The Hawaii of Europe
Palheiro Golf looks down upon the Atlantic Ocean and the city of Funchal
The islands of Madeira get called a lot of things: The Island of Flowers, The Floating Garden, Pearl of the Atlantic, Island of Eternal Spring and the Emerald Island - although that last one should be reserved for Ireland.
But, unlike its Irish cousin, it’s rarely referred to as a ‘golf destination’.
With only two golf courses on the main island and a ‘Seve’-designed stunner on the neighbouring island of Porto Santo, Madeira attracts mainly older couples looking for a bit of golf amid the sublime peace & tranquillity of this picturesque Portuguese archipelago.
Porto Santo offers three cliffside holes to waken you up at the 13th through 15th
However, Madeira is en route for a major golf infusion! Work is advancing rapidly on the long-awaited Ponta do Pargo Golf Course at the island’s western tip, while fresh plans have been announced for a fifth course at the island’s opposite end.
The Ponta do Pargo course is designed by six-time major winner Sir Nick Faldo and is slated to open in spring 2028, perched on a refreshing cliffside locale with all the gusto of Ireland’s Old Head of Kinsale, Kapalua’s Plantation course, Bandon Dunes or the elemental energy of the Ocean Course at Kiawah. We’ve got a feeling we’ll be ‘blown away’ with this one!
Ponta do Pargo occupies Madeira’s most westerly tip… next stop South Carolina…
Madeira’s Regional President, Miguel Albuquerque, has just confirmed plans for a fifth golf course on the island’s east side. While details remain under wraps, the move signals a bold strategy to turn Madeira into a premier golfing destination, combining incredible natural beauty, luxury living, and a pleasant, all-year-round climate with a growing number of golf opportunities.
Flights are available from Newark, NJ, directly to Funchal, Madeira, with United Airlines.
