VidaMar Resort Hotel Madeira *****

Experience Madeira’s breathtaking beauty, renowned history and Robert Trent Jones Senior’s spectacular 27 hole golf course in one of the most beautiful natural landscapes you could imagine. Ranked among the world’s finest courses, Santo da Serra offers a premier golf and country club escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Clube de Golf Santo da Serra offers what is surely one of the most spectacular panoramas in all of The European Tour International Schedule.

Set within the magnificent Palheiro Estate and lying adjacent to the five-star Madeira Island Hotel Casa Velha do Palheiro – a Relais & Châteaux property – the 18-hole, par 72 Championship golf course meanders through a pristine environment of maritime pine and botanical woodland embroidered with lush, sub-tropical vegetation.  At nearly 500 m (1640 ft) above sea level, the location is blessed with dramatic views of Madeira’s mountainous skyline and the vast Atlantic Ocean. Nestling below just 10 minutes away is Funchal, the island’s capital. Designed by renowned golf architect Cabell B. Robinson, this picturesque layout with year-round appeal takes full advantage of Madeira’s hilly terrain, with abrupt ridges and deep valleys providing a compelling challenge for even the most seasoned golfer.   Teeing off here is to walk through a verdant and tranquil 200-year-old country estate, and an abundance of fragrant, exotic flora lends the course a unique and singular quality. Melodic birdsong enriches the experience. Play calls for a fair degree of accuracy – the contoured fairways and strategically placed bunkers guarding fast, undulating greens mean there’s little room for error. A halfway house, The Tea House, offers refreshments and a chance to pause and assess scorecards.    Indeed, a round of golf at Palheiro engages all the senses and rewards those of all abilities with an enjoyable and memorable experience. And remember, Casa Velha hotel guests have privileged access to the course and its facilities.