History
To trace the origins of golf in Madeira Island, one must go back to the beginning of the last century (1914 -1916) when the President of Madeira Agricultural Board – Francisco Correia Herédia, Viscount of Ribeira Brava, defended the need to provide the island with a golf course in a broader context of promoting sport as a key to the development of tourism in Madeira, “justifying the need to promote tourism and sport in order to keep visitors for as long as possible”
The construction of a golf course was seen at the time as an important vector for progress and tourism promotion, similar to what was being reported locally at the time in Switzerland, where most of the mountain hotels or spas, had a golf course.
In fact, it was from the early 1930´s that golf was played in Madeira, and Santo da Serra was the birthplace of a golf course on the island, having taken the initiative and the vision to build it – Manuel Francisco Pereira, the proprietor of the Pousada, on the grounds very close to his Estalagem Pousada da Serra. The first golf competition in Santo da Serra took place here on the 2nd of October 1932, being named Campo Pousada da Serra.
Photographs attest that golf was being played here, the original 9-hole course consisted of only PAR 3 holes.
With the advent of a growing British ‘heterogeneous bourgeoisie’ on the island of Madeira and its relations with the rest of the local bourgeoisie, at a time when Madeiran farms (Quintas) became spaces with their own social status, business and power, leisure and relaxation. The poor condition of the golf course and the growing interest of British businessmen settled on the island made it increasingly imperative to build another.
In 1935, re-construction began on the renamed Favellas Course at the Santo da Serra Golf Club. This 9-hole course opened on February 25, 1937. Designed by an unknown architect, the course measured 2396m in length, with a par of 35, including three par 3s, four par 4’s, and two par 5’s.
Surrounded by eucalyptus trees and grass bunkers, the course was naturally maintained throughout the year. The Clubhouse was located at the Hotel Pousada da Serra and later, between 1965 and 1991, at the Casa de Chá do Santo da Serra.
The inauguration was a mark of history, when notable golf players from team Great Britain, such as: the 1933 Ryder Cup Captain John Henry Taylor, the 1936 Open Champion Alf Padgham, Abe Mitchell, Allan Dailey and James Alfred ´Bill `Cox, inaugurated the course in Santo da Serra.
On March 11, 1967, the Minister of Education established the Santo da Serra Golf Club, managing the course until the 1980s. In 1988, through a public concession by the Regional Government of Madeira, Planal, S.A. was tasked with designing and constructing a new 27-hole course, designed by the renowned American architect Robert Trent Jones Sr.
On September 30, 1991, when the Machico – Desertas 18-hole course opened, only 6 of the 9 holes were part of the original Favellas course.
The Santo da Serra Golf Club relinquished its rights to the course in exchange for 140 rounds of golf per week for the use of its members. Simultaneously, Planal S.A. established the Campo de Golfe da Madeira.
In January 1993, the first Madeira Open, a European PGA Tour event, was held, with Mark James crowned champion. In 1996, the Santo da Serra Golf Club officially introduced golf to Porto Santo, opening a driving range in the summer to promote the sport on the island. In 1997, the Club presented a project to the Regional Government of Madeira for the construction of an 18-hole course in Porto Santo, between Pico Ana Ferreira and Ribeiro Salgado.
On October 12, 1996, through the Regional Government of Madeira, Planal S.A. transferred the concession of the course to the Santo da Serra Golf Club. Members of the Campo de Golfe da Madeira were incorporated into the Santo da Serra Golf Club.
On May 28, 1998, the club’s constitution was officially registered in a public deed, officially designating it as the Santo da Serra Golf Club.
On October 10, 1998, the final 9 holes were inaugurated, completing the initial 27-hole project.
A new and elegant Clubhouse was inaugurated on September 13, 2000.
