The status of Madeira as a golf destination of global importance has received a ringing new endorsement after the island was confirmed as the venue for the 2025 Golf Course…
The status of Madeira as a golf destination of global importance has received a ringing new endorsement after the island was confirmed as the venue for the 2025 Golf Course Association Europe (GCAE) Conference.
In addition to hosting the World Golf Awards for the second successive year in November, the Portuguese archipelago has also been handed the honour of bringing Europe’s golf facility leaders together at the continent’s only event dedicated to those who manage and operate golf facilities.
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Taking place from November 10-12, the GCAE Conference provides golf operators across Europe with the opportunity to meet to exchange ideas, build strategic partnerships and invest in the future of their facilities.
As well as two days of meetings and networking at the Savoy Palace Hotel in Madeira’s capital city of Funchal, this year’s event also offers delegates the chance to play golf at Clube de Golf Santo da Serra – one of three outstanding golf venues in Madeira – and inspect the new 18-hole championship course at Ponta do Pargo, which has been designed by six-times Major winner Sir Nick Faldo and is set to open in 2026.
Sara Marote, executive director at the Madeira Promotion Bureau, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled that Madeira has been chosen to host this prestigious golf industry event. Set against the stunning backdrop of the islands’ dramatic cliffs, lush green landscapes and world-class golf courses overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Madeira is the perfect setting for an event of global magnitude and we’re looking forward to showcasing everything we have to offer to one of our markets.”
“Golf is growing, but so are the expectations placed on those who run golf facilities every day,” said Renate Roeleveld, CEO of the Golf Course Association Europe (GCAE). “At GCAE, our role is to listen to the people working in the field, to connect them, inspire them, and represent their interests. This conference is where honest conversations turn into practical solutions — so that every facility leaves with ideas they can use to strengthen their business and the game.”
The details
Following immediately after the GCAE Conference will be the 2025 World Golf Awards, which will be held in Funchal for the second successive year. As well as Madeira itself, the trio of acclaimed golf courses – the Cabell B. Robinson-designed Palheiro Golf, Robert Trent Jones Snr’s Clube de Golf Santo da Serra and Seve Ballesteros’ Porto Santo Golfe – will be hopeful of earning coveted accolades when the event takes place from November 12-13.
Located approximately 1,000km from the European mainland – and just 500km from the African continent – Madeira enjoys an amazingly mild climate, ranging from 25°c in the summer to 17°c in the winter, with very mild average temperatures and moderate humidity, making it the perfect year-round location for a golf break.
The best way for travelling golfers to experience the idyllic islands is with the Madeira Golf Passport, which includes three rounds of golf at either Clube de Golf Santo da Serra or Palheiro Golf from just €280 per person. The passport – which includes free transfers between course and hotel – can be upgraded to include additional rounds and a day at Porto Santo Golfe, while the passport is set to be expanded in 2026 with the addition of Ponta do Pargo to the golf offering.
The best way to experience Madeira’s full golf offering is with the Madeira Golf Passport, which incorporates green fees at Palheiro, Santo da Serra and optionally Porto Santo – as well as transportation – at exceptional value.
For more information on Madeira visit madeiraeverythingyouareinto.visitmadeira.com