Following another memorable year on the fairways, Madeira remains one of European golf’s biggest success stories, and the idyllic island destination is determined not to rest on…
Following another memorable year on the fairways, Madeira remains one of European golf’s biggest success stories, and the idyllic island destination is determined not to rest on its laurels as it continues to upgrade and promote its golf offering across both established and emerging markets.
All three of the Portuguese archipelago’s golf venues – Palheiro Golf, Clube de Golf Santo da Serra and Porto Santo Golfe – have been involved in exciting initiatives in 2026 aimed at further improving the playing experience offered, making the game more inclusive and reinforcing Madeira’s long-term commitment to sustainability, while future plans include the opening of a further 36 holes on the islands by 2030.
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Having achieved the prestigious GEO Certification last year – awarded to venues that demonstrate the very highest standards of nature preservation, resource management and community engagement – Palheiro has followed the example of Santo da Serra by investing in a fleet of state-of-the-art robotic movers to reduce its environmental footprint. A total of 11 Husqvarna electric mowers have been deployed across the course and are now responsible for cutting all fairways and approximately 70 per cent of the rough.
Palheiro is also at the forefront of Madeira’s drive to encourage more ladies to take up golf, including hosting its 4th Annual Women’s Golf Day in May, which welcomed 120 women from 13 different countries. Future investment plans include the opening of a new boutique hotel, as well as a 16-bay driving range and academy.
All three clubs have busy golfing calendars ahead as they stage an array of key tournaments for professionals, amateurs and juniors. Highlights include Porto Santo hosting the Porto Santo Iberian Open at the end of September and Santo da Serra staging a qualifying event on the Faldo Junior Tour for the first time in Madeira’s history two weeks later. In addition, plans are in place for Porto Santo and Santo da Serra to both expand their golf offering in the coming years by opening new nine-hole courses, building on the island’s new 18-hole course at Ponta do Pargo which, designed by Sir Nick Faldo, is set to open in 2027.
The details
A European Tour venue, Porto Santo currently features an 18-hole championship laid out by Spanish legend Severiano Ballesteros and is set to add a further nine holes to meet the growing demand from European golfers keen to visit the island of Porto Santo, located to the east of Madeira’s main island.
Developed by Magnolia Golf Design and starting and finishing near the clubhouse, the new nine-hole loop will enable Porto Santo to offer several 18-hole combinations, while the creation of a new lake will ensure water self-sufficiency and contribute to the course’s sustainability.
Already boasting three nine-hole loops designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr – the Machico, the Desertas and the Serras – Santo da Serra is poised to take its offering to 36 holes with the opening of an additional nine-hole layout.
The project will also include the construction of two new lakes for water collection and sustainable water management which will further strengthen the club’s long-term commitment to the environment, with the stored water not only being used to irrigate the course but also available to support the region’s firefighting helicopters.
Named as the ‘World’s Leading Island Destination’ for the 11th year in a row at the 2025 World Travel Awards, Madeira is located approximately 1,000km from the European mainland – and just 500km from the African continent.