International rounds at Madeira’s three courses rose by more than ten per cent in 2025, a new Faldo-designed championship course opens in 2027, and a Golf Passport deal makes it more accessible than you might think. Here’s everything you need to know.
If Madeira hasn’t featured in your golf travel thinking yet, it probably should. The Portuguese archipelago recorded a 10.2 per cent increase in international green fees booked in 2025 — double-digit growth that reflects a destination quietly earning a serious reputation among European golfers.
UK players were part of that story, with a nine per cent rise in rounds from Britain. German golfers led the way with a 14 per cent increase, and Scandinavian visitors were up 12 per cent. France also contributed to growth across all four of Madeira’s biggest overseas markets. These aren’t fluke numbers — they point to a destination that’s delivering for the golfers who go there.
The island itself
Madeira sits approximately 1,000km from the European mainland and around 500km from the African coast, on the same latitude as Morocco. It’s around three and a half hours by direct flight from London, with a growing number of routes making access easier than it once was. The island covers 740km² and has a population of just 260,000 — small enough to feel unhurried, and far enough from the mainland to feel like a proper escape.
The climate is the headline feature for golfers. Temperatures range from around 17°c in winter to 25°c in summer, with very mild averages and moderate humidity year-round. That subtropical consistency — the island is sometimes called ‘the island of eternal spring’ — makes it a genuine twelve-month destination rather than a summer-only one. If you’re looking for a late autumn or winter golf trip that doesn’t involve frost on the greens, Madeira belongs in the conversation.
Beyond the fairways, the island has a lot to offer. The Madeira Natural Park covers around two-thirds of the island’s territory, and the indigenous Laurissilva forest was declared a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in 1999. For anyone travelling with a non-golfer or building a longer trip around a few rounds, there’s plenty of reason to be here.
Madeira was also named the World’s Leading Island Destination at the 2025 World Travel Awards — for the eleventh consecutive year. That kind of consistency says something about the overall experience.
The courses
There are currently three courses across the archipelago: Palheiro Golf and Clube de Golf Santo da Serra on Madeira itself, and Porto Santo Golfe on the neighbouring island of Porto Santo. Each offers something different, and together they give visiting golfers genuine variety rather than a single-course trip.
Local engagement with the courses is strong too — member rounds were up 2.5 per cent in 2025 and non-member rounds by an impressive 14.9 per cent. A thriving local game is usually a good sign that the infrastructure and welcome are working well.
What’s coming
This is where it gets interesting. Madeira is about to significantly expand its golf offering, with 36 new holes confirmed across the archipelago.
The headline development is a new 18-hole championship course at Ponta do Pargo, designed by six-time Major champion Sir Nick Faldo. It’s due to open in 2027. In addition, the Madeira government has confirmed plans for two new nine-hole courses — one at Clube de Golf Santo da Serra and one at Porto Santo Golfe.
“The growth we are seeing in international rounds reflects the growing appeal of Madeira as a premium golf destination,” said Sara Marote, executive director of the Madeira Promotion Bureau. “With new developments including the forthcoming championship course designed by Sir Nick Faldo and additional holes planned across the islands, we are confident Madeira will continue to attract even more golfers from across the UK and Europe in the years ahead.”
For women golfers thinking about a trip, there’s a practical case for going sooner rather than later. Destinations with major new developments in the pipeline tend to see pricing shift as profile grows.
The Golf Passport
For anyone who wants to keep the planning simple, the Madeira Golf Passport does the heavy lifting. From €290 per person, it covers three rounds of golf at either Clube de Golf Santo da Serra or Palheiro Golf, and includes free transfers between your hotel and the course.
The passport can be upgraded to include additional rounds and a day at Porto Santo Golfe. It’s a clean, no-fuss package — useful if you want to get the golf booked and then focus on the rest of the trip.
For more information and to plan your visit, head to visitmadeira.com
