Madeira: Totally effortless and mesmerising golf

Renowned for its warm, year-round climate, friendly lifestyle and old world charms, the island of Madeira is the perfect setting for a week of golf, yoga and simple techniques to take the angst and negative thought-patterns away from your swing, helping you to relax and discover an effortless approach to your game.

“As we all know, golf can ‘occasionally’ be a struggle,” says bunkered’s own golf travel correspondent and retreat organiser, David J Whyte. “But there are new approaches and modalities that can change your mindset and allow you to achieve better performance in a more relaxed manner.

“As a journalist, I’ve worked with some great golf instructors throughout the years and studied their methods. I often thought there was something missing,” said David.

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“I’ve known there is an easier way to hit a golf ball that’s not solely dependant on technique and physical strength. Our retreats are intended to help people relax, achieve a feeling of being ‘in the zone’ and as a consequence, play better golf.”

The week consists of morning workshops followed by unlimited golf. There are also several exceptional lunches and dinners combined with boat trips to secluded retreats, dolphin and whale watching and the opportunity to sample ‘Poncha’, the local fishermen’s tipple of choice.

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Non-golfers are most welcome to join in and will enjoy their own special programme of excursions and events around the island.

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Lodging is in the elegant, five-star Casa Velha do Palheiro with its glorious estate and gardens as well as a stunning par-72 championship golf course. Guests will also travel to the island of Porto Santo to play the world-class, Seve Ballesteros-designed course before sailing back to Madeira in first- class comfort including a wonderful dinner on board the ferry Lobo Marinho. There is also golf at nearby Santo da Serra Golf Club, a past venue for Madeira Opens.

Jet2 flies direct from Edinburgh and Glasgow every Monday along as well as several other UK airports.

For more information, log-on to www.linksland.com or call 07905 141316.