Golf in Madeira

In recent years, the archipelago of Madeira has established a firm reputation as an alternative golf destination. The fact it has been the home of the Madeira Open for so many years demonstrates its strong connection to the game.

Golf has flourished here and there are big plans to add more courses to the two already in existence.

Santo de Serra is a mountain course in a beautiful setting that overlooks the island valleys and the Atlantic Ocean. The course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr and opened for play in the early 1990s. It is famous, of course, for hosting the Madeira Open and many European Tour professionals admit the trip is one of the highlights of their Tour schedule.

The Palheiro course, situated close to the famous gardens of Quinta do Palheiro, is a stunning, undulating course built between a pine forest and an area of thick vegetation. The views of the nearby Ilhas Desertas and the sea are spectacular.

Again, the Trent Jones influence crops up as this course was designed by one of Jones' assistants, Cabell Robinson.

After a pleasant round of golf you are advised to try the renowned Madeira wine, which is a delightful aperitif that you can enjoy before a kebab of beef grilled on a spit of laurel, or fillet of the local black scabbard fish, then rounding off your meal with the famous honey cake.