Golf & Cool Jazz in Cascais
Normally "just" a day trip from Lisbon, Europe's most westerly city has far more to offer than beautiful beaches, venerable palaces and culinary highlights. It has golf courses that will make your heart beat faster and a cultural and music scene that is sure to enthral young and old alike.
Cascais - city of kings and fishermen
If King Louis I had not discovered the former small fishing village of Cascais for his summer stay, who knows what would have become of it. In the 19th century, the haute villeurs of the time were drawn there for their summer retreats, which can still be seen today in the magnificent villas. Today, the former fishing village of Cascais is considered one of the most expensive vacation resorts with property prices from 1 million euros upwards. This naturally attracts celebrities such as Mick Jagger, Madonna, Monica Bellucci and Christiano Ronaldo, who is currently creating a monument to himself with a super villa on the Oitavos golf course. Of course, their properties are not visible to the normal visitor and the secrecy here works very well, after all, you don't want to scare off the monied public. But even without celebrities, Cascais is still worth a visit today: you can stroll along the promenade along the coast, where the beaches Praia do Guincho or Praia da Rainha invite you to sunbathe - with a view of the sea and the striking rock formation Boca do Inferno. The Condes de Castro Guimarães Museum, a magnificent manor house with an impressive art collection, and Cascais Castle, a historic building with an interesting history, are also located here. In the middle of it all is the "Lata da Esquina" restaurant, where chef Victor Sobral celebrates his culinary art in his open kitchen. At night, the dignified interior is transformed into a hot disco location. In the evenings, the Centro Historico de Cascais with its narrow streets and colorful buildings fills up with lively night owls who enjoy the balmy nights filled with all kinds of delicious smells and music for dancing.
Cool Jazz Festival Cascais
Things get particularly hot in July, when music is literally in the air for a month - with funk, rock, soul and pop. A real festival that brings such musical greats as Miles Davis to the stage every year. This summer's top acts were Lionel Richie, Norah Jones and Van Morrison, who rocked the Hipódromo Manuel Possolo stadium. But the special thing about this 18th edition was Van Morrison. The almost 80-year-old blues legend really had it all in his concert, from jazz, blues, country, folk and his famous rock ballads, which he belted out to the audience without interruption. After almost two hours of performance, he disappeared without a greeting or encore. But the party was far from over, as it continued afterwards with DJ music in the romantically lit Marechal Carmona Park.
Living on the 1st tee
Anyone staying at the Onyra Quinta das Marainha Hotel has the 18-hole course of the same name right in front of their nose. Well, actually from the pool with a view of the 3rd green. In 2020, everything here was renovated in colonial style with white verandas and bright Mediterranean rooms. In addition, a small, fine boutique hotel was opened in the middle of the golf course.
The course is described as a "majestic scenery on the Atlantic", as the 18 holes run right down to the beaches of Guincho Beach. Quinta da Marinha Golf is also a Robert Trent Jones product with every nook and cranny that is definitely worth playing. Even if the first ball loss is already looming on hole 4: a par 3 as a shot over a ravine that destroys any search for the ball with its prickly undergrowth. Or on hole 13, a par 3 with a shot over a lake, plus an elevated green guarded by sloping bunkers. At the end, a par 5, which meanders along the lake on the left hand side and then surrounds half of the green, makes for a relaxing finish. In addition to the "Schöner Wohnen" in the 5-star hotel, the venerable hunting lodge of the Portuguese kings is also available to golfers here as a clubhouse with a bar and restaurant.
In the natural park of Sintra and Cascais
The fact that the Oitavos Dunes golf course was allowed to develop here in the midst of pine forests and sand dunes is nothing short of a minor miracle. Despite all the constraints, golf course architect Arthur Hills created a masterpiece in 2001 with its unique layout, which is sometimes reminiscent of a Scottish links course. You can see this as you play through three different landscapes: Through pine forest, dunes - and open coastal landscape. Environmental protection was the top priority. This makes it the first golf course in Europe and the second in the world to be awarded Gold Signature Sanctuary status, a quality certificate awarded by Audubon International.
A 5-star hotel and a modern clubhouse with excellent cuisine complete the package on this outstanding course with picturesque views of the Atlantic Ocean, the hills of Sintra and Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in Europe.
Last but not least - the famous Penha Longa square!
Founded as recently as 1992, the course with its two courses "Atlantico" (18 holes) and "Mosteiro" (9 holes) has its roots in the foundations of a medieval castle, the origins of which may even have Roman builders. The green of the 6th hole of the Atlantico Course (442 m) is located in front of the relics of an old fortified tower and the castle wall. Mr. Trent Jones Jr has interwoven history and modern golf course architecture and created a golfing work of art that has been the venue for the Portuguese Open several times and is listed in the top 100 by Golf World. It would actually be a dream course if it weren't for the occasional noise of Formula 1 racing cars, the course wasn't too crowded and the 9th hole of the "Atlantico" was at the clubhouse and not on the hills overlooking the racetrack. You would also be grateful for a snack and drink there. But these are available in great variety in the club restaurant "Arola" with delicious sharing cuisine and everything that pleases the eye and palate.
Information about the trip:
Visit Cascais
www.visitcascais.com
Hotel:
Onyria Quinta da Marinha Hotel
www.visitcascais.com/en/resource/onyria-quinta-da-marinha-hotel
Golf:
Quinta da Marinha Golf Course
www.visitcascais.com/en/resource/quinta-da-marinha-golf-course
Oitavos Dunes
www.visitcascais.com/en/resource/oitavos-dunes www.oitavosdunes.com
Penha Longa Golf Courses
www.visitcascais.com/en/resource/penha-longa-golf
Cascais Digital Golf Passport
Valid for 7 courses and costs from 220 euros (3 rounds)
www.bookings.visitcascais.com
Restaurants:
Lota da Esquina
www.lotadaesquina.com
Arola Penha Longa
www.penhalonga.com/en/gastronomy/arola
Marisco na Praça Marina
www.marisconapraca.com
Festival
www.cooljazz.pt/en
Text & photos: Elsa Honecker
