Furnas Golf Course, Azores
High in the mountains of Sao Miguel above the volcanic valley of Furnas, this is one of the most beautiful and unusual rounds in Portugal. Philip Mackenzie Ross laid out the original nine holes in 1936, and the course was extended to 18 in 1992. A par 72 of about 6,232 metres set amid cryptomeria forest, lakes and hydrangeas, Furnas is golf in a garden in the middle of the Atlantic.
Photo: Csaba Kacsor via Google.
The verdict
Few courses anywhere sit in a setting like Furnas. Carved into the wooded hills above the Furnas lake and valley at around 500 metres, it is wrapped in cryptomeria forest, banks of hydrangea and the lush green of the Azores, and the mild, damp island climate keeps it vividly verdant year round. Mackenzie Ross, who would later restore Turnberry, laid out the first nine in 1936, giving the course a genuine pedigree behind its remote charm.
The 1992 extension to 18 holes by Bob Cameron and Chris Powell completed a course that climbs and falls through the trees with real variety and several memorable holes. It is not long, and it is not a championship test, but that is not the point: Furnas is about the experience, a round in a botanical setting unlike anywhere else in Europe, and a fine reason to bring the clubs to the Azores.
Furnas at a glance
- Original nine
- 1936
- Designer
- Mackenzie Ross; Cameron & Powell
- Type
- Forest and parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,232 m
- Green fee
- EUR 74 to 80
Designer, history, par and length verified June 2026 from the course and leading databases. The original nine holes at Furnas were laid out by Philip Mackenzie Ross in 1936, and the course was extended to 18 holes by Bob Cameron and Chris Powell in 1992, a par 72 of about 6,232 metres, roughly 6,816 yards. Indicative visitor green fees are around 74 to 80 euros for 18 holes; figures change by season and year, so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Furnas plays through dense cryptomeria forest and across hillside above the valley, the holes climbing and dropping with the terrain and framed by towering trees, ferns and the famous Azorean hydrangeas. The setting is the star, but the routing makes good use of the slopes, with doglegs and elevation changes that ask for thoughtful club selection rather than length.
Water and woodland come into play, and the damp island air keeps the turf soft and the greens receptive, rewarding a high approach and a soft landing. The par 3s are pretty and varied, and several holes open to views over the lake and the steaming hot springs of the Furnas valley below, a reminder that this is golf on a live volcanic island.
It will not test the low handicapper to his limit, but it will delight anyone who values atmosphere and setting, and the cool mountain air is a tonic after a day at sea level. Combined with the geothermal pools and gardens of Furnas, it makes a memorable centrepiece for a golf and nature trip to Sao Miguel.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A public course that welcomes visitors with a tee time booking, part of the Azores golf trio with Batalha and Terceira |
| Green fee | Indicative around 74 to 80 euros for 18 holes, with buggy, twilight and multi course Azores packages available |
| Booking | Reserve ahead in summer, online or through an Azores golf package; the island is quiet in the shoulder months |
| On the day | Walkable but hilly; buggies recommended; relaxed dress and waterproofs sensible given the island weather |
| Getting there | Above the Furnas valley in eastern Sao Miguel, about 45 minutes from Ponta Delgada and the airport |
| Best months | May to September for the warmest, driest weather, though the Azores can see rain in any season |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the course and operator listings; they change by season and year, so always confirm current rates and tee times directly before booking with Furnas or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The village of Furnas itself, famous for its hot springs, gardens and the cozido cooked in the geothermal soil, makes a charming base beside the course, with characterful hotels and the celebrated Terra Nostra garden on the doorstep.
Ponta Delgada, the island's main town, offers a fuller choice of hotels and dining within easy reach, and Furnas pairs with the Batalha course on Sao Miguel and Terceira's course for a complete Azores golf and island trip.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts in the Furnas valley and around Sao Miguel.
Build an Azores golf trip
We arrange the Furnas tee times, pair them with Batalha and the wider Azores, and book a base in Furnas or Ponta Delgada around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Furnas questions
Who designed Furnas Golf Course and when did it open?
The original nine holes at Furnas were laid out by Philip Mackenzie Ross in 1936, and the course was extended to 18 holes by Bob Cameron and Chris Powell in 1992. It sits high in the mountains of Sao Miguel in the Azores.
What is the par and length of Furnas?
Furnas is a par 72 of about 6,232 metres, roughly 6,816 yards, a forest and parkland course set at around 500 metres of altitude amid cryptomeria woodland, lakes and hydrangeas above the Furnas valley.
How much does it cost to play Furnas?
Indicative visitor green fees are around 74 to 80 euros for 18 holes, with buggy and multi course Azores packages available. Figures change by season and year, so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
Can visitors play Furnas Golf Course?
Yes. Furnas is a public course that welcomes visitors with a tee time booking, and it forms part of the Azores golf circuit with Batalha on Sao Miguel and the course on Terceira. Book ahead in summer and confirm rates before traveling.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.