West Cliffs Golf Links
A spectacular dunescape on Portugal's Silver Coast, West Cliffs was designed by Cynthia Dye and opened in 2017 to immediate acclaim, voted World's Best New Course that year. Set over rolling Atlantic dunes beside Praia D'El Rey near Obidos, a par 72 close to 7,000 yards, it is barely an hour north of Lisbon and one of the most dramatic modern links anywhere in Europe.
Photo: West Cliffs Ocean and Golf Resort via Google.
The verdict
West Cliffs is one of the most exciting modern courses in Portugal, a true links laid over a vast field of natural dunes on the Silver Coast, designed by Cynthia Dye of the famous Dye architecture family. Opened in 2017 and quickly named World's Best New Course, it combines wild, tumbling fairways and big Atlantic views with the conditioning and facilities of a premium resort.
It rewards the golfer who relishes a bold, scenic test and the room to let driver go. Pair it with neighbouring Praia D'El Rey and the courses around Lisbon and the Silver Coast, and West Cliffs anchors a trip that feels a world away from the busier Algarve while staying within an hour of the capital.
West Cliffs at a glance
- Opened
- 2017
- Designer
- Cynthia Dye
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- Close to 7,000 yds
- Green fee
- From €109
Designer, par and yardage verified June 2026 from West Cliffs and the Dye Designs Group; the course was designed by Cynthia Dye, opened in June 2017 and plays a par 72 measuring close to 7,000 yards from the back tees, max length around 6,337 metres. It was voted World's Best New Course in 2017. Green fees are indicative, from around 109 euros in 2026, higher in peak. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The routing rides the natural dune ridges, so almost every hole offers elevation, movement and a sense of drama, with several tees and greens perched to take in the ocean. Cynthia Dye used the existing land rather than fighting it, which gives West Cliffs an authentic links feel despite its youth.
Generous fairways invite an aggressive tee shot, but the price of missing is severe, with native sand, scrub and steep dune faces ready to swallow a wayward ball. The par 3s are a highlight, played across and along the dunes with the wind a constant factor, and the closing stretch back toward the clubhouse is as handsome as anything on this coast.
Conditioning is excellent and the resort setting, with the Atlantic as a backdrop, makes for a memorable day even when the breeze turns the score card into a battle.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course on the Silver Coast, open to visitors throughout the week; tee times booked online or through the resort and trip planners |
| Green fee | From around 109 euros in 2026, rising in peak season, with stay and play packages at the resort (indicative) |
| Booking | Book ahead for spring and autumn; buggy use is common given the rolling dune terrain |
| On the day | Buggies, practice facilities and the resort's restaurant and accommodation on site |
| Getting there | Near Obidos on the Silver Coast, about an hour north of Lisbon Airport |
| Best months | March to June and September to November for warm, breezy links weather |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from West Cliffs; they change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking with the resort or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
West Cliffs sits within the Praia D'El Rey resort, which offers a Marriott hotel, villas and apartments, so golfers can stay on the doorstep with two fine courses, the West Cliffs links and the older Praia D'El Rey, a few minutes apart. The beach and the resort's dining round out the stay.
The pretty walled town of Obidos a short drive inland is well worth an evening, and the wider Silver Coast and Lisbon region add more courses and culture for a longer trip. Many golfers combine West Cliffs with a couple of nights in Lisbon itself, an easy hour to the south.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Praia D'El Rey and the Silver Coast.
Plan a Silver Coast golf trip
We arrange West Cliffs alongside Praia D'El Rey and the best of the Lisbon and Silver Coast courses, secure the tee times and stay and play packages and sort the transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
West Cliffs questions
Who designed West Cliffs?
West Cliffs was designed by Cynthia Dye of the Dye Designs Group and opened in June 2017. It was laid out over a vast natural dune field on the Silver Coast near Obidos and was voted World's Best New Course in 2017, one of the most acclaimed modern links in Europe.
What is the par and length of West Cliffs?
West Cliffs plays as a par 72 measuring close to 7,000 yards from the back tees, with a maximum length of around 6,337 metres. The rolling dune terrain, the native sand and scrub, and the constant Atlantic wind make it play tougher than the yardage alone suggests.
How much does it cost to play West Cliffs?
Green fees are indicative and seasonal, from around 109 euros in the 2026 season, rising in peak periods, with stay and play packages available at the resort. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Can visitors play West Cliffs?
Yes. West Cliffs is a resort course open to visitors throughout the week, with tee times booked online or through the resort and trip planners. Booking ahead is wise in spring and autumn, and a buggy is worth taking given the rolling dune terrain.
Where is West Cliffs and what else can I play nearby?
West Cliffs is on the Silver Coast near Obidos, about an hour north of Lisbon Airport, within the Praia D'El Rey resort. It pairs naturally with the older Praia D'El Rey course next door, and the wider Lisbon region adds several more fine courses for a longer trip.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.