Ribagolfe I & II

RIBAGOLFE LAKES & RIBAGOLFE OAKS

Ribagolfe I, a regular host of the European Tour Qualifying School, will now be known as Ribagolfe Lakes with Ribagolfe II being given the new name of Ribagolfe Oaks.

The rebranding follows a period of significant recent investment in both venues by ORIZONTE – Portugal’s leading golf management company – and both courses being included in Golf World’s new list of the best courses in Portugal.

A short drive from Aroeira, Ribagolfe boasts two of the finest layouts in the Lisbon region and both courses have also been the subject of a winter upgrade as part of ORIZONTE’s golf maintenance programme. In addition, a new hotel partner for 2021, the Four Points by Sheraton Sesimbra, offers the ideal base to play the club known as the ‘Valderrama of Portugal’.

Both courses are set within a forest of cork oak trees and the design makes full use of the sweeping undulations of the site providing many spectacular golf holes across valleys and lakes. European Golf Design worked in collaboration with former Walker and Ryder Cup player Peter Townsend on the course.

Ribagolfe I has been created as a potential tournament venue. The fairly narrow fairway corridors through the cork oaks place the emphasis on accurate shot-making rather than length while large bunkers increase the challenge particularly around the greens. Three of the par 5’s have an element of risk and reward for any golfer attempting to find the green in two shots. In particular the 12th hole requires a shot played over a lake to find the green.

On Ribagolfe II the undulating greens and pot bunkers create plenty of challenge while the introduction of streams and ponds provide additional hazards as well as adding the visual aesthetics. The par 3’s are particularly attractive, making the most of the existing contours to create tee shots played across valleys.