European legend Sergio García has revealed that he “can’t wait” to take on the challenge of playing The Torre Course for himself after his first major golf course design project was officially inaugurated to widespread acclaim at Terras da Comporta at the start of this month.
Portuguese Golf Federation president Pedro Nunes Pedro joined a group of 88 VIPs, players and media for the opportunity to play the much-anticipated layout, the second 18-hole championship course to open at Terras da Comporta following the launch of The Dunas Course two years ago.
García was unable to attend the event in person but spoke to guests by video link after golf and was thrilled at the feedback he and Vanguard Properties, the owners of Terras da Comporta, received from players immediately after playing the course.
“The quality of land made it so much fun for us to be able to make our mark there,” said the Ryder Cup legend and 2017 Masters champion. “I can’t wait to come back now it’s in play to put my hands on it, to feel it, and to see how it plays.”
Created over an area of natural sandy terrain one hour south of Lisbon, the par-72 layout is Garcia’s first golf-course design project where he has been given overall responsibility.
Measuring, 6,575 metres from the back tees, The Torre Course – the first course that the Spaniard has worked on in Portugal – features a combination of risk-and-reward holes, tight fairways and small greens, with Garcia taking inspiration from his favourite course in the world, Valderrama.
García said: “I want to have my own personality when it comes to designing a golf course and impose my own print on the land.
“I have ideas what I want to put into play, and you can see a lot of them here at Torre. Small greens, a short par-three which adds so much personality to a course and little dogleg par fours.
“It’s very much a target golf course. We tried to make it challenging yet, at the same time, somewhere that pulls you back and want to play it more and see if you can play it differently.
“You don’t want it to be so difficult that you say ‘Yes, it was a good challenge, but I don’t really want to play it again’. It needs to be enjoyable as well and sometimes it’s hard to get that balance. I think we have achieved that here.
“Every hole has its beauty; from the views from the ninth tee downhill to the lone tree in the centre and the sweeping bunkering, to 12 and 13 which are a great-looking holes with expansive views.”
Alexandre Berda, chairman of Vanguard Properties, said “The official opening of the Torre Golf Course marks a historic milestone for Terras da Comporta. This opening is not just the celebration of a golf course, but the embodiment of a vision: to create projects that endure and that place Portugal and Comporta as a world-class destination… in golf and beyond, and I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who made this possible.”
The official inauguration of The Torre Course formed the first half of a memorable weekend at Terras da Comporta which concluded with a glittering golf event to mark the second anniversary of The Dunas Course.
A group of VIPs, local dignitaries, media and guests joined Berda and Rodrigo Ulrich, golf general manager for Vanguard Properties, to celebrate the landmark date for David McLay Kidd’s creation, which has quickly become one of the must-play venues in world golf since opening in 2023.
Ulrich said: “The Torre Course is very different in nature to The Dunas Course and has been created so that we are in a position to provide two outstanding but different golf experiences that complement each other. Combined together, they make an irresistible combination, and I have no doubt that Terras da Comporta will quickly be regarded as one of the best 36-hole venues anywhere in Europe.”
As well as two 18-hole golf courses, Terras da Comporta will boast a wide range of lifestyle and sporting facilities including tennis, padel, pickleball and horse riding. The development will also include an array of plots for hotels, tourist and residential condominiums.
For more information visit: www.comporta.com
ENDS
Information for journalists
Press release written and distributed for Terras da Comporta by Azalea.
For further information please contact Pete Simm on +44 1730 711920 or email
petes@theazaleagroup.com
About Vanguard Properties
Vanguard Properties, the largest real estate developer in Portugal, was founded in 2017 by Claude Berda and José Cardoso Botelho. Focusing on innovation and standards of the highest quality, Vanguard Properties mainly operates in the luxury and premium residential and tourism segments, with a vision enshrined in an integrated lifestyle philosophy, where every detail counts. Projects with the Vanguard hallmark extend far beyond the expected, they promote a lifestyle in which all aspects, from architecture to exclusive services and interior design, including the pieces of art in shared areas, all converge to the same result: to offer a unique way of life, while at the same time, providing buyers with a handsome investment.
The group currently has 22 urban and tourist projects in its portfolio spread over upmarket locations in Lisbon, Oeiras, Algarve and Comporta, covering a total above ground Gross Building Area (GBA) of around 1.027.781 sqm, in an investment worth more than €1.215 million.
About Terras da Comporta
The Terras da Comporta development, located in the heart of Comporta, is the result of Vanguard Properties’ acquisition of assets from the Herdade da Comporta Real Estate Fund in 2019.
It is made up of two large developments: Torre, comprising 365 hectares of land in the Alcácer do Sal municipality, and Dunas, which occupies around 1,011 hectares of land in the Grândola municipality. Both enjoy exceptionally tranquil and beautiful locations in dense pine forest. Torre is found near Comporta Village and its iconic rice fields, and Dunas, eight kilometres to the south, is next to Praia do Pego beach.
The Terras da Comporta project is founded on the best environmental, economic and social sustainability practices, assuming a long-term perspective that will undoubtedly contribute to the region’s development. Positioned in the market’s most exclusive segment, where aspects such as quality, comfort and privacy are given top priority, both Torre and Dunas offer a wide range of plots for hotels, tourist and residential condominiums.
There will also be excellent sports facilities including two 18-hole golf courses designed by world-renowned golf architect David McLay-Kidd (Dunas) and US Masters champion, Sergio Garcia (Torre). Having been originally launched by McLay-Kidd in 2010, the Dunas Course at Terras da Comporta opened for play on June 1, 2023, with its official inauguration taking place in October 2023. The Torre Course is Garcia’s first major golf course design project and was officially opened on October 4, 2025.