It’s taken a few weeks to fully absorb all the experiences from my summer holiday in Comporta—perhaps because returning to normal life has been a difficult transition.
The Alentejo region of Portugal moves at an entirely different pace to Lisbon, which is just an hour away, let alone the rest of the world. It’s a place that demands you slow down: drive through the cork trees and umbrella pines, cross the dunes, reach the beach, and watch the sun sink into the Atlantic. There’s a sense of decompression—an almost immediate realisation that you’ve escaped the pressures of life in an overcrowded country and stumbled into another world.
I’ve seen it in others too: friends arriving in Comporta for the first time experience the same quiet revelation. There’s a feeling of vastness here—expansive rice fields, deep forests, miles of unbroken coastline, and abundant wildlife. Much of the area is a protected nature reserve, ensuring it remains largely untouched despite its growing popularity.
Yet this seemingly remote stretch of Portugal has now been well and truly discovered—by an American developer aptly named Discovery, who are promoting it as the “Hamptons of Europe.” American investors are currently focusing their attention on Costa Terra, a private community tucked near the village of Melides, just south of Comporta. It even boasts a Tom Fazio–designed golf course, though access is strictly members-only.
Perhaps it’s the momentum of this development that has drawn other investors to the region, acquiring vast tracts of land. The encouraging news for golfers is that the sport sits at the heart of these new projects. There are now three new courses either completed or nearing completion—but the area’s golfing heritage actually goes back much further.
Across the Sado River Estuary from Setúbal lies Troia Golf Club, a celebrated Robert Trent Jones Sr. design dating back to 1980. Built before coastal construction restrictions were in place, Troia offers spectacular views over the water. The layout is a delight—tight greens, a true links feel, and holes that flow naturally across the sandy peninsula. Though its condition had declined in recent years, new ownership is now in place and a multimillion-euro upgrade promise to restore Troia to its former glory. The course deserves the care it’s now receiving.
A short drive away, Vanguard Properties has established two exceptional new courses: Dunas and Torre.
Dunas at Terras da Comporta, which opened in 2023, is a David McLay Kidd creation set amidst a majestic pine forest. The trees define the course, framing each hole and blending seamlessly with vast stretches of sand. The undulating fairways twist and turn through natural dunes, offering a visual and strategic feast. It’s already being hailed as one of the finest new courses in Europe—and deservedly so. The practice facilities are world-class, and even the temporary clubhouse manages to impress.
The newest arrival, Torre, offers a striking contrast. Designed by Sergio García, it sits on higher ground where the wind is a constant factor and the trees are less dominant. When I played, the practice facilities weren’t yet open and there was no clubhouse, but the course itself was in outstanding condition. From the first tee, you sense the scale—broad fairways, sculpted sand mounds, and an openness that evokes links golf.
There are clear nods to Valderrama, García’s favourite course: a tree guarding the approach to the first green, and another sitting squarely in the middle of the ninth fairway. Precision iron play and a sharp short game are essential. The fairways are generous, but the real test lies in the intricate, tightly contoured green complexes. The back nine is slightly narrower, with greater elevation changes—an exhilarating stretch of holes.
The Comporta story doesn’t end there. Back in 2013, a 27-hole project called Pinheirinho was completed but never officially opened due to financial issues. Fortunately, 18 of those holes were maintained to a high standard. Twelve years on, the development has been revived, and the course is finally nearing its long-awaited debut.
Pinheirinho promises to be another superb addition to the coast—blending elements of Dunas and Torre but with more prominent water features and tighter routing in places. Visually, it’s stunning.
If all current projects reach completion, the Comporta Golf Coast will soon rank among the most exciting new golf destinations in the world. Four remarkable courses set amidst breathtaking natural landscapes, complemented by world-class cuisine and the relaxed charm of Comporta and Carvalhal’s beachside villages.
But a word of warning: once you arrive, you may find you never want to leave.