Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and shaped by more than four decades of golf history, Tróia Golf is one of Portugal’s true golfing treasures, and the popular Golden Coast resort is preparing to unveil a major restoration of the classic layout that both preserves its legacy and lays the foundations for its future.
Tróia Resort is nearing the completion of a 12-month upgrade of its par-72 championship course and facilities that will elevate the customer experience being offered to its members and visiting golfers.
Renovated by the third generation of the Robert Trent Jones family, the course is scheduled to reopen in spring 2027 and is set reestablish Tróia Golf as one of Europe’s must-play golf experiences, as well as playing a leading role in raising global awareness for the Alentejo region as an international golf destination.
João Godinho, general manager at Tróia Golf, said: “The transformation of Tróia Golf represents an important new chapter for one of Portugal’s most distinctive golf experiences, and the extensive renovation programme has addressed every aspect of the course.
“Central to the project is a commitment to preserving the character and identity that have made Tróia Golf so special. We have not sought to change what makes the course unique but to restore and elevate it, to create an experience that respects Tróia’s heritage while introducing it to a new generation of players.
“This new investment forms part of the wider evolution of Tróia as an Atlantic golf destination. The renewed golf experience will complement the destination’s exceptional natural setting, hospitality and broader tourism proposition, strengthening Tróia’s position within Portugal’s golf landscape and re-establishing the course as one of Europe’s bucket-list venues.”
Robert Trent Jones II Golf Architects (RTJ II) is finishing construction on a reimagined course that is “not just a restoration of my grandfather’s work,” explained chief operating officer Trent Jones. “The new Troia will have a much more dramatic feel, especially utilising the surrounding dunes. We’re focusing on tying the course into the dunes, flashing up bunkers into them, and using the dunes to cradle greens. We’re bringing back the original Trent Jones Sr. character, updated to modern design standards.”
Leading the RTJ II team are president Bruce Charlton and senior design associate Mike Gorman, who have been on-site numerous times over the last few years. In the company archives, Gorman found Jones Sr.’s original, hand-drawn grassing plan for Troia, which, Trent Jones revealed, “shows rough edges that naturally bleed into the sand and show how the course flows in and out of the sand like an Irish links.”
“Land like this just doesn’t exist anymore for golf. I equate it to Spyglass Hill,” said Gorman, referencing one of Jones Sr.’s most famous and beloved courses, located on California’s Monterey Peninsula. “It’s on the same type of land as Spyglass – a mix of dunes and pine trees. But while Spyglass has it on four holes, Troia has it on all 18. We think this is the best renovation opportunity in the world.”
Gorman says the emphasis will be on playability – including bringing background game options that were lost over the years – and fun. The course will be easy to walk, with the renovation connecting holes more seamlessly. “Troia became a very aerial, one-dimensional, parkland-like course by the sea. We’re digging deep on linksland inspiration, promoting links golf, which is the best kind of golf.”
Among the course improvements being made, all 18 greens have been reconstructed using a native sand mix, each bunker has been rebuilt with natural dune integration, fairways and turf areas have been adjusted for improved playability and maintenance, while the upgrade will also feature enhanced tees and surrounds for better aesthetics, flexibility and course set-up variation.
In addition, the irrigation system is being fully replaced to improve the resort’s eco-credentials – including a new pump station and state-of-the-art controls – while landscaping works have taken place to restore dunes and native sandy areas, with selective hydroseeding to reinforce Troia’s natural identity.
Complementing the golf course is a completely redesigned practice area – including a new driving range with target greens, a new short game and 3,000 m² “social green” putting area – while the renovation goes far beyond the course itself with the clubhouse being completely rebuilt as a contemporary, premium space that reflects Troia’s broader vision.
Seamlessly connected to the course and the ocean, the updated building will feature natural materials, open and fluid indoor–outdoor areas designed for year-round use, as well as welcoming social spaces where reception, lounge, bar and terrace coexist naturally. Meanwhile, the new pro shop has been conceived as a curated lifestyle retail space, aligned with the destination’s premium positioning.
Nuno Sepulveda, co-CEO at Details – Sports, Hospitality, Leisure, the management company leading the restoration programme, said: “This is the beginning of a new era for Tróia and the objective is clear: to restore the course’s natural character, protect its environmental integrity and elevate the playing experience to international championship standards, ensuring it remains relevant, competitive and distinctive for decades to come. We’re so excited at the prospect of what lies ahead, and the chance to put the resort and the surrounding region firmly back on the map as a golf destination of international renown and repute.”
An hour’s drive from Lisbon, Tróia offers a full resort experience, with a marina, a wide variety of accommodation and the gastronomy and leisure to match, giving guests plenty to enjoy both on and off the course.
The intervention marks the first phase of a broader transformation of the resort, with further investment planned to upgrade the existing hotels and infrastructure in the near future. Once complete, Tróia will consolidate its position as a fully integrated resort destination, offering a comprehensive mix of hospitality, leisure and lifestyle facilities.