Barcarena site set to become public golf and leisure hub by late 2025
The municipality of Oeiras, near Lisbon, has taken a major step toward creating what it says will be “the country’s first municipal golf course.” The local government, led by mayor Isaltino Morais, has approved the purchase of two plots of land at Cabanas Golf in Barcarena, totalling 43 hectares, for a reported €675,000, says Público newspaper.
According to a statement from the municipality, the goal is to reactivate the long-closed Cabanas Golf course and transform it into a public facility that is accessible to all. The purchase was approved in a recent council meeting and marks the beginning of a larger vision to turn the site into both a sporting and community space. In other words, the council wants to create a space where golf can be practiced and taught, not only by enthusiasts but also by “schools, universities, clubs, young people, and the wider community”.
While the cost of the land’s acquisition is known, details around the future investment needed for rehabilitation and ongoing maintenance have yet to be released. Ownership of the land will remain fully public, in the hands of the municipal council, though the day-to-day management of the course may be outsourced to other organisations.
If all goes according to plan, the newly branded Municipal Golf Academy in Barcarena is expected to open its doors by the end of August 2025.
Beyond sport, the municipality also envisions the area becoming a green space for leisure and relaxation. “We want this to be a place the entire population can enjoy,” the council said.
The project is expected to make golf more accessible to a wider audience. Further south in the Algarve, the Tiago Sousa Golf Project has also been working to bring what it considers a misunderstood sport to a new generation of players in the Algarve.
