The Dunas Course retains position as Portugal’s number one in updated Top 100 ranking with The Torre Course also tipped for future stardom
Terras da Comporta’s status as one of the world’s premier new golf destinations has received a glowing endorsement after both its championship layouts, The Dunas Course and The Torre Course, were included in Golf World’s updated ranking of the ‘Top 100 Courses in Continental Europe’ – just two years after opening.
The Dunas Course retained its position as Portugal’s number one after moving up two places to number seven in the new list while the Sergio García-designed Torre Course, which only opened for play for the first time this summer, was a new entry at number 84.
Each course was assessed across six categories – design, setting, memorability, playability, consistency and presentation – with both layouts at Terras da Comporta scoring well in each and earning glowing reviews from the Top 100 judging panel.
Speaking about The Dunas Course, Chris Bertram, the Top 100 editor, said: “To be on the brink of the Continental top five within two years of opening is testament to David McLay Kidd’s design and the way its fescue fairways and native vegetation have been nurtured.
“I have played it twice this year and it was simply outstanding, Portugal’s no.1 and a World Top 100 contender. To rise two places in the top ten is difficult, but it could have been even higher.”
On The Torre Course, Bertram added: “It only opened in June but was already superbly conditioned, and Sergio García has produced a course of real character and interest. It is categorically a success for Terras da Comporta and (the owners) Vanguard Properties.
“So what can golfers expect? A course with a natural feel that sits on firm, undulating, sandy terrain …. a course with holes nurtured out natural hills and valleys as well as mature pines and colourful native vegetation. (It is a) course with standout holes: my favourite was the 12th, a classic, sporty two-shot hole that is impossible not to fall in love with, which is part of a superb stretch of holes from the ninth.
“It’s as good a stretch as any (course) in the top 50 has, and you’re likely to see Torre move in that direction in future lists as it begins to mature further.”
Located one hour south of Lisbon, The Dunas Course – architect David McLay-Kidd’s first golf design project in mainland Europe – has quickly risen to become one of Europe’s must-play courses since officially opening in October 2023.
The acclaimed par-71 layout has already received a number of leading industry accolades, including being named as the ‘World’s Best Golf Course’ at the 2024 World Golf Awards and as the number one golf course in Portugal by users of respected industry website Leading Courses’ updated ‘Golfers’ Choice Awards 2025’ for the second year running.
Complementing it is The Torre Course, which was officially inaugurated this month and is European Ryder Cup legend García’s first major golf course design project. Inspired by Real Club Valderrama, which the 2017 US Masters champion cites as his favourite course in the world, the par-72 course features generous fairways, small greens and measures 6,575 metres from the back tees.
Rodrigo Ulrich, golf general manager for Vanguard Properties, said: “It’s been an amazing two years for us since we launched The Dunas Course, and I think the most exciting thing is that we are only at the start of our journey.
“The Dunas continues to get better and better as it matures with age while to also have The Torre ranked as one of the top 100 courses in Europe so soon after opening is testament to all the hard work that everyone at Terras da Comporta has put in to make the development such a success. I can’t thank everyone enough and can’t wait to see what lies ahead of us in the next few years.”
Owned by Vanguard Properties, Portugal’s largest real estate developer who took ownership of the development in 2019, Terras da Comporta 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/
