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Portugal triumphs as World’s Top Golf Destination at the World Golf Awards

Golf excellence in Portugal has been recognised globally, with World’s Best Golf Destination and Europe’s Best Golf Destination awards

– October 26, 2023 | Text Michael Bruxo

Portugal triumphs as World's Top Golf Destination at the World Golf Awards

Portugal has been crowned the World’s Best Golf Destination at the 2023 edition of the World Golf Awards, described as “the leading authority that recognises and rewards excellence in golf tourism”.

The country also renewed its title of Europe’s Best Golf Destination, while national golf courses brought home awards as well.

Terras da Comporta – Dunas Golf Course in Grândola, Alentejo was voted the World’s (and Europe’s) Best New Golf Course, while Quinta do Lago in the Algarve was named Europe’s Best Golf Venue and saw its South Course win the title of Europe’s Best Golf Course.

Portugal’s success at the Word Golf Awards gala event, held in Abu Dhabi on Monday, October 23, has been hailed by the national tourism authority Turismo de Portugal.

“The success of Portugal as a golf destination can be attributed to the availability of an integrated tourism experience, good air and land transportation, exceptional hospitality, high-quality sports and hotel infrastructures catering to different types of players, whether they are professional or amateur, and an excellent price-quality ratio,” Turismo de Portugal says on a statement on its website.

“Portugal currently offers 89 golf courses distributed across its seven tourist regions, with a particular focus on the Algarve, Lisbon, and Porto and the North regions. As a well-established and internationally recognised tourism product, demand in the first half of 2023 reached record levels, surpassing those recorded during the same period in 2019 (one of Portugal’s best tourism years) and 2022. The average number of rounds played by foreign golfers increased by more than 13% compared to 2019 and 14% compared to 2022,” it adds.
The tourism authority has also highlighted the steps that the sector has taken to adapt to Portugal’s longer periods of drought.

Says Turismo de Portugal, strategies are being implemented to “increase water efficiency, improve waste and energy management, as well as reduce the use of plastic on golf courses.”

“This set of actions and initiatives, carried out in collaboration with the Portuguese Golf Federation and the National Golf Industry Council, has solidified the golf industry as an important partner in implementing Portugal’s sustainability strategy,” it adds.

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