Stunning Nick Faldo design set to open at Ponta do Pargo

A new 18-hole course on the Portuguese island of Madeira is set to open in 2026 after work commenced on the Nick Faldo design over a decade ago.

It will be the fourth golf course on the island, as Ponta do Pargo welcomes a new par-72 layout on the most westerly part of Madeira.

The first phase of construction on the course began in 2009 and was halted three years later but recommenced in May.

It is due to be completed next summer, with the second phase expected to last a further 18 months.

On the rugged hilltop setting just off the Atlantic Ocean, the course has been designed in an area of impeccable natural beauty.

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The resurrected project will also feature practice facilities including a driving range, chipping and putting green, a nine-hole course, a clubhouse and restaurant, and a hotel.

A state-of-the-art irrigation system will be installed on the 120-acre site, as one of several
measures to reduce its environmental impact.

Ponta do Pargo golf course, which is owned by Ponta do Oeste S.A, will fall in line with Madeira’s sustainable credentials, in a bid to preserve the course and its environment.

Boasting breathtaking views, Faldo is confident that Madeira’s next golfing destination will be recognised as one of the finest golf courses in Europe.

Miguel Albuquerque, president of the Regional Government of Madeira, has heaped praise on the project, which he believes has little competition.

He said: “We are now going to move forward with one of the most beautiful courses in Europe – I am not afraid to say it – which will be located in a parish in the west of the island, next to a promontory over the sea.

“It will be one of the iconic courses at European level and be an ancho project for the whole area.”

The Portuguese region, which sits off the northwest coast of Africa, currently offers three world-
class 18-hole golf courses.

Palheiro Golf, Clube de Golfe Santo da Serra, and Porto Santo Golfe are among the most desired golfing breaks in the country.