One new 18-hole course and two new nine-hole layouts to open in Portuguese archipelago

Madeira is set to enhance its reputation as one of Europe’s fastest growing golf destinations after confirming plans to open 36 new holes in the award-winning archipelago.

The idyllic holiday destination is already set to welcome a fourth golf venue when an 18-hole championship course designed by six-time Major champion Sir Nick Faldo opens at Ponta do Pargo in 2027.

But, in addition to that, the Madeira government has unveiled plans to create two new nine-hole courses at Clube de Golf Santo da Serra and Porto Santo Golfe.

Named as the ‘World’s Leading Island Destination’ for the 11^th year in a row at the 2025 World Travel Awards, Madeira currently features three golf venues – Palheiro Golf and Porto Santo, which both have 18 holes, and the 27-hole Clube de Golf Santo da Serra  – but is set to significantly expand its golf offering in the coming years with a number of new projects in the offing.

Situated on the westernmost point of Madeira’s main island, Ponta do Pargo is perched high on the clifftops and boasts spectacular views across the archipelago and out to the Atlantic Ocean. Faldo has described the par-72 layout as a “golf designer’s dream” and the course is one of the most eagerly anticipated new golf-course design projects in Europe.

The oldest golf club in Madeira, Clube de Golf Santo da Serra already boasts three nine-hole loops designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr – the Machico, the Desertas and the Serras. The venue has hosted the European Tour’s Madeira Islands Open on no fewer than ten occasions and 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.

Also a venue on the European Tour, Porto Santo Golfe currently features an 18-hole championship laid out by Spanish legend Severiano Ballesteros and is set to build an additional nine holes to meet the growing demand of European golfers keen to visit the island of Porto Santo – which lies 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.

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 €290 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 visit madeiraeverythingyouareinto.visitmadeira.com/

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Information for journalists

About Madeira. Belongs to all

• Madeira. Belongs to all is the consumer-facing brand of the Madeira Promotion Bureau, which aims to promote Madeira as a tourist destination to consumers and the travel trade.
• Madeira, otherwise known as ‘the islands of eternal spring’, is just a short, three-and-a-half-hour flight from London. It covers 740km² and has a population of only 260,000. On the same latitude as Morocco, the Atlantic archipelago has a sub-tropical climate, a rich volcanic soil and a unique eco-system. It is one of the only places in the planet where banana trees grow next to vineyards.
• 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.
• In 1999, Madeira's indigenous forest, the Laurissilva, was declared a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. The Madeira Natural Park is a protected area that covers around two-thirds of Madeira Island's territory, equivalent to 67 per cent of its surface.
• The Madeira Golf Passport costs €290 and offers three rounds of golf at either Clube de Golf do Santo da Serra or Palheiro Golf. Plus, the courses will supply free transfers to and from the hotel. Additional rounds, including a day at Porto Santo Golfe, can be included for an upcharge.
• For high-resolution imagery, please visit tinyurl.com/mr39hpu8
• For more information on Madeira visit madeiraeverythingyouareinto.visitmadeira.com/

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