Playing the game you love while surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, ringed with volcanoes, amid verdant vegetation and colourful flowers. This must be one of the most heavenly places for golfers, adored for the scenery alone and widely respected for their worthy golfing challenges.
The Azores is a bit of a living legend for golfers, a place rarely played yet never forgotten. Magical terrain, a gentle climate, and year-round playing makes the two golf courses on the main island of Sao Miguel special, each internationally certified and recognised.
The islands offer three unique golf courses: Batalha and Furnas on São Miguel island, and Terceira Golf Club on the Terceira island, a fabulous focus for the holiday of a lifetime. Epic mountains, beautiful beaches with volcanic black sand, huge craters and vibrant local culture makes playing the game of kings extra-special in this extraordinary place. First class hotels on San Miguel complete the picture for a luxurious, highly unusual golfing experience.
Don’t miss out on Batalha Golf Club on Sao Miguel island
The vivid green of the land meets the deep of the Atlantic here to deliver views you’ll always remember. Located just 10 minutes from vibrant Ponta Delgada, the course is pretty good too, designed by the golf course design legend Cameron Powell back in 1986, and first opened to the public in 1993.
Prepare for 120 hectares of gorgeous greens, 27 holes in a magnificent setting at the foot of the hills with enormous views to the ocean. The big greens flow together beautifully, offering players generously wide fairways and challenging contoured bunkers.
The best hole here is up for constant debate. They’re all special. But the tee B 6 is quite something, one of the most dramatic of all.
Once the drama’s over you can repair to the luxurious clubhouse to relax with a cold drink at the bar, watching other players as they traverse the holes against the heavenly backdrop . The club here is so smart that the restaurant also serves as a venue for weddings and other celebrations. There’s the popular Golfista Bar with its own outdoor esplanade, a lounge complete with TV, and of course there’s plenty of parking.
With luck you’ll spot whales, dolphins and porpoises frolicking in the sea alongside the course.
- Built on the historic site of a battle between liberal and absolutist troops in the 1800s
- 3 courses: A&B, B&C, C&A, plus a Pitch and Putt course
- Less well know than Furnas but still exceptional
- A world-class club ranked in Portugal’s top 50
- The layout has been used on the European Tour
- It hosted the Azores Seniors Open in 2008
- Par 72 with 27 holes
- Driving range for as many as 30 players
- Chipping area and putting green
- Golf school
- Locker rooms for men and women
- Club, buggy and trolley rental
- Caddies available
- A pro shop for your essentials
- WiFi
- A set of local rules to abide by and make your play even better fun
Furnas Golf Club’s enviable reputation
This is Sao Miguel’s oldest golf club. Furnas golf course offers totally spectacular golf amidst an extraordinary volcanic landscape, the ultimate in exotic eye-candy. The setting leis above the Furnas Valley itself, a stone’s throw from the dramatic crater lake, hot springs and beautiful gardens, and all this is just 25 minutes from Ponta Delgada.
Surrounded by lush tropical vegetation, the course’s first nine holes were crafted by MacKenzie Ross in 1936, probably best known for designing Portugal’s Estoril Golf Course and for restoring the world famous Ailsa and Arran courses at Turnberry in Scotland.
His exceptional greens wind their elegant way through awesome natural beauty every step pg the way. Extended in 1992 by the world-class course architects Bob Cameron and Chris Powell, it flows perfectly as a seamless whole.
Furnas golf offers 18 dramatic holes and the kind of clubhouse you’ll recognise if you come from the UK: warm and welcoming, cosy and bright. Totally refurbished in 2006, it’s loved for a warm welcome and great hospitality. There’s a full service restaurant and bar along with banqueting for as many as 100 people. The lounge has a TV and a real fire – cosy!
You’ll play surrounded by majestic cedar trees and while the greens look quite gentle, they’re actually pretty challenging. You’ll need to bring every ounce of finesse into play to get through unscathed. More or less every fairway undulates, challenging your game by demanding a variety of shots. The plateau greens are fabulous, contoured to give your skills a serious workout and packed with borrows.
- Unique terrain
- One of Portugal’s best layouts
- One of the top 15 Portuguese golf courses
- A once-in-a-lifetime golfing experience
- Locker rooms
- Driving range for up to 30 players
- Putting green
- Clubs, buggies and trolleys for rent
- Bar
Flower-filled Ilha Terceira golf club
Terceira Island Golf Club lies inland on the island of the same name, a dizzying 350m above sea level, set like a jewel in between the island’s two cities: Angra do Heroísmo to the south and Praia da Vitória to the east. It’s also conveniently close to Lajes Field Airport, which serves international tourist flights.
The Cryptomeria trees here are famous, all seventy thousand of them, surrounding most holes since the 1980s when they were first planted here. You’ll also love the bright, colourful blooms of the hydrangeas, smothering the landscape with their rich beauty, carefully planted at regular intervals throughout the course. Add the legendary Azaleas and Estrelicias and it’s no surprise it’s known and loved as a stunner.
- Designed and built in 1954 by the US Air Force
- One of Portugal’s most popular golf clubs
- A peaceful, nature-rich 18 hole course spanning around 6000m
- Probably the least challenging golf course in the Azores
- The most difficult hole is the 370 yard par-4 5th
- Wide fairways and some good bunkers
- Slightly hilly terrain
- Par 72
- Driving range, chipping area and putting green
- Rental buggies and trolleys
- Locker rooms
- Clubhouse with restaurant and snack bar
- Golf lessons with resident professionals
- 1000 members and more than 500 players
- A pro shop with famously reasonable prices
Because all three Azores golf clubs have pro shops and hire facilities, there’s no need to drag your heavy, awkward equipment all the way from home. Everything’s nice and easy. So which course will you conquer first?
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