Interview – Andreia Cunha, Director of Golf at Penha Longa, an emerging resort celebrating 30 years

November 1, 2022 – One of the most memorable golf courses in Portugal, Penha Longa Resort, located within the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, celebrates 30 years since the inauguration of its Atlantic Course in 1992. Anyone who has played there will remember its excellent maintenance, its idyllic views towards the ocean, or the unique experience of putting next to the beautiful Roman aqueduct that frames the green of the 6th hole.

That is why Penha Longa stands out this season with its accommodation, gastronomy, and the outdoor activities around its wonderful hotel, as one of the most attractive, complete and exclusive escapes in Europe, together with its extraordinary golf.

Following some key changes to certain holes, along with the latest success of rising 10 places to the Nº14 in Golf World‘s Top 100 Best Resorts in Continental Europe ranking, we had the exclusive opportunity to interview its Director of Golf, Andreia Cunha, who has spoken to us about the past, present and future of Penha Longa Resort.

A GLANCE TOWARDS THE ATLANTIC COURSE OF PENHA LONGA

The 18-hole Atlantic course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., opened in 1992 and staged the Portuguese Open two years later. Every hole is different and exciting, with Jones using the contours to great effect. The course has superb flow to it and the views throughout are magnificent, especially across to the coastal towns of Cascais and Estoril and out to the Atlantic Ocean. The course offers an outstanding combination of water hazards, elevated greens and, at times, challenging strong winds that can be felt in the valleys.

MYGOLFWAY: We’d like to know something of your personal story. From Greenkeeper to Director of Golf at Penha Longa Resort, how do you feel about representing such a prestigious golf resort?

ANDREIA CUNHA: When I was offered the opportunity to work with the team at Penha Longa it was an immediate “yes”. I had the chance to apply everything I’d previously learnt and learn more about the golf courses and facilities.

My Penha Longa experience has been amazing since my arrival in 2015, and after 7 years I’m extremely proud of the level we’ve reached as one of the most recognised and prestigious golf resorts in Portugal.

MGW: Can you tell us briefly about your progression from beginning in the maintenance team through different roles to your current position?

ANDREIA CUNHA: My first role in Penha Longa was between 2015 and 2017 as a Landscaper. During that time, I was part of the greenkeeping team and coordinated the work of the gardening team throughout the gardens of the resort, making some amazing improvements.

At the same time the Golf Course Superintendent – who was also my manager -, allowed me to learn more about some of the ongoing golf maintenance tasks. One day per week, I went to the golf courses to develop my skills. I not only learnt a lot but also raked (a lot of) bunkers, mowed tee boxes and changed the pin positions.

At the end of 2017, I moved to the golf club and undertook the position of Golf Supervisor, assisting the Golf Director at the time. In 2019, I was promoted to Golf Operations Manager and then at the beginning of 2022, I completed my golfing journey as I moved to role of, Director of Golf, the job I still carry out today.

MGW: As a greenkeeper, your objectives were different from those you have today as Director of Golf. What are your main tasks or daily challenges in your current day-to-day setting?

ANDREIA CUNHA: As I say, no two days are the same! My tasks are varied, and I embrace them each day as I step foot on the resort. From leading the team and understanding their needs to analysing numbers and defining strategies to help guide the resort and the courses in the right golfing direction.

There are also more customer-focused elements such as talking with members and visitors, walking the courses and hitting a few golf balls from time to time, all of which help me see what developments could be best to improve the experiences people have during their time here.

MGW: All the experience and knowledge you’ve gathered has allowed you to undertake the role of Director of Golf. With your arrival, how has the golf course changed? In which areas?

ANDREIA CUNHA: My background as a Landscape Architect and my experience of working in the greenkeeping team has prepared and developed me differently to other Directors of Golf.

There are multiple challenges when we are preparing the golf courses vs. when you are helping run a business. A golf course is part of nature, constructed and maintained by a human being.  The rain, the sun, the animals, the diseases and the unforeseen situations are all realities that I have to deal with.

Sustainability is an area that’s always been at the forefront on my mind and that of the resort. When I was studying at university, one of my professors prepared us on how forgiving a golf course could be. With the worldwide changes we’re seeing, it’s important to focus on sustainability, water management and maximising our resources to their fullest extent. As a resort, Penha Longa have continuously developed the ways in which we can become more sustainable. The launch of the Interpretative Centre in 2021 has helped publicise the natural heritage of resort alongside the walking trails to help support the natural flora, fauna and animals that live in the area.

At a golf course the communication needs to be done quickly, yet effectively due to the fast pace environment. Everything can be perfect one second and change the next! Luckily, we’ve had a chance to build and train our team to ensure the quality of the product and the service we give to members and guests is second to none. The partnership that we developed with CECD, a local organisation that offers disabled people the opportunity to work, has helped us drive our golf experience to another level and we are really proud of offering people like this the chance to work in an incredible place like Penha Longa.

MGW: Looking back, what has changed on the golf course, compared with the original design by Robert Trent Jones Jr of 1992? Does it keep to  the initial design?

ANDREIA CUNHA: Robert Trent Jones Jr has visited on a few occasions since the Atlantic Championship course opened in 1992, most notably to finish the design of the Monastery course here at Penha Longa in 1995.

The initial design is still very much here, that’s something Robert Trent Jones Jr attested too during his last visit in 2017 for the Porsche Final Cup. One of the key points he highlighted was the fact that the trees, bushes and shrubbery have all grown out and now help to provide a flow to each hole on the course.

What you see now is very much what was created 30 years ago, just with a few improvements here and there!

MGW: Now that the famous Atlantic Championship course has celebrated 30 years, what are the key developments and changes that have been made in recent times? To which holes, and for what purpose?

ANDREIA CUNHA: It’s always been important to us to respect the initial design of Robert Trent Jones Jr., that’s why the course layout hasn’t significantly changed throughout the past 30 years. Ensuring that elements such as the centuries old aqueduct on the 6th hole have stayed in place, as this is not only part of the heritage of the resort, but it also provides that extra challenge to golfers looking to take the par-5 on in two.

We’ve undertaken projects such as the re-design of our bunkers and the renovation of our cart paths across the course. The bunkers were something that allowed us to frame some of the holes and ensure they still fit with the flow of the courses as well as helping guard some of the greens.

The elevated tees and greens have always been something that we’ve maintained as with our location the views throughout are magnificent, overlooking the coastline and back out to the Atlantic Ocean.

MGW: Coming closer to the present times, what are some of the most recent golf offers at the resort? Are the new packages targeting certain types of golfers?

ANDREIA CUNHA: Over the past year we’ve made a number of developments that have helped further the golf on offer at the resort. Becoming the first Portuguese signatory of the R&A, ‘Women in Golf Charter’ initiative has allowed us to encourage more females to try golf here at Penha Longa.  With the introduction of Susana, our first female golf professional, it shows the direction that we’re looking to take.

Following the ‘Women in Golf Charter’ we also created the ‘Mind, Body & Golf’ package combing both golf and spa elements to provide a relaxing day to any female who wished to visit the resort. As mentioned with the introduction of the newest unlimited golf package, we’re hoping to see lots more golfers; young and old, male and female, take to the fairways soon.

MGW: What are the main aspects of the resort that continue attracting visitors and golfers? What countries do they tend to come from?

ANDREIA CUNHA: The resort as a whole has an extensive offering, from our Michelin star gastronomy options to the idyllic spa and the treatments we offer. The general facilities of the resort are kept to the highest standard for our guests of the hotel and members and non-members of the golf courses.

We are constantly thinking of new ways to attract new guests, for example the newest golf package provides unlimited golf for your stay, what’s not to love about that!

Our guests mainly come from all across Europe and the US, with our peak seasons running from August to November, it’s been a busy time for us all here at the resort.

MGW: And now looking to the future, with these changes, does Penha Longa aspire to host any Tour events?

ANDREIA CUNHA: Only two years after opening the Atlantic course we hosted back-to-back Portuguese Opens (1994 and 1995) for the European Tour.  After a hiatus the Portuguese Open did return to the resort in 2010, seeing the likes of Thomas Bjorn (who ended up winning), Chris Wood and Robert Rock all tee it up.

There was also the 1999 Estoril Open that was a one-off European Tour event that was hosted on the Atlantic course, with Jean-Francois Remesy winning that week.

Whilst we’re always interested in hosting these big events for some of the world’s best golfers, we don’t currently have any lined up.  Following the renovation of areas like the bunkers the course is now at a condition where it can welcome a professional event, whether this be on any of the male or female tours.

MGW: Where is Penha Longa and the Atlantic course in the national and international rankings? And what positions do you think it could reach given the recent developments?

ANDREIA CUNHA: As a result of the hard work from the entire team over the past few years, Penha Longa has been ranked highly against other Portuguese courses and resorts as well as internationally against other European destinations.

We’ve been ranked in the Top 100 Modern Golf courses and Top 10 Portuguese Golf Courses in 2021 by Golf World.  This has helped contribute to the rankings that Golf World produced at the start of this year where we climbed into the Top 100 Best Golf Resorts in the World.

In the past couple of months, we’ve also be ranked inside the Top 40 in the Golf World / Today’s Golfer X Factor rankings, a new list that speaks to a course’s tournament pedigree, conditioning and dramatic holes (to which we have plenty!).

We are always striving to get better, and our goal is to be part of Top 5 courses in Portugal, Top 30 across Europe and Top 50 worldwide; whilst this is ambitious this is a good target to work towards and sets goals for the staff to work towards.

This interview took place before Golf World published its ranking of the Top 100 Resorts in Continental Europe, in which from 2020 to 2022 Penha Longa has risen 10 places, to Nº14, and is also Nº4 of Portugal. So many congratulations to all the staff for the work they do daily. And many thanks to Andreia Cunha for your time answering the questions. Obrigado!

Pictures: ©Kevin Murray

By MIGUEL ANGEL BUIL