Portugal has traditionally been a popular destination for golfers looking for some winter sun.

The majority head for the Algarve where golf tourism has grown massively over the last few decades.

There can be few better places if playing a few rounds in decent weather with your mates is all you are interested in.

But if you are looking for a little more from your golfing holiday to Portugal then Lisbon could be the answer.

The capital does not have a reputation as a golfing hotbed but that could be about to change. It certainly has some fine courses and the weather is similar to the Algarve.

The advantage it has over the Algarve is there is plenty to do away from the golf course with Lisbon being a vibrant, cultural city to explore and enjoy.

Rather than having a handful of restaurants and bars to choose from in the evening as is the case at some Algarve resorts the world is your oyster in Lisbon.

Those who love to wind down after 18 holes on the beach will also be happy with the Costa Azul (Blue Coast) just over the River Tagus.

The nearby coastal towns of Caparica and Sesimbra boast a choice of nearby beaches Setubal offers the combination of the seaside with the advantages of a city.

The area is ideal for a group of golf buddies but would also be a good destination for a family holiday with a bit of golf added on the side.

But none of this would matter if the golf courses on offer were not up to scratch.

I played three of the seven courses offered by Orizonte Lisbon Golf – Quinta do Peru, Aroeira and Ribagolfe – and can vouch for the quality on offer.

Quinta do Peru eased us in gently and was the shortest of the trio at 5,645m. It was also arguably the most forgiving but was still a good test even for lower handicap players.

Aroeira was slightly longer at 5,740m and was a little trickier with tighter fairways and some challenging hole layouts.

Having said that it was not too tough for a middle-handicapper like myself to enjoy and even the higher-handicappers in our party walked off the 18th green with a smile on their faces.

Ribagolfe was undoubtedly the toughest on the three courses we played – which is hardly surprising considering it is one of the venues for the European Tour’s qualifying school.

At 6,044m it is a long walk and a buggy is strongly advised – particularly as we played it in 35 degree heat.

Strategically positioned mist showers hung from trees around the course were most welcome as we attempted to cool off - as were the iced towels delivered on a buggy.

You certainly need to be on your A game at Ribagolfe to score well but even if you are not at your best there are some lovely holes to enjoy.

All three courses were in superb condition and the big difference to places like the Algarve is that they were virtually deserted.

And that is another major advantage to the Lisbon area compared to some popular destinations where you either have to tee off at the crack of dawn to miss the rush or accept that your round will take in excess of five hours.

We did not have to wait once and that was despite playing at what would normally be a busy part of the day meaning you can have a lie in and get to the course at a leisurely time.

The final advantage of golf in Lisbon is the price. The cost of playing in some winter destinations has gone up considerably over the years but Orizonte offers packages from under 50EURO per round.

FACTFILE

Monarch operates year-round flights to Lisbon from London Gatwick as well as Birmingham and Manchester from £119 return, including taxes. For further information go to www.monarch.co.uk. TAP Air Portugal and EasyJet also flies from London Gatwick to Lisbon.

Orizonte Lisbon Golf offers a three-round passport for 150EURO (off peak) and 180EURO (peak) and a five-round passport for 240EURO (off-peak) and 290EURO (peak). The courses included are Quinta do Peru, Aroeira I, Aroeira II, Robagolfe I, Ribagolfe II, Santo Estevao and Oeiras. For more information on packages go to orizontegolf.com