The Portugal Open, part of the European Challenge Tour, had just competed at Royal Óbidos three weeks prior to our visit. The panoramic ocean views over this modern resort style layout from the clubhouse confirmed to me that I was in for a memorable challenge. As is proudly displayed here, this was to be the last design by legendary, five-time Major Champion, Seve Ballesteros. Unfortunately, he did not get to experience the result but I’m sure he would be proud.
He imagined a tough but fair strategic golf course if you play from a more forward tee block. I wisely decided to test it from the blues at 5450 metres (just under 6000 yards) but it still has a whopping course rating of 74.3 and a slope of 140. Thank goodness I did.
This layout will test every club in your bag. Even though the fairways are wide with few trees, water comes into play on eight holes. The par-4’s are long, the par-5’s are very strategic and the par-3’s are extremely challenging.
I apologize for be so verbose, but I found that most of the holes here could be signatures anywhere else so please allow me to ramble on.
The opening hole sort of lulls you into a false sense of security but the next few holes will certainly grab your attention. Starting with the 2nd, this very challenging par-5 button hook dogleg left is not worth risking in two. Longer drivers can risk carrying the corner of the pond on this downhill tee shot but not overshoot the fairway as there are two bunkers protecting the right side. The prudent move is to hit a utility club short of the water. From there, the pond continues down the entire left side all the way to a peninsula green. No matter what, your approach will be over the hazard so try to layup to a comfortable distance. Strategy over strength wins out on this hole and many of the other par-5s.
The 3rd hole is a shorter par-3 with another peninsula green but fortunately no bunkers to contend with.
#5 is a par-5 with a blind uphill tee shot that needs to stay right to avoid the huge fairway bunkers and a green that is guarded by five deep bunkers.
8 is a short par-3 that is very visually appealing, but danger lurks with bunkers on the front right and back left.
The back nine has a string of holes that stood out to me. Starting with #11, a short par-5 where your 2nd shot is downhill over a large pond. Wise to layup left of the water for a short chip to the green that is wide and slopes severely from back to front.
The 12th is a par-4 with a couple of options on a button hook right over a pond. The safe shot is to aim left of the pond, but big hitters can blast away right leaving a short approach to the green.
14th is a long straight par-4 but on your second shot there is a pond to the left and a stream that runs just in front of the green.
15th is a modest downhill par-3 that needs to carry a pond to a shallow green. Trust me it plays longer than it looks, as I can attest to.
16 is a blind uphill par-4 that needs to avoid the bunkers on the left leaving you with a shorter approach to a raised green having the most undulations on the course.
In my opinion, this is not a course to be missed. There are ocean views from many holes and plenty of water to contend with. The large greens were in great shape, fast, fair with slight undulations. The rough is thick and sticky but the bunkers were in perfect condition, soft and consistent.
Royal Óbidos is a magnificent golf course that you have to play more than once to truly understand how best to tame this beast.