Madeira Island has two paradises :
Reid's Palace and spectacular golf

   Where to play

Due to his tormented relief, there are very few locations on this volcanic Atlantic island to offer opportunity for a golf course. So golfing in Madeira is unique because the two golf courses, Santo da Serra as well as Palheiro, are located on mountain balconies largely overlooking the landscape along the ocean. Some spectacular views from both courses are really breathtaking. The Club-house and the signature par-3 hole 4 from Santo da Serra overlooks the Eastern cape of Madeira and the group of Porto Santo islands, and the Palheiro's club-house et the highest points of the course dominate the city of Funchal, island's capital. And the temperate climate allows year-round playing conditions.

Santo da Serra Golf Club, home to the Madeira Island Open since 1993, is located on the hills over the unique airport platform of Funchal. The 27 holes of Santo da Serra have been designed by the famous architect Robert Trent Jones and its fairways and greens are in exceptional good shape. The Madeira Island Open is part of the European PGA Tour since 1993 and most of famous golf players are faithful to this competition. "It was a great honour to play on the Madeira Island Open, the course is fantastic, the Club-house very beautiful, the food event better and the caring phenomenal. I hope to return.. declared Seve Ballesteros after playing the Open in March 2001 in the best conditions: blue sky and ideal temperature.

Situated in an exceptional natural setting, the location is unspoilt, free of buildings and homes in the immediate vicinity. The three nine holes arranged like the three leaves of a clover around the peak-point of the club-hose are all different : Serras course lays on the flat ground looking to the mountains and is normally considered as the back nine; Desertas are the nine holes laying along the road coming from the airport and look at the Desertas Islands; Machico is the name of the front nine holes slaloming down along the hills overlooking the wonderful sightseeing of Porto Santo and the surroundings islands. There is at n°4 the par-3 signature hole of the course where the beauties of the natural scenery can sometimes disturb the best and most concentrated players. It's better to play before taking a look!

Palheiro Golf Club, set within the old Quinta do Palheiro dating back to 1801, is no more than a drive at equal distance between the capital city and the airport of Funchal. The architect Cabell Robinson combined Madeiran hills, ridges and valleys to produce a mountain golf course with ups and downs, ups having mainly a dramatic overlook to the city of Funchal and the Atlantic ocean. Five par-3 and five par-5 (n°15 with 538 metres being one of the longest in Europe) increase the "fun" even for the casual golfer.

Carved out of pine forest and botanical woodland, the course has magnificent specimen of trees and shrubs; his lush vegetation - where about 300 species of birds have been recorded - and splendid views of the bay and out to the sea make it not only a beautiful course for golfer but also an educational walk for nature or bird watcher. And after golf, have a drink or lunch on the clubhouse's terrace and just enjoy the panorama.

Underview of the Santo da Serra's club-house from Desertas

Madeiran moutain view from Las Serras.

Magnifiscent view of the Bay from Palheiro Golf

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