The Dunas Course earns top accolade in Golf Digest’s updated list of ‘Best Courses in Portugal’
The remarkable rise of The Dunas Course at Terras da Comporta to the summit of Portuguese and global golf has continued after the layout debuted at number one in Golf Digest’s updated ranking of the ‘Best Courses in Portugal’.
The magazine’s international panel of course raters had no hesitation in naming the par-71 layout near Lisbon as its new leading course in the respected industry list less than three years after being unveiled to the golf world.
Revealing that it was “no surprise” to see The Dunas Course debut at number one, the magazine also predicted big things in the future for Terras da Comporta’s second layout, The Torre Course, which was not eligible for this year’s ranking after only opening last October.
Announcing its verdict, the Golf Digest panel said: “The golf in Portugal was already top notch, then The Dunas Course at Terras da Comporta came along. The course was a long time coming … and sits on a natural sandy site less than a mile from the Atlantic Ocean amid towering wild pines and natural vegetation.
“Sergo Garcia’s design team opened Terras da Comporta’s second course, Torre, last year. It did not have enough ballots to rank on this edition of the Best Courses in Portugal. Both courses give a huge boost to the golf in Portugal, which already ranked among the best in Europe.
“The Dunas Course is designed with a focus on sustainability, as fairways follow natural contours and indigineous grass and native areas are used to create hazards.
“Quite a few holes can make strong arguments as the most dramatic. However, the standouts come at the long par-three third with a nearly 70-yard-wide green, and the spectacular par-four 13th with a fairway that snakes through sandy native areas and a green protected by overhanging trees. It’s no surprise to see The Dunas Course debut on our Best in Portugal ranking at number one.”
Owned by Vanguard Properties, Portugal’s largest real estate developer, The Dunas Course – architect David McLay-Kidd’s first golf design project in mainland Europe – was officially inaugurated in October 2023.
Located one hour south of Lisbon, The Dunas Course and The Torre Course are situated in a secluded setting on the edge of the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve and have been built using the highest sustainable practices.
Created over 84 hectares of natural, sandy terrain, The Dunas Course measures 6,646 metres off the back tees while The Torre Course – European Ryder Cup legend Sergio Garcia’s first major golf course design project – has been inspired by the Spaniard’s love of Real Club Valderrama and features generous fairways and small greens.
The Golf Digest accolade is the latest in a growing list of honours to be bestowed on The Dunas Course in the last 12 months, including being named as Europe’s Best Golf Course at the 2025 World Golf Awards, being ranked as Portugal’s new number one in Top100GolfCourses.com website’s updated list of Portugal’s Top 50 Courses and being voted as the number one golf course in Portugal by users of respected industry website Leading Courses for the third consecutive year.
Rodrigo Ulrich, golf general manager for Vanguard Properties, said: “We are incredibly proud for The Dunas Course to be included straightaway at number one in Golf Digest’s ‘Best Courses in Portugal’ ranking, one of the most prestigious publications in the world. This achievement reflects the exceptional work of everyone involved in bringing the project to life and further highlights the growing international reputation of Terras da Comporta. Together with The Torre Course, we believe we are creating one of Europe’s most compelling golf destinations, and we look forward to building on this success in the years ahead.”
Vanguard Properties took ownership of Terras da Comporta in 2019 and the development features two large developments: Torre, comprising 365 hectares of land, and Dunas, which occupies around 1,011 hectares.
As well as two 18-hole golf courses, Terras da Comporta will boast a wide range of lifestyle and sporting facilities including tennis, padel, pickleball and horse riding. The development will also include an array of plots for hotels, tourist and residential condominiums.
For more information visit: www.comporta.com/
