The Troia and Comporta area of Portugal is quickly becoming one of the most interesting golfing destinations in Europe, and a recent visit provided the opportunity to take a closer look at four very different golf courses within a relatively small area.
The main purpose of this trip was to see the renovation taking place at Troia Golf Club through RTJ2 Design, but it also provided the chance to experience Comporta Torre, Comporta Dunes and Pinheirinho Golf Club – four courses that, despite their proximity, offer remarkably different golfing experiences. Alongside me all the way was Henrique Duarte of Irrimac who are supplying the Toro irrigation system at the Troia Golf Club renovation. We stayed at The Pearl Troia, near the Marina and would recommend it for your visit.
Our first day began at Comporta Torre.
The course was in fantastic condition and, designed by Sergio Garcia, offers a really enjoyable and varied round of golf. There is plenty of movement across the property, with trees used effectively, interesting bunkering and a number of memorable holes. Some subtle movement in the greens made them tricky to get a good grasp on and this was frustrating but enjoyable at the same time!
The 9th is a particularly good par five, while the 11th provides another strong par five before the excellent short par four 12th.
Comporta Torre may always live slightly in the shadow of its more famous neighbour, Comporta Dunes, but that shouldn’t detract from the quality of the golf. It is a course that will provide plenty of fun for anyone visiting the area and deserves to be part of the wider Comporta golf story.
The following morning was spent at Troia Golf Club with João (Golf GM), Tony (Superintendent) and Henrique, taking a close look at the renovation being undertaken by RTJ2. The changes are already looking spectacular.
One of the most noticeable aspects is the extent of tree removal, which has opened up the property considerably. Dunes that were previously hidden are now much more visible, while the opening of the landscape creates views towards the sea.
Troia isn’t a huge property, and that intimacy is actually one of its strengths. The renovation appears to be enhancing that characteristic rather than trying to turn it into something it isn’t. The result is a golf course that feels both intimate and expansive, with the landscape now playing a much greater role in the experience. The greens contain some real movement and will provide some interesting pins and the ribbon effect of turf over sand throughout the course is super effective. Some memorable holes were the Par 3 – 2nd, Par 4 – 3rd, Par 4 – 14th and the home hole 18.
It will be fascinating to see the finished product when the course reopens next year.
From Troia, it was on to Comporta Dunes, where a quick buggy ride around the course provided a great perspective on both the property and David McLay Kidd’s design.
It is easy to understand why the course has been receiving such strong reviews.
The scale of the property is impressive, with significant elevation changes and an excellent use of sandy waste areas that bleed naturally into the bunkering. The greens are another highlight, providing plenty of interest and helping to create a series of holes that are both visually dramatic and strategically engaging.
There is a real sense of scale and drama at Comporta Dunes. Holes are separated by vegetation and landscape, giving the course a feeling of space and isolation that is quite different from Troia.
The final stop was Pinheirinho Golf Club, perhaps the least well-known of the four courses at present. That is likely to change.
The course has been closed to play for some time, but that will soon change, giving golfers the opportunity to experience another impressive property on this beautiful stretch of Portuguese coastline. Pinheirinho has a very different character again. It feels more like a parkland, resort-style golf course, although it remains firmly embedded in the natural landscape of the area.
There are some significant elevation changes, but water also plays a much greater role than at the other courses, with several lakes coming into play. The greens are particularly interesting and there are a number of holes where the player is presented with genuine choices from the tee.
The 10th, a short par four, and the 11th, a par five, are good examples of this. How aggressively you choose to play the hole can have a significant impact on the way the hole unfolds.
Pinheirinho is expected to become more membership-focused, although some visitor play will provide an opportunity for golfers coming to the area to experience what is a very different course from the other options nearby.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the trip was just how different these four golf courses are.
Troia is coastal, intimate and relatively compact, with the renovation now opening up views across the dunes and towards the sea.
Comporta Dunes is a much larger property, with huge scale, significant elevation changes and a design that makes the most of the sandy landscape.
Comporta Torre is similarly expansive, with vegetation, movement and width providing a very different experience to Troia.
And then there is Pinheirinho – more parkland and resort in character, with water coming into play and a series of interesting strategic choices, while still sitting within the remarkable natural landscape of the region.
That variety is perhaps the area’s greatest strength.
You could play all four courses during a five- or six-day trip and feel as though you had experienced four completely different golfing environments.Once the Troia renovation is complete and the course reopens next year, the area will have an exceptional collection of golf courses within easy reach of one another. For anyone looking for a high-quality golfing trip in Portugal, the Troia and Comporta area should certainly be on the list.
The Greenprint will be returning to Troia in an upcoming episode, where we will take a much deeper look at the renovation with the designers, Henrique Duarte of Irrimac and Rui Grave, Director of Agronomy at Details.
A big thank you to Henrique Duarte and Irrimac, Toro, Jose Lobao (Superintendent at Comporta), The team at Troia and lastly, Antonio Castelo – GM at Pinheirinho Golf Club for helping make the visit possible and providing great insights and information along the way.
