At the start of May, I was invited out to the Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic, an incredible amateur event played every year on the Portuguese island of Madeira.
A lot of my resort reviews come from press trips, where you go out and see the resort, play a couple of rounds, and then go home.
That was not the case with Palheiro. Every year, the first weekend of May sees the Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic take place – a tournament which attracts amateurs from around the world.
I was lucky enough to be invited over to take part in the tournament, on a golf course situated in the hills of the Madeira Island, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the capital of Funchal.
Here’s why I would love to go back once more…
The Golf Course
The views all around Palheiro are stunning, thanks to the course reaching 500 meters above sea level at points, but don’t let them take your attention away from the tricky task that is the golf course.
Designed by renowned American golf course architect Cabell B. Robinson, the 18-hole layout Palheiro Golf Course – at the Clube Palheiro Golfe to give it its proper name – was opened in 1993.
Since then, it has matured into a beautiful course, with the flowering and tree-lined fairways to match, and to get in your way at times. Incredibly, four of the five par 3s on this Robinson layout play downhill. The opening one of those comes at the 3rd. It plays between one and two clubs less because of the slope, making it tricky to judge the distance.
Not only that, but anything long of the 3rd green is almost a guaranteed re-tee. Thankfully, I duffed my tee shot and ended up short of the green! The 5th is the next short hole at Palheiro, and again, it plays downhill. Another tricky hole to judge the distance, with a shallow green.
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From the 5th green, you take a walk through the trees to get to the 6th tee, where the course suddenly becomes much more open. Time to get the big stick out! Just don’t pull it left like I did… 7 is another downhill par 3, played along the far boundary of the course, before the last two holes of the course take you back to the beautiful Palheiro Gardens.
If you’ve struggled for a score on the front nine, then the par 5 10th provides you with an early chance on the back nine. It is only just over 500 yards and a solid drive down the right side will give you a chance at reaching the green.
11 is the final downhill par 3, the fourth on the course. It is very similar to the 7th, with a view out to the Atlantic Ocean from the tee.
The signature hole is, without doubt, the par 3 13th. It is the only par 3 that does not play downhill, but you can understand why.
To put it simply, the 13th is picture perfect.
It is also the most unforgiving of the par 3s at Palheiro. The tee shot is played over lily-covered slopes. Anything left or short, and you’ll be reaching into your bag for another ball. Thankfully, I made birdie on the opening day, putting my 9-iron to just a couple of feet. I had a bit more of an adventure on day two, finding the bushes and trees back right of the green on the second day.
I then proceeded to hit a third, which ricocheted off one of the steps below the green, before then finding the putting surface. Somehow, I managed to two-putt and get away with a 5. Undoubtedly, two very different memories of the sublime 13th at Palheiro.
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The par 5 15th is one of my favourite holes on the course. Played from the back tees, a solid drive is required to give yourself a chance of making it in two. One solitary tree stands between you and the green, but if you can make it past that, then you’ve got the chance of a birdie, or even eagle!
From there, you make the turn for home, and you finish with another par 5. The closing hole at Palheiro is simply stunning – a dog-leg right, one in which you can take the corner on if you’re a big hitter.
An abundance of bunkers lie in wait by the green, along with the view over the Atlantic Ocean and down to the island’s capital city of Funchal.
If you make a birdie on the last, you’ll be walking off the course a very happy golfer, as you go in for a bite to eat and a drink.
Right now, the practice facilities at Palheiro are not the best. They will admit that themselves. However, a state-of-the-art facility is being built.
There will be a driving range with shot-tracing technology, along with a pickleball and padel courts as well.
Once that is constructed, Palheiro will be taken to the next level when it comes to golfing resorts – and it will certainly be somewhere I will be looking to go back to.
The Resort
Away from the golf course, there is plenty to do and enjoy at the Palheiro Nature Estate.
The estate is the perfect place to take a walk around, with Palheiro Gardens sitting 500 metres above sea level, providing a beautiful setting for a stroll of an evening.
The Palheiro Spa is the perfect place for guests and members alike to relax and unwind. The facilities are incredible, while there is also the option to enjoy a treatment or massage, to add to the level of relaxation.
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When it comes to accommodation, there is also plenty to enjoy, with both Palheiro Village and the Hotel Casa Velha do Palheiro.
The latter is the hotel at the centre of the resort, which offers beautifully-decorated rooms. It has more than two centuries of history, and it exudes that throughout.
It officially opened as a hotel in 1997, and recently underwent a transformation to bring a new design. There is also now a Golf Wing and a Garden Wing, both of which have rooms in.
Palheiro Village is situated on the hilltop, overlooking the city of Funchal. There is a stunning choice of luxury apartments and villas at Palheiro Village, with a wonderful selection of facilities available for guests to use as well.
The range of apartments can provide something for all parties, with one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments on offer at the Village, Meanwhile, there is a glorious array of villas as well, coming with either their own private garden or pool.
We stayed in a two-bedroom apartment for the trip, one that had the luxury of those incredible views, and certainly a view I would never tire of waking up to in the morning.
Without doubt, the apartments and villas at Palheiro Village are the perfect holiday home for those wanting to purchase property abroad.
The Experience
The experience of the weekend covered much more than just golf. We were also lucky enough to go out to sea and get a close view of some dolphins, along with enjoying the delights of the Flower Festival.
Now, I have to admit, I do not have sea legs. In fact, that is an understatement. I was very unwell while we were out on the water…
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However, thankfully, I was able to see some dolphins. That did make the trip worth it!
With how I felt, it might well be the last time I end up in a boat on a large body of water, but I am glad I did this!
The month of May is also the month of the Madeira Flower Festival, and the island was in bloom throughout our trip.
There is plenty going on in the city of Funchal throughout the four-week period, including an incredible parade.
You can see more about the Madeira Flower Festival on the Visit Madeira site.
The Cost
As with all resorts, there are a range of prices when it comes to both golf and accommodation, as well as packages that include both.
For those looking for a stay and play package over seven nights, the prices are as follows:
(all at the Casa Velha do Palheiro)
October 2024
Double Room Standard Including Breakfast: 1 197,25 € per person, Single Room Standard Including Breakfast: 1 832,25 € per person
November 2024, March-April 2025
Double Room Run of the House Including Breakfast: 1 582,25 € per person, Single Room Run of the House Including Breakfast: 2 217,25 € per person
December 2024, January-February 2025
Double Room Standard Including Breakfast: 1 214,75 € per person, Single Room Standard Including Breakfast: 1 849,75 € per person
But what do you get included with these prices?
With every package, guests are entitled to breakfast, as well as access to the outdoor pool, indoor pool, sauna and steam room.
Most importantly, there is unlimited golf for the seven days of the stay, as well as free access to the Nature Trails, and the various sports on offer – including tennis, badminton, billiards and even the gym.
Guests will also receive transfers to and from Funchal Airport, as well as scheduled shuttle services into the city centre of Funchal.
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Final Thoughts
It was my first trip to Madeira, and I am now hoping that it won’t be my last. The Palheiro Nature Estate is a glorious place to visit, play golf, and relax.
Simply put, if you’re an amateur golfer and you’re looking to play in a fun tournament abroad, then the Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic is perfect for you.
I have to say that I am very grateful to Palheiro and the Madeira Tourist Board for the opportunity, and it’s well worth a look if you haven’t been to Madeira before!
The 2025 Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic will take play on the first weekend of May, the 2nd and 3rd.
- READ MORE: The 2024 Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic
- CHECK OUT: The Clube Palheiro Golfe website
Have you been lucky enough to play at Palheiro? Will you be playing in next year’s Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic? Let us know with a post on X, formerly Twitter!