Golf course: Estela Golf Club

The golf course

The Estela Golf Club is located directly on the Atlantic coast near Póvoa de Varzim, around 30 minutes north of Porto, and stretches over three kilometers of dune landscape in a protected natural area. The 18-hole course (par 72, approx. 6,150 m) was designed by Duarte Sotto-Mayor and is a classic links course with narrow fairways, fast, firm greens and the challenge of overcoming wind and natural obstacles such as dunes and lakes. Precision off the tee is crucial, as misses often end in losing the ball. Particularly well-known holes include the par-4 of hole 3, the par-3 of hole 4 with a shot over a valley and the wind-prone par-5 on hole 15.

The course has received several awards, including from Golf Digest, and has hosted European professional tournaments such as the 1990 Atlantic Open and the 1991 Portuguese Open.

The clubhouse offers high-quality facilities and direct beach access, the course maintenance is excellent with Penncross Bent-Grass greens and Tifton Bermuda fairways.

Estela is considered one of the best and most exclusive golf courses in Portugal and offers players of all abilities a challenging, rewarding experience in an impressive coastal setting.