Praia D'El Rey Golf Course
The course that put the Silver Coast on the golfing map, Praia D'El Rey runs through Atlantic dunes and umbrella pine an hour north of Lisbon. Cabell Robinson's 1997 design gives you genuine links holes by the sea and a quieter parkland stretch inland, all within reach of the medieval walls of Obidos. Big golf, big ocean, and a fraction of the Algarve's crowds.
Photo: Praia D'El Rey Golf Course via Google.
The verdict
Praia D'El Rey was the course that proved there was world class golf north of the Algarve. Inaugurated in June 1997 and designed by Cabell B. Robinson, a long serving lieutenant of Robert Trent Jones, it sits on the Silver Coast near the walled town of Obidos, about fifty minutes from Lisbon. A par 72 of roughly 6,405 metres, about 7,005 yards, it is laid out in two contrasting loops that give the round real variety and a true sense of journey.
The seaward holes are the heart of it, tumbling through high dunes with the Atlantic on the horizon, firm underfoot and exposed to the wind in a manner that earns the links label honestly. Inland the course turns calmer and more sheltered, threading through pine and rewarding accurate, thoughtful golf. Add a Marriott resort on site and two strong neighbours in West Cliffs and Royal Obidos, and you have the makings of one of Portugal's most rewarding and uncrowded golf trips.
Praia D'El Rey at a glance
- Opened
- 1997
- Designer
- Cabell B. Robinson
- Type
- Links and pines
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 7,005 yds
- Green fee
- From €108
The June 1997 opening, the Cabell B. Robinson design, the par 72 and the championship length of about 6,405 metres, roughly 7,005 yards, verified June 2026 from the resort and course databases. Green fees are indicative, from around 108 euros for eighteen holes in 2026, lower within resort packages and at twilight. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The round splits into two distinct characters, and that contrast is its great strength. The dune holes are the postcard, fairways winding between towering sand hills with the sea glittering beyond, the turf firm and the wind a constant fourth member of the group. These are the holes visitors remember, true linksland that asks for the low, controlled shot and a clear head when the breeze gets up.
The inland nine offers a change of mood, sheltered among the umbrella pines with water in play and Robinson's trademark bunkering framing the approaches. It is more parkland than links here, calmer and prettier, but no pushover, with sloping greens that reward the player who thinks his way around rather than overpowers it. The mix keeps the round fresh from first tee to last.
What stands out is the value and the space. Praia D'El Rey delivers championship quality golf, a genuine links experience and an Atlantic setting without the price or the queues of the better known resorts, and with Lisbon close enough for a city day at either end of the trip. For a golfer who wants something a little different from the Algarve, it is a fine choice.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course open to visitors and guests; tee times bookable online and through the golf reception, with stay and play packages popular |
| Green fee | From around 108 euros for eighteen holes in 2026 (indicative), lower within resort packages and at twilight; buggy often additional |
| Booking | Book ahead for spring and autumn; the Silver Coast is quieter than the Algarve but the prime tee times still go early |
| On the day | Buggies available, full practice facilities and clubhouse dining; a relaxed resort dress code |
| Getting there | On the Silver Coast near Obidos, about fifty minutes north of Lisbon airport by motorway |
| Best months | April to June and September to October for the warmest, calmest golf; the coast can be breezy and cooler than the Algarve |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the resort; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with Praia D'El Rey or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The Marriott Praia D'El Rey resort sits beside the first tee, with a beach, spa and a choice of hotel rooms and villas, making it the natural base for a Silver Coast golf trip. From here West Cliffs and Royal Obidos are a short drive, and the whole cluster can be played comfortably over a long weekend.
For a richer itinerary, Lisbon is under an hour away and rewards a night or two at the start or end of the trip, while the medieval town of Obidos and the surf beaches of the region give non golfers plenty to enjoy. The Silver Coast remains one of Portugal's best kept secrets for a relaxed, good value golf break.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts along the Silver Coast.
Play Praia D'El Rey and the Silver Coast
We build Silver Coast trips around Praia D'El Rey, West Cliffs and Royal Obidos, secure the best tee times and sort a base by the beach with the transfers and a Lisbon day if you want one. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Praia D'El Rey questions
Who designed Praia D'El Rey?
Praia D'El Rey was designed by the American architect Cabell B. Robinson and inaugurated in June 1997. Robinson, a long time associate of Robert Trent Jones, routed the course in two loops of nine between the Atlantic dunes and the pine woods of the Silver Coast.
What is the par and length of Praia D'El Rey?
Praia D'El Rey plays as a par 72 of about 6,405 metres, roughly 7,005 yards, from the championship tees. The seaward holes in the dunes give it a true links feel, while the inland stretch runs through umbrella pine.
How much does it cost to play Praia D'El Rey?
Indicative 2026 green fees start from around 108 euros for eighteen holes, with lower rates available within resort stay and play packages and at twilight. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
How far is Praia D'El Rey from Lisbon?
Praia D'El Rey sits on the Silver Coast near the medieval town of Obidos, about a fifty minute drive north of Lisbon. That makes it an easy add on to a Lisbon trip or the anchor of a Silver Coast golf break.
What else can I play nearby?
Praia D'El Rey pairs naturally with West Cliffs and Royal Obidos on the Silver Coast, three strong modern courses within a short drive that together make one of Portugal's best value golf clusters away from the Algarve.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Opening year, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.