend of interesting holes, with subtle changes in elevation, twists and turns and then some more straight forward holes with stunning ocean views.

The course was in pretty good condition and doesn’t play terribly long on a calm day but I can imagine when the wind blows it could be a very challenging to score well!

I think €120 is a little overpriced but this seems to be the norm in this part of Portugal.

The practice facilities are good, there’s a nice driving range and putting/chipping area.