Ribagolfe Lakes
A big, muscular championship course in the cork oak plains east of Lisbon, Ribagolfe Lakes is one of the longest layouts in Portugal. A Peter Townsend design opened in 2004, this par 72 stretches to roughly 7,370 yards from the tips, with five tee sets that bring it back to a fair test for everyone else.
Photo: Nuno Croca via Google.
The verdict
Ribagolfe Lakes is the heavyweight of the Lisbon region. Laid out by the English Ryder Cup player and architect Peter Townsend and opened in 2004, it sits on the open, gently rolling plains of the Ribatejo near Samora Correia, where cork oaks dot wide corridors and water comes into play often enough to earn the course its name. At about 6,700 meters and roughly 7,370 yards from the championship tips, it is one of the longest tests in the country.
What saves it from being a brute is the breathing room. Fairways are generous, the land moves only a little, and five sets of tees mean the everyday visitor never has to play it at full stretch. Choose the right markers and Lakes becomes a pleasure, a strategic par 72 where the lakes ask honest questions rather than swallow scorecards. Paired with its quieter sister course, the Oaks, it makes an easy and rewarding day out of central Lisbon.
Ribagolfe Lakes at a glance
- Opened
- 2004
- Designer
- Peter Townsend
- Type
- Parkland championship
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,700 m
- Green fee
- From about 55 euro
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the course operator and leading course databases. Ribagolfe Lakes was designed by Peter Townsend and opened in 2004, a par 72 of about 6,700 meters that reaches roughly 7,370 yards from the back tees, with five tee options per hole. It is a public course in the Ribatejo plains near Samora Correia. Indicative 2026 green fees run roughly 55 to 90 euro depending on season, with combined Lakes and Oaks rounds often the best value. 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 space. Where many Lisbon courses thread between pines and houses, Lakes opens out across the plain, with cork oaks standing alone in the rough and long views to the horizon. The driver can come out often, but the reward for length is a longer carry over the water that guards so many of the green complexes. Position off the tee, not just power, sets up the best angles in.
Lakes and reedy margins thread through the round, most memorably on the par 5s, where a second shot flirts with the hazard for the player willing to chase a birdie. The par 3s are strong and varied, several played over water to greens that sit a touch above the surface so the wind off the plain is always in the calculation. Greens are large, true and run at good pace, rewarding a confident putter.
From the back tees this is a genuine examination, long enough to host serious amateur and professional events, which it has. From the forward markers it becomes one of the most enjoyable wide open rounds near the capital. Either way it is a refreshing change of scale from the resort courses on the coast, and a course that repays a second visit once you know where the trouble hides.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public course open to visitors and resort guests; tee times bookable year round |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026 range about 55 to 90 euro depending on season; combined Lakes and Oaks rounds are good value; confirm at booking |
| Booking | Reserve online or by phone; quieter than the coast, so weekday times are usually easy to secure |
| On the day | Long from the tips, so pick a sensible tee set; buggies recommended for the wide layout; bring spare balls for the water holes |
| Getting there | Near Samora Correia in the Ribatejo, about 40 minutes east of central Lisbon and 45 minutes from Lisbon Airport |
| Best months | Spring and autumn for ideal conditions, though the inland plain plays well most of the year |
Access and fee details verified June 2026. Pricing moves with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. See our Lisbon coast green fees guide for the wider picture.
Where to stay nearby
Most golfers play Ribagolfe from a base in or around Lisbon, with the city, the Sintra hills and the Cascais coast all within easy reach for a mix of golf, food and sightseeing. There is lodging on and beside the resort for those who want to wake up at the course, and a short drive opens up the full range of city hotels and coastal resorts.
Ribagolfe pairs naturally into a Lisbon region golf trip. Combine it with the Setubal peninsula classics at Montado and Quinta do Peru, or the pine framed Aroeira Pines closer to the coast. See our Golf in Portugal hub and our best courses in Portugal ranking to shape the route, or browse Lisbon coast golf holidays.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Lisbon.
Build a Lisbon golf trip
We book the Ribagolfe tee times, pair them with the best of the Lisbon region 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.
Ribagolfe Lakes questions
Who designed Ribagolfe Lakes and when did it open?
Ribagolfe Lakes was designed by the English golfer and architect Peter Townsend and opened in 2004 in the cork oak plains near Samora Correia, around 40 minutes east of Lisbon.
What is the par and length of Ribagolfe Lakes?
Ribagolfe Lakes plays as a par 72 of about 6,700 meters from the back tees and stretches to roughly 7,370 yards from the championship tips, one of the longest courses in the Lisbon region. Five sets of tees keep it playable for every handicap.
How far is Ribagolfe Lakes from Lisbon?
Ribagolfe sits near Samora Correia in the Ribatejo, about 40 minutes drive east of central Lisbon and roughly 45 minutes from Lisbon Airport, an easy day trip on a Lisbon coast golf break.
Can visitors play Ribagolfe Lakes?
Yes. Ribagolfe is open to visitors and resort guests. Indicative 2026 green fees run roughly 55 to 90 euro depending on season, with the sister Oaks course often bundled into multi round deals; always confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.