Golf Porto Santo 11
But the ferry’s first class lounge proved more
appealing. You get breakfast and dinner, as
well as an outside deck at the top of the ship.
The views of Funchal and Madeira are worth
the extra few euro alone.
The Danish golfers I had heard about were
rambling over the volcanic hills that are
now home to a lush 27-hole golf course.
Early 15th century settlers to the island
brought rabbits and goats which promptly
consumed all the vegetation so, after the
lush greenery of Madeira, Porto Santo feels
arid by comparison. The golf course’s grasses
and palm trees however make it easy to
spot… as do the golfers. The Danes like their
bright colours and it was a sea of pinks and
yellows. It’s not unfair to say that this is a
course where the back nine outshines its front
nine sibling. It’s because of the cliffs and the
roar of the ocean. Holes 13, 14 and 15 sit 500
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Destination Golf .TRAVEL
metres up, and I strongly recommend that you
play from the back tees on the par three 13th.
The setting above the cliffs and the flag high
and lonely on the horizon are magnificent.
It’s an astounding moment and one repeated
shortly afterwards.
On the dogleg 14th which clings to the cliff
edge in the sharpest of right angles you
should hit a five iron to the corner followed
by something similar to the green… or you can
go for (impossible) glory. I played it sensibly
the first time but, with our return ferry not
until 7pm, we used the extra time to play
the 13 to 15 loop a second time… and I drove
straight at the pin across the dark void. I
waved goodbye to a rather good ball as it
plunged into the depths but it was thrilling
nonetheless.
The ferry arrived back in Funchal in the
dark. The marina, the waterfront and nearby