The second edition of the annual Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic took on extra importance this month as players from all over the world helped organisers raise more than €2,000 in aid of Ukrainian refugees.
The international field of around 100 players teamed up with local dignitaries and tournament sponsors at the event, which took place at Palheiro Golf across four days from May 6-9, to raise invaluable funds for Ukrainian refugees who have fled their homeland and escaped to Madeira in recent months.
Ukrainians have headed in increasing numbers to Madeira since the outbreak of hostilities in their homeland, with around 300 people already having taken refuge in the Portuguese archipelago.
Sweden’s Anna Stoldt enjoyed a day that she will never forget on the golf course as she swept the board in the ladies’ competition.
The 25-handicapper left the rest of her rivals trailing in her wake as she took full advantage of perfect scoring conditions to claim top honours in the women’s overall competition, as well as winning the nearest-the-pin and longest drive prizes.
Stoldt finished with a total of 40 Stableford points, seven clear of runner-up Fernanda Cuckney with July Franco, who finished second last year, two points further back in third place.
In the men’s event, Palheiro Golf member António Vasconcelos, who plays off a handicap of 19, made full use of local knowledge to return an impressive score of 44 points, two ahead of closest challenger António Sales Vieira and three points clear of Francisco Octávio Fernandes.
Stoldt, who moved to Madeira from Sweden with her husband Peter 18 months ago, said: “I have never won anything in my life before and I can’t quite believe it. I had great fun and I would like to thank all my playing partners for helping me.”
Played under cloudless blue skies, the 2022 Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic featured the chance to combine world-class golf at Palheiro with the opportunity to experience a slice of Madeira’s famous culture and history – including the islands’ globally acclaimed annual ‘Festa da Flor’ Flower Festival.
Tournament packages also included a pre-event sunset welcome party and a prize-giving ceremony with cocktail at the Palheiro Gardens.
Jonathan Fletcher, president of Palheiro Nature Estate, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome so many golfers from all over the world to this year’s golf classic. With players from countries including Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and the UK, it was a truly international event which was made even more special by the fact that we were raising funds for such a worthy cause.
“Taking place alongside the internationally renowned Festival de Flor, it was a busy weekend for everyone, and we couldn’t have wished for better weather to showcase our magnificent golf course and the many other experiences that make Madeira one of Europe’s up-and-coming golf destinations.”
Named as the world and Europe’s leading island destination at the 2021 World Travel Awards for the eighth year in a row, Madeira boasts three first-class golf courses – Palheiro Golf, Clube de Golfe Santo da Serra and Porto Santo Golf – as well as an array of outstanding historic, cultural and lifestyle experiences.
Located approximately 1,000km from the European mainland – and just 500km from the African continent – the island destination enjoys an amazingly mild climate, ranging from 25°c in the summer to 17°c in the winter, with very mild average temperatures and moderate humidity, making it the perfect year-round location for a golf break.
The best way to enjoy the archipelago’s golf is with a Madeira Golf Passport which, providing holders with an unrivalled golf experience, is available to both individuals and groups and can be booked on a three or five-round basis.