Casa Velha
Golf Palheiro 17
adventure and it was the perfect start as we
ate dinner on the terrace overlooking it all.
much of the course feels open you often
won’t see where your drive… or your approach
shot… ends up. And that’s challenging when
The Palheiro Estate covers 130 hectares and
is home to an 18-hole golf course, manicured the terrain moves so much and you’re tackling
gardens, ancient forest, nature trails and a spa. small and devious greens. The routing is
intriguing and it is hard to fathom that this
It is a tranquil place with the centrepiece –
was once farmland. The course architect,
the Casa Velha do Palheiro – built over 200
Cabell Robinson, created tremendous
years ago. Today it is a luxury country house
shape to fairways and greens and you see it
hotel with 38 rooms and an intimacy and
everywhere. Not only that, it also influences
warmth that greets you from the moment
your play… everywhere! This is a rollercoaster
you arrive. The people are lovely and the
from start to finish and the highlights are
concierge, Vitor, could not have been more
helpful. He took us to our room at the top of many: the par three 3rd plays downhill with
the house which looked over the gardens, the Funchal as the backdrop far below; the 6th
is a weaving par five between low, rhythmic,
teahouse and the golf course beyond.
bunker-drenched mounds; the 15th and 16th
The Palheiro golf course is a swerving,
play out to and around a peninsula of land
tumbling dynamo with blind shots, precipices, that seems to hang in the sky high above the
intrigue and many opportunities for lost balls. city; and the par five 18th brings you charging
Playing with a local reduces the ball count but for home as it glides downhill and tempts you
despite David’s guidance the following day,
to go for glory.
I lightened my bag by three balls. There are
It is important to mention that the condition
some almost unfair breaks and even though
Volume 5 • Issue 51
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