Portugal’s Madeira Drives Global Golf Tourism Growth Through Premium Courses and International Awards

Written By: Ricky Acharjee

Ricky Acharjee

I am travel writer at Travel And Tour World with 3 years of experience covering global tourism, aviation, hospitality, and destination news. Dedicated to accurate reporting and compelling storytelling, Ricky explores the trends, innovations, and developments shaping the international travel industry while delivering engaging insights for travellers and industry professionals.

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September 7, 2026 3:49 PM

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Madeira is emerging as one of Europe’s most attractive golf tourism destinations as its focused international marketing efforts generate stronger global visibility, increasing overseas golfer demand and major recognition in the 2026 World Golf Awards.

The Portuguese island destination and its three leading golf facilities — Palheiro Golf, Clube de Golf Santo da Serra and Porto Santo Golfe — have secured 11 nominations across global, European and Portuguese categories at the upcoming awards, highlighting the growing reputation of Madeira’s golf experiences among international travellers and the wider golf industry.

The nominations cover some of the most competitive categories in global golf tourism, including World’s Best Emerging Golf Destination, Europe’s Best Golf Course, Europe’s Best Eco-Friendly Golf Facility, Portugal’s Best Golf Course, World’s Best Panoramic Golf Clubhouse and World’s Best Par-3 Hole.

The recognition reflects Madeira’s continued efforts to position itself beyond traditional leisure travel and develop a year-round golf tourism identity built around natural landscapes, premium sporting experiences, sustainability and accessibility.

Madeira Sees Strong Growth in International Golf Travel Demand

The rising international attention comes alongside measurable growth in golf tourism demand across the archipelago. Madeira recorded a 10.2 per cent increase in international green fees in 2025 compared with the previous year, showing stronger interest from overseas golfers seeking high-quality destinations with favourable weather and unique playing environments.

The growth demonstrates the increasing importance of golf tourism within Madeira’s wider visitor economy. The destination’s combination of dramatic coastal scenery, mild climate throughout the year and diverse golf courses has helped attract travellers looking for experiences that combine sport, relaxation and nature.

Unlike traditional seasonal golf destinations, Madeira benefits from year-round conditions that allow visitors to enjoy golf outside the peak summer travel period. This advantage has supported the islands’ strategy to attract international visitors during different periods of the year and strengthen tourism demand beyond conventional holiday seasons.

International Promotion Drives Madeira Golf Tourism Expansion

Madeira’s growing golf profile has been supported by sustained international promotional activities led by the Madeira Promotion Bureau. The organisation has increased participation in global golf events and industry platforms during 2025 and 2026 to improve awareness of the destination among golf professionals, tour operators and international travellers.

The strategy focuses on presenting Madeira not only as a place with excellent golf courses but also as a complete travel experience combining sporting facilities with scenic attractions, hospitality services and cultural experiences.

The island’s golf offering benefits from its distinctive natural environment. Courses located across Madeira and Porto Santo provide travellers with different experiences, from mountain landscapes and ocean views to environmentally focused facilities designed around sustainable practices.

Through targeted global promotion, Madeira aims to strengthen its position among international golf destinations and attract more visitors from key overseas markets interested in premium sports tourism experiences.

Award Nominations Highlight Madeira Golf Course Quality

The strong performance in the World Golf Awards reflects the diversity and quality of Madeira’s three main golf venues.

Palheiro Golf, located near Funchal, is recognised for its spectacular views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and surrounding landscapes. The course combines challenging play with a unique island setting, making it one of Madeira’s most distinctive golf experiences.

Clube de Golf Santo da Serra is one of the island’s established golf destinations and is known for its expansive course design, natural surroundings and international appeal. Its reputation has helped strengthen Madeira’s position among European golf travellers.

Porto Santo Golfe adds another dimension to the destination’s golf offer with a course designed around the island’s coastal environment. Its location provides visitors with a different experience from mainland Madeira, combining golf with Porto Santo’s beaches and relaxed atmosphere.

The combined strength of these facilities has helped Madeira build a more complete golf tourism proposition capable of attracting both experienced players and international leisure travellers.

Sustainability and Scenic Experiences Boost Madeira Golf Appeal

Environmental responsibility has become an increasingly important factor in global golf tourism, and Madeira’s recognition in sustainability-related categories reflects this changing travel demand.

The nomination for Europe’s Best Eco-Friendly Golf Facility highlights the growing importance of responsible golf development, where destinations are expected to balance visitor experiences with environmental protection.

Madeira’s natural landscape remains one of its strongest tourism assets. The volcanic origins of the islands create dramatic scenery, including mountains, forests and ocean viewpoints that provide a distinctive backdrop for golf experiences.

The destination’s golf strategy connects sporting activities with broader travel experiences, encouraging visitors to explore local culture, cuisine, nature and outdoor activities alongside golf.

This approach supports Madeira’s ambition to attract higher-value travellers who seek meaningful experiences rather than only traditional holiday activities.

Madeira Targets Stronger Position on Global Golf Tourism Map

With rising international demand, increased industry recognition and continued promotional investment, Madeira is positioning itself as a competitive player in the global golf tourism market.

The destination’s focus extends beyond increasing golf arrivals. It aims to create a complete travel experience where golf becomes part of a wider island holiday offering supported by accommodation, accessibility, local experiences and year-round attractions.

The 2026 World Golf Awards nominations provide further international visibility for Madeira’s golf sector and reinforce the destination’s ambitions to become one of Europe’s leading golf tourism locations.

As global travellers increasingly seek destinations that combine sport, nature and premium experiences, Madeira’s expanding golf tourism strategy could play a significant role in attracting new international visitors and strengthening the islands’ tourism economy.

“The World Golf Awards nominations are another important part of this journey. For golfers choosing where to travel, awards and recognition provide reassurance that a destination and its courses are worth visiting. To have Madeira, our courses and our facilities represented across 11 nominations is a fantastic endorsement and gives us an excellent platform to continue building.”

Madeira, recognised as the ‘World’s Leading Island Destination’ for the 11th consecutive year at the 2025 World Travel Awards, is strengthening its position as a premier golf and lifestyle escape. With its mild year-round weather, spectacular landscapes and growing range of golf facilities, the Portuguese archipelago continues to attract golfers seeking a destination that combines sport, relaxation and natural beauty.

The island group is now preparing for another major expansion of its golf tourism offering with plans to introduce 36 additional holes across Madeira. The development is expected to further boost the destination’s reputation as one of Europe’s fastest-growing golf destinations and create more opportunities for international travellers looking for premium golfing experiences.

Madeira’s golf portfolio is set to expand with the arrival of a new 18-hole championship course at Ponta do Pargo in 2027, designed by six-time Major winner Sir Nick Faldo. Alongside this flagship project, two additional nine-hole courses are planned at Santo da Serra and Porto Santo, adding more variety to the islands’ existing golf attractions.

For visiting golfers, the Madeira Golf Passport offers a convenient way to explore the destination’s leading courses. The package includes three rounds of golf at either Clube de Golf Santo da Serra or Palheiro Golf, starting from €310 per person. The offer also includes complimentary transfers between hotels and golf courses, while travellers can upgrade their package with extra rounds and access to Porto Santo Golfe.

Madeira’s accessibility is also helping drive its growth as an international golf destination. The islands benefit from direct air links with several major European cities, along with a direct connection to the United States. These year-round flight options make Madeira an increasingly convenient choice for golfers travelling from global markets.

With new golf infrastructure, improved connectivity and a strong lifestyle appeal, Madeira is positioning itself as a leading European destination where world-class golf meets a unique island environment.