Santo da Serra - Machico/Desertas

Overview: Machico/Desertas is the 18-hole championship combination at Clube de Golf Santo da Serra, high above Madeira’s east coast. Robert Trent Jones Sr. reshaped the course into a mountain routing where deep valleys, steep drops, sloping fairways, and fast greens make the lie beneath the ball part of every decision. The par-72 layout opens onto long views of Machico, the Atlantic, and the Desertas Islands. It moves from enclosed mountain holes to exposed viewpoints where wind and elevation alter the apparent distance.

History: Santo da Serra’s original nine-hole course dates from 1937, but the current Machico/Desertas circuit opened on 30 September 1991 after Jones developed a new 27-hole complex. The original Favellas nine was reduced to six holes, while Machico and Desertas became the principal 18-hole championship combination. The routing later became a regular venue for the Madeira Islands Open, giving the modern course a clear place in the island’s professional golf history.

Did You Know? The third and fourth holes on the Desertas loop are recognizable because the land falls toward the island views. On the second hole, a steep descent and lake create a different challenge from the elevated tee shots elsewhere. These features show how the course uses Madeira’s natural relief rather than flattening it into a conventional resort layout.