Designed by Frank Pennink and opened in 1973, PGA Aroeira – often referred to as Aroeira I – is the original and more celebrated of the two courses on the Aroeira estate. It sits within a dense cork and stone pine forest, and that woodland setting is what defines the experience from the first tee to the last green. The course plays as a par 72 stretching to around 6,000 metres from the back tees, and while that doesn’t sound fearsome on paper, the tight, tree-lined fairways demand accuracy off the tee. Wayward drives don’t just cost you a shot – they can cost you the hole. The layout rewards players who shape the ball and think their way around rather than simply trying to overpower it.

There’s a good variety throughout the round. The front nine opens up early before tightening as you move deeper into the forest. The back nine raises the stakes with some of the more memorable par 4s on the course, where the pines close in and leaving yourself on the correct side of the fairway becomes essential. The course has hosted the Portuguese Open on multiple occasions as part of the European Tour, and the conditioning reflects that heritage – fairways and greens are maintained to a high standard year-round. Pace of play is generally comfortable, and the mature, shaded layout makes it a pleasure to walk even during the warmer months. For UK golfers visiting the Lisbon region, Aroeira I is consistently one of the first courses recommended by those who know the area well.