Palheiro - Madeira & Porto Santo - Portugal

Played the course several times whilst staying at the adjacent Casa Velha da Palheiro. The golf package is a really good option, giving unlimited access and an easy hop onto the course at the tea room half way house. We were there in July and the course was quiet, so never any problems in getting on.

Quite a hilly layout (not a surprise in Madeira!) with fantastic views out to the Atlantic and down to Funchal. In July the fairways were extremely dry, so lots of roll and some ‘interesting’ bounces. The front 9 is by far the shorter; tight in some places with 3 par 3s. The back 9 lengthens, balancing up with more par 5s but several are reachable in 2, particularly with the super dry fairways. A number of shots are blind, and the slopes often result in it being extremely challenging to keep the ball on the fairway. However the rough isn’t too punitive and losing balls isn’t a big problem. There’s a good variety of holes with some interesting shot selections to be made.

Course condition was a little bit scrappy when we were there, partly down to the really dry weather. Maintenance focus was clearly on the greens, which were all in very good nick. Quite fast and true. Bunkers were a bit short on sand and often very hard packed. Lots of stones in them too, so my sand wedge was left with multiple scars! A decent selection of tee boxes, with a reasonable advantage and good bail out areas off the reds. For relatively low handicaps I’d strongly recommend playing off the whites. A much better challenge. When we played one hole (16th) was playing short as some netting was being installed to protect some adjacent properties. Also a new driving range and practice facility was being constructed. This looks like covering a big area, so should be good when it’s done.

All in all quite an enjoyable course, made better by the hole in 1 I got on the 11th!

This was my first experience of golf on the island of Madeira, and it was most certainly an unforgettable one. The rolling hills surrounding Funchal offer spectacular scenes as you battle the slopes of Palheiro Golf Club.

We teed off at the crack of dawn, and even with the 30 degree midday temperatures, we had to wrap up as the sea breeze hit hard and the dew was still fresh on the fairways to give us a brisk welcome. It's a constant battle with club selection here with the wind coming in hard and severe elevation changes on every hole - a real test of golfing ability!

The highlights of the round for me came for me during the front 9 on holes 3 and 6. The 3rd is a severely downhill par 3 offering a panoramic view over the city played 180 yards from the Whites but only needed a 9 iron - truly one to take in. The 6th is a long but reachable par 5 with a green that's heavily guarded with bunkers. It was a tester that rewarded those who went after it.

The course was a joy to play - admittedly, conditions could be better, and if you can only play one round, be sure to try Santo de Serra, but it was a really enjoyable round. I'd definitely recommend stopping by here if you get the chance to play twice on your break!

** A note on the club - if you are staying in a hotel in Funchal, the chances are you can get a hefty discount from them, so be sure to book before playing!

exspensive, fairways shaved. bad tees, terrible bunkers,overall a lousy experience, not worth the money, and whats more the management dont seem to care.

A good course located in the hills overlooking Funchal. Played on a very wet day and the course was still in great condition, although our group found that most of the holes were very samey, needing straight, but not long, tee shots. We played all three Madeira courses on our trip and this course is rightly ranked the lowest of the three, but that certainly does not mean it is one to miss.

Palheiro is a wonderful course set in the madierian hills. The views from the clubhouse are outstanding over Funchal(the capital). The course is tree-lined and has many changes in elavation and is a tough test. It is a much nicer course than the one used for the european tour event(madeiran open) which is a nice layout but is not well kept at all. I struggle to see why the european tour does not use this course instead. The members make you feel very welcome and it is a great day out. Played here 3 times whilst on holiday and would definately play here again if i come back.

Played Palheiro a couple of times when visiting Madeira a few years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed the course which sits next to the Botanic Gardens. The first time I played it I could only manage a few holes as the course was shrouded in low cloud. But when I returned the following day it was bathed in warm sunshine such are the vaiaries of the Madeiran weather. Well worth playing if in the area. For me it has similarities to the West course at La Manga.