Experienced hotelier Paulo Miguel Carvão is taking on a new challenge after being appointed director of golf at Porto Santo Golfe in Madeira.
Keen golfer Miguel Carvão, who boasts nearly 30 years of managerial experience, took up his new role this month and will use his hospitality expertise to help promote Porto Santo to new and existing international markets as the club enters its third decade in operation.
Among his duties, the Madeira native will be responsible for overseeing the club’s acclaimed par-72 course, its staff and the vast number of visiting players from around the world – which can often reach up to 240 per day. A new nine-hole development is planned further down the line, with a view to expanding this to a second 18-hole course in the future.
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A popular destination with Scandinavian golfers, particularly players from Denmark, Miguel Carvão will also be tasked with attracting new markets to play golf legend Seve Ballesteros’ layout on the island of Porto Santo, which sits a ferry or plane ride away from Madeira’s main island.
He said: “I’m delighted to take on the challenge of maintaining and building on this club’s success. It’s an honour to be a custodian of a course designed by one of the greatest golfers of all time, and a course that has earned such a stellar reputation in just 20 years.
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“I feel that my knowledge and experience in the world of hospitality can help take Porto Santo Golf to even greater heights and I’m very excited to get started.”
Porto Santo Golfe is one of three golf venues in the fast-growing golf destination of Madeira, along with Palheiro Golf and Clube de Golf Santo da Serra. A third course on the Portuguese archipelago’s main island – Ponta do Pargo, designed by Sir Nick Faldo – is currently being developed and is set to open in 2026.
For visiting players, the best way to experience Madeira 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.
For more information on Madeira, please visit www.visitmadeira.com.