6 the World Of golfing
complex. The third and fourth holes of
the Machico course are regarded as the
signature holes, sitting atop cliffs more
than 2,200ft above sea level, providing
views of the bay of Machico, where
Portuguese navigators first landed in
1419.
The 27-hole, Severiano Ballesteros-
designed Porto Santo Golf is a short
plane hop away. The par-72, 7,036-
yard (6,434m) course, which opened in
courses - Madeira
2004, comprises two distinct nines. The
southern route – a US-style layout – is
dotted with lakes, requiring a long and
precise game; while the northern route
is atop fantastic cliffs, near the stunning
beach of the same name.
Madeira, also known as ‘the islands
of eternal spring’, has a population of
only 260,000. On the same latitude as
Morocco, the Atlantic archipelago has a
sub-tropical climate, a rich volcanic soil
Website: www.madeiraallyear.com
and a unique eco-system. It is one of the
only places on the planet where banana
trees grow next to vineyards.
In 1999 the archipelago was named
a UNESCO World Heritage Site and
five areas have been declared nature
reserves. The Madeira Nature Reserve
covers a substantial two-thirds of the
main island, where development is
prohibited.