Amarante Golf
A short, steep and scenic mountain course in the Marao foothills east of Porto, Amarante trades length for character. A Jorge Santana da Silva design built in 1997 on the Quinta da Deveza estate, this par 68 of about 5,030 yards asks for accuracy and nerve on its sloping ground.
Photo: S. Marco via Google.
The verdict
Amarante is the kind of quirky, characterful course that a touring golfer remembers fondly. Designed by the Portuguese architect Jorge Santana da Silva and built in 1997, it sits on the Quinta da Deveza estate in the foothills of the Marao, around 45 minutes east of Porto. At a par 68 of roughly 5,030 yards it is genuinely short, but the steep, tumbling terrain makes it anything but easy.
This is mountain golf where the land does the defending. Holes climb and plunge across the hillside, lies are rarely flat, and a generous helping of par 3s puts the emphasis squarely on iron play and judgment. It will not suit a golfer chasing a championship test, but as part of a northern trip it is a charming, good value half day, set among vines and pine with the Douro country and the historic town of Amarante close at hand.
Amarante Golf at a glance
- Built
- 1997
- Designer
- Jorge Santana da Silva
- Type
- Hilly mountain
- Par
- 68
- Yardage
- About 5,030 yds
- Green fee
- From about 35 euro
Designer, year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the course and leading course databases. Amarante was designed by Jorge Santana da Silva and built in 1997 on the Quinta da Deveza estate near Amarante, a short par 68 of about 5,030 yards on hilly mountain ground. It is open to visitors. Indicative 2026 green fees run roughly 35 to 60 euro depending on season, among the better value rounds in the north. Fees move with season and demand, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The defining feature is the terrain. Amarante was carved into a genuine hillside, so the round is a constant series of climbs, drops and sidehill lies, with elevated tees that look out over the valleys and greens that perch on shelves cut into the slope. Length is rarely the issue. Holding the ball on the right level of a tilted fairway, and judging how the elevation changes carry distances, is the real test.
With a par of 68 the card leans on its short holes, and the par 3s here are the heart of the course, played across gullies and down the fall line to small targets where club selection in the mountain air must be exact. The par 4s are mostly within reach, but trees, slopes and tight landing zones punish the player who simply hits driver and hopes. It is a thinking, plotting round rather than a power one.
Conditioning can be modest compared with the big resort courses, and the walk is strenuous enough that a buggy is wise, but the charm lies in the setting and the variety. As a relaxed, scenic complement to the bigger names on a northern golf trip, Amarante delivers a fun, memorable few hours and a real taste of the Portuguese interior.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Open to visitors; a relaxed members and pay and play course rather than a busy resort |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026 range about 35 to 60 euro depending on season; good value for the north; confirm at booking |
| Booking | Reserve by phone or online; rarely crowded, so weekday and shoulder season times are easy to find |
| On the day | Steep and hilly, so a buggy is strongly recommended; expect sloping lies and exact iron play in the mountain air |
| Getting there | Near Amarante in the Marao foothills, about 45 minutes east of Porto along the A4 |
| Best months | Spring through autumn; the inland north is greener and cooler than the coast and can be wet in winter |
Access and fee details verified June 2026. Pricing moves with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. See our Porto and the north green fees guide for the wider picture.
Where to stay nearby
The pretty riverside town of Amarante, with its arched bridge and old monastery, makes a characterful base, and there are estate hotels and quintas in the surrounding hills for a quieter stay. Many golfers play Amarante as a side trip from Porto, where the choice of hotels, restaurants and port lodges is vast and the airport is an easy drive.
Amarante slots neatly into a northern golf tour. Pair it with the heritage parkland of Vidago Palace, the high mountain golf at Montebelo near Viseu, and the Atlantic links of Estela on the coast. See our Golf in Portugal hub and our best courses in Portugal ranking to shape the route.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Amarante and Porto.
Build a northern Portugal golf trip
We book the Amarante tee times, pair them with the best of the northern golf and arrange the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Amarante Golf questions
Who designed Amarante Golf and when did it open?
Amarante Golf was designed by the Portuguese architect Jorge Santana da Silva and built in 1997, set on the Quinta da Deveza estate in the Marao foothills near Amarante.
What is the par and length of Amarante Golf?
Amarante is a short par 68 of about 5,030 yards, an 18 hole hilly mountain course with plenty of par 3s and a premium on accuracy rather than length.
Is Amarante Golf suitable for higher handicappers?
Yes, with caveats. The lack of length suits players who do not hit it far, but the steep terrain, tight lines and sloping lies make it a fun, demanding round that rewards placement over power.
Can visitors play Amarante Golf?
Yes. Amarante is open to visitors. Indicative 2026 green fees run roughly 35 to 60 euro depending on season, among the better value rounds in the north; always confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.