The latest line-up published by golfing magazine Golf World puts the Algarve’s Monte Rei Golf & Country Club in 4th place and Troia Golf in slot number 8.
The ranking was a particular boon for Troia Golf which has leapt nine places since last year.
The blurb adds that Monte Rei’s North course is “soon to be joined” by a second Jack Nicklaus Signature course, Monte Rei South.
Every hole in the existing course is described as “a design triumph”, offering a unique challenge and spectacular views.
The course has been a long-time fixture in Golf World’s Top 100 courses, which includes 10 other Portuguese names: West Cliffs and Praia D’El Rey in Óbidos (positions 17 and 44 respectively), the Algarve’s Quinta do Lago (29) and Palmares Golf Course (31) and Cascais’ Oitavos Dunes (51).
National golfing resorts are also in the ranking: Penha Longa in Sintra (position 80), Vilamoura (Old – 82) and Vilamoura and Quinta do Lago (both in position 97).
For fans who want to know the ‘best course in Europe’ this year, the title has been awarded to Morfontaine in the village of the same name, in France.
Golf World’s annual ranking covers six categories: design quality, configuration, playability, presentation, memorability and consistency of the hole.
Says the magazine, more than 20 European countries are represented in this year’s ranking, which is a first, breaking with the past when the line-up was “dominated by Spanish, Portuguese and French courses”.
