Santo da Serra Golf
Santo da Serra is the championship golf of Madeira, a 27 hole club high above Machico whose Machico and Desertas nines Robert Trent Jones Sr redesigned into an 18 hole par 72, opened in 1991. Long the home of the Madeira Island Open, it plays at altitude with vast views of the bay and the Atlantic between the laurel and eucalyptus.
Photo: Clube de Golf Santo da Serra via Google.
The verdict
Golf has been played at Santo da Serra since 1937, but the course travelers come for today is the Robert Trent Jones Sr redesign that opened in 1991. He shaped the Machico and Desertas nines into an 18 hole par 72 of generous fairways and large greens, set high on the plateau above Machico at around 670 meters, and added them to the older Serras nine to make a 27 hole club.
The setting is the draw. Up at this altitude the air is fresh, cloud can drift across the upper holes, and several tees open onto enormous views down to Machico bay and out across the ocean to the Desertas islands. As the marquee round of a Madeira golf trip, with its European Tour pedigree, it is the one to build a visit around. See our best of Portugal ranking and the golf in Portugal guide.
Santo da Serra at a glance
- Championship 18 opened
- 1991
- Designer
- Robert Trent Jones Sr
- Type
- Upland parkland
- Par
- 72
- Holes
- 27
- Setting
- About 670 m above Machico
Designer, redesign year and layout verified June 2026 from the club, Visit Madeira and the Madeira Island Open record. The club dates to 1937; Robert Trent Jones Sr redesigned the Machico and Desertas nines into an 18 hole par 72 that opened in 1991, with the Serras nine completing 27 holes. Green fees are an indicative 2026 guide from around 72 euros with a Madeira golf pass to about 110 to 125 euros for a standard 18 hole round. Rates vary by season; always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Machico and Desertas nines are the championship pairing, the loops the European Tour plays in the Madeira Island Open, and they show Jones at his most playable. The fairways are wide and the greens are big, so the line is rarely a secret, yet the elevation, the run of the upland turf and the wind that gathers over the plateau make par a fair and satisfying target.
The signature moments are the holes that fall off the plateau toward the coast, where the ground drops away and the view runs all the way down to Machico bay and across to the Desertas islands. Tee shots played into that open sky, with the ocean far below, are the images golfers carry home from Madeira.
The third nine, the Serras, is the older and more sheltered loop among the trees, a gentler complement when the championship pair is busy or the weather closes in up high. Together they make a varied 27 holes that reward a second and third round on a longer stay.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Open to visiting golfers year round; the championship and members club of Madeira, trip bookings welcome |
| Green fee | An indicative 2026 guide from around 72 euros with a Madeira golf pass to about 110 to 125 euros for a standard 18 hole round |
| Booking | Reserve online, through the club or with your trip planner; 27 holes give flexible nine and eighteen combinations, buggies available |
| On the day | High altitude golf with cooler air and possible cloud; bring a layer; standard golf dress code with collared shirts |
| Getting there | On the plateau above Machico, less than 15 minutes from Madeira airport and about 25 km from Funchal |
| Best months | Spring through autumn are most settled; playable year round, but the upland weather changes quickly |
Fees and access verified June 2026; the indicative green fees reflect 2026 pricing and vary by season, so always confirm the current rate and tee availability directly before booking. Book a tee time through our trip desk.
Where to stay nearby
Most golfers base themselves in Funchal, Madeira's capital, with its harbor, gardens, hotels and restaurants, a half hour drive from the course. Machico, the island's first settlement with its own beach and bay, is closer still and makes a quieter alternative below the plateau.
For a fuller Madeira golf trip, pair Santo da Serra with the clifftop golf at Palheiro above Funchal and the seaside links of Porto Santo on the neighboring island.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Funchal and Machico.
Build a Madeira golf trip
We book the tee times at Santo da Serra, set you up around Funchal and build the rest of a Madeira golf week around your golf. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Santo da Serra questions
Who designed Santo da Serra and when did it open?
The club dates to 1937, but the championship golf was redesigned by Robert Trent Jones Sr, whose Machico and Desertas nines opened as an 18 hole par 72 in 1991. A third nine, the Serras, completes the 27 hole layout.
Has Santo da Serra hosted professional golf?
Yes. Santo da Serra hosted the inaugural Madeira Island Open in 1993 and has staged the European Tour event many times since, usually over the Machico and Desertas nines.
What is Santo da Serra like to play?
It sits high above Machico at around 670 meters, so the air is cooler, clouds can roll through, and several holes open onto huge views of the bay and the Atlantic. The fairways and greens are generous, but the elevation and wind keep it honest.
What are green fees at Santo da Serra?
Green fees are an indicative 2026 guide from around 72 euros with a Madeira golf pass to about 110 to 125 euros for a standard 18 hole round. Always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, redesign year and layout verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.