Santo da Serra Golf

This spectacular championship course designed by Robert Trent Jones has been host for the European Tour event Madeira Open since 1993. Situated 640 metres above sea level with stunning views of Madeira's rocky coast mixed with green valleys, distant views from the coastal villages and rocky islands in the Atlantic. Despite a certain mountain feel with some sloping holes with old trees, there is lush flora that gives the course a tropical feel. In total there are 27 holes - that can be combined in different ways. The combination Machico (9 holes) and Desertas (9 holes) is usually played in professional competitions. On Machico’s nine holes, there are two that stick out a little extra. Hole 3, a dogleg par 5, is played through a passage of trees to a narrow fairway plateau which then swings around a deep chasm (where you don’t want to end up). A sloping green then makes it somewhat difficult to get the ball in the hole. If you survived the third hole (which is easy to do despite a bad score, given the great scenery), a short hole where you hit to a green situated on a hill with nothing but the Atlantic Ocean and the rocky abyss below awaits you. A course that takes your breath away.