Golfers from across the world took to the fairways in Madeira for the 2023 Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic to raise money for the World Cetacean Alliance.
Staged from April 28-29 on Palheiro Golf’s par-72 course, a full field of players competed in the third edition of the tournament in the year that sees Palheiro Golf celebrate its 30th anniversary.
The event promoted awareness of the World Cetacean Alliance, a non-profit organisation that campaigns for the freedom and protection of dolphins and whales. Cetaceans are a staple of Madeira’s incredible wildlife, with responsible whale and dolphin-watching a popular activity on the island.
In a twist of irony, both the men’s and ladies’ first place prizes – right-handed TaylorMade wedges – were won by left-handed players, but that didn’t dampen the mood on a sunny Madeira weekend. João Paulo Gomes and Carla Fernandes each scored 43 Stableford points to rise to the top of the pack, while the highest-placed international player was France’s Catherine Blaye.
Also among the participants was French influencer Arnaud Serie, a trick-shot specialist who has earned more than 60,000 followers on Instagram. Meanwhile, long drive and closest-to-the-pin competitions were hosted to round out an action-packed event.
Paul Saunders, executive golf director at Palheiro Golf, said: “The Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic has quickly become an event that people look forward to every year and it’s wonderful to see golfers from all over the world coming here to take part.
“We’re proud to support such an important charity with this event – Madeira wouldn’t be the same without its whales and dolphins and it’s vital that we look after them.”
Madeira is currently enjoying its world-renowned annual Flower Festival, which this year runs from April 27 to May 21. A celebration of the beauty of flowers, the festival features a busy calendar of events and activities and attracts tourists from across the globe.
The course at Palheiro Golf is renowned for magnificent views across the city of Funchal and out to sea. Adjacent to the course, the Palheiro Gardens are home to a wide array of exotic plants.
Palheiro Golf is situated within the magnificent Palheiro Nature Estate, which is more than 200 years old, and is one of three outstanding golf venues in the archipelago of Madeira together with Clube de Golf Santo da Serra and Porto Santo Golfe.
Voted as the world’s leading island destination for the last eight years in a row at the World Travel Awards, Madeira – which is located approximately 1,000km from the European mainland and just 500km from the African continent – enjoys an amazingly mild climate with very mild average temperatures and moderate humidity, making it the perfect year-round location for a golf break.
And golfers can enjoy incredible value when they stay in an apartment or villa at Palheiro Village throughout 2023 with a range of five and seven-night golf packages bookable for parties of two to six people. Prices for a five-night break including three rounds of golf at Palheiro Golf start from €460 per person, while a seven-night stay including five green fees is available from €650 per person.
To find out more about the Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic, click here.