Golf Holidays in Madeira

The course and club at Porto Santo make a golf holiday to Madeira worth the trip all by itself. Brushing up to the ocean on the Madeiran archipelago’s smallest inhabited island, the course is a sheer joy to visit and to play from the second you arrive.

First, the surroundings. To walk the course is to drink in views of staggering natural beauty. From the stretch of sandy beach adjacent to the ancient volcano or the cliff-top views across the Atlantic. Not to mention the naturalistic beauty of the course itself, combining exceptional maintenance with a ruggedness reminiscent of Scottish links or possibly Pebble Beach.

As for the golf, well, its nothing less than an utter delight.

Opened in 2004, Porto Santo is the design of the late, great Seve Ballesteros. And, how you can tell. With every slope and undulation, Seve’s touch can be felt, delivering a course designed to represent the exuberance, fun and imagination that defined the great man’s career.

With a nine-hole, par-3 course on-site for ‘a bit of fun,’ the full course offers an 18-hole experience that’s just shy of 6,000m from the back tees. And there’s never a dull moment.

It’s certainly a challenge, especially when the wind blows, but there’s enough forgiveness to ensure higher handicaps can enjoy the round. Making this a genuine destination golf club.

Porto Santo is a ferry journey or flight away from the capital, Funchal, but it’s worth the journey. And, with a stunning modern clubhouse, amazing facilities and some fine Madeiran dining, you’ll enjoy your time off the course as much as you do on it.

The golf club at Santo Da Serra is one of those venues that just tick a lot of key boxes when it comes to golf holidays, be that in Madeira, mainland Portugal, or Southern Europe in general.

Like Madeiran golf in general, the golf club is welcoming to visitors and boasts facilities that you’d expect from a Tour-sanctioned venue.

But, it’s on course where Santo Da Serra really comes into its own.

The golf is comprised of three 9-hole loops, designed by legendary US-architect Robert Trent Jones. And what an experience they offer. Perched high upon clifftops that offer sensational Atlantic views, each nine is defined by generous, lush fairways and narrow greens.

The Machico and Desertas courses tend to be favourites among visitors as that’s the track that makes up the championship course. However, the newer Serras nine is not to be ignored.

A slightly shorter course to the others, it has its own appeal thanks to the quality of its upkeep and interesting layout.

For the golfing tourist visiting Santo Da Serra it means plenty of choice and different perspectives dependent on the order in which you play each course.

Lending itself to this further, the courses offer a mix of tees to suit different abilities, meaning a more relaxed round from the forward tees or a chance to get your teeth into the 6,200m championship loop if you feel your game is up to it.

A true championship course, a genuine joy to play and a must-visit venue for any golf holiday in Madeira.

One of the great joys of Palheiro, and a compelling reason to visit and to play, is its setting.

Just a few miles from Funchal, Palheiro is easily accessible for those combining time in the hub of the Madeira capital with quality time on the golf course.

This is a place set up perfectly for holiday golf. As well-maintained as you’d expect for a course in this region, the layout lends itself to a more relaxed style of play.

From the course you’ll enjoy the scenic views out across the bay and Atlantic, and fairways that meander through pine woods and botanical gardens. And while it may be a more gentle environment, there remains plenty of teeth to punish wayward shots.

Play well here and you can make a good score. Get sloppy and watch your numbers rack up.