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Europe

Madeira: Palheiro Golf Club – The funky course

Palheiro Golf Club on Madeira offers some stunning views across the ocean and the island. (Photo: Golf Post)

The first time you are amazed is before you have even really arrived at the Palheiro Golf Club. From a height of 500 metres, you look down steep cliffs in front of the clubhouse to Funchal, the capital of the Madeira archipelago. Behind the clubhouse, you are immediately amazed again, because the course goes steep uphill to the first green. There are a few surprises in the course of the round. The 18-hole course cannot be pigeonholed.

There are too many very different holes for that. The fairways are mostly relatively wide, but on some of them the landing zones from the tee are still very small due to the slopes. On others, you can only guess where to hit without knowing the course. Wooden stakes do help with orientation, but if you keep your ball within sight with an iron off the tee, you are certainly not at a disadvantage compared to driving into the unknown. At least not on the first round at Palheiro Golf Club.

Many different challenges

With improved course knowledge, you can approach the par-72 course quite differently. The first time, however, you need to make smart decisions. The length of the course is not a difficulty for any skill level. But those who miss fairways or greens will run into problems. This is not least due to the nature of the terrain. Cliffs, steep slopes and deep valleys are just waiting for a ball to miss the target – even if it is only half a metre.

However, the Cabell B. Robinson design is never unfair. Rather, the challenge is to adapt to the ever-changing challenges. On one of the high plateaus it can be very windy, on the next hole you need a good feeling for the length of your shots for the height difference between tee and green. In some other places, strategically placed trees form the biggest obstacle. Some greens are surrounded by bunkers. You never know exactly what’s coming next. But even on the greens you are not safe. Partially heavily ondulated and difficult to read, the putting surface sells for as much as the rest of the course.

At the moment, one still looks in vain for a driving range at the Palheiro Golf Club. While a short game training facility and practice greens are already in place, the range is still under construction. In general, a lot is happening at the club in the south of Madeira. All greens were renovated during the Corona pandemic. The first roughs have already been changed to a more water-efficient type of grass. More are to follow to make the entire club even more sustainable. However, irrigation is already done exclusively with rainwater.

Palheiro Golf Club (Photo: Azalea Group)

Unconventional and a dream for the eye

Unconventional is probably the simplest description of the Palheiro Golf Club. In positive terms, you could call it varied. Those who don’t enjoy it would probably criticise the lack of a clear line in the layout. However, no one will complain about the wide views over the sea that open up again and again. The fantastic view down to Funchal is also offered in several places on the course. Thanks to the subtropical vegetation, for which Madeira is famous, you get a real holiday feeling. But since everything here has its contrast, you also play your way past the island’s prison in the course of the round.

The topography of the course almost “screams” for a cart, but the terrain can also be mastered with a trolley. Only those who are absolutely physically fit should carry their bag. If you opt for a buggy (45 euros), this will spare your muscles, but you should keep your concentration on the sometimes rutted cart paths.

Palheiro Golf Club (Photo: Azalea Group)

One of the most beautiful spots in Madeira

On the club’s terrace, you can enjoy the excellent cuisine and the view over Funchal and the sea. Mediterranean dishes “with an oriental touch” are served by the neighbouring Hotel Casa Velha do Palheiro, which runs the restaurant. Fish and seafood here are fresh and regional. Around a dozen desserts sweeten the memory, especially the Pastéis de Nata, for which Portugal is world-famous, should not be missed. The club terrace is definitely one of the most beautiful spots in Madeira.

The clubs terrace and its stunning view across Funchal. (Photo: Azalea Group)

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Europe Travel

Madeira: The flower island becomes a golf island

Madeira offers not only a variety of colours but also three very different golf clubs. (Photos: Azalea Group (left/bottom); Golf Post (right))
Many golfers know that a golfing paradise lies off the west coast of Africa. Too few, however, know that Madeira is one of them. The archipelago, which lies about 500 kilometres north of the Canary Islands, is only just learning to understand itself as a golf destination. Yet the autonomous region of Portugal has no need to hide at all. The climate is pleasant all year round (although it can be hot in summer), the vegetation is impressive and with three golf courses there is enough variety for a golf holiday. Especially as each of the three clubs has its own characteristics. There are also hotels to suit every taste and standard. Tourists of other sports have been here for many years. Bikers, surfers and hikers have long since discovered the main island of Madeira for themselves. On the golf courses, on the other hand, there are still many free tee times. This is probably one of the reasons why you play more relaxed rounds at Palheiro Golf Club, Santo da Serra Golf or Porto Santo Golf on the neighbouring island than further south.

Fulfil all five senses

In terms of landscape and vegetation, a comparison with the Spanish neighbours is also obvious. And here, only the northern half of Gran Canaria comes close. On Madeira, “something” is always in bloom; it’s no coincidence that it’s also called the flower island. The rugged volcanic rocks that stretch like fans from the centre of the island to the coast are also covered with lush green vegetation in many places on the southern slopes. While it often rains in the north, from which the south of the island also benefits in a sustainable way thanks to the irrigation canals, the weather situation on the two golf courses in the west is usually very stable.

Santo de Serra Golf – The sporting flagship

Santo da Serra Golf is located directly above the airport, which bears the name of the island’s most famous son – Christiano Ronaldo. The 27-hole course with over 80 years of tradition is the sporting flagship. Between 1993 and 2008 and later from 2012 to 2015, the Madeira Island Open on the European Tour took place here. It is not only the tour players who enjoy the spectacular panoramas of the green slopes opposite, across deep valleys and the views of the open sea at Santo de Serra Golf. Of course, given the topographical conditions, there are certain differences in altitude to be overcome on the course. At the Palheiro Golf Club, only a few kilometres away, the slopes are much steeper. The holes of the Santo de Serra Golf Club, on the other hand, are relatively level. The large, open clubhouse is a great place to enjoy traditional Portuguese and Madeiran food and drinks after your round.

Palheiro Golf Club – The Unconventional One

The clubhouse terrace of the Palheiro Golf Club is also an absolute must when on holiday in Madeira. It is located around 500 metres above the city of Funchal and offers an unobstructed view of it. On the unconventionally designed par 72 course, you also have a breathtaking view of the capital of the archipelago at some points. On the course, however, it’s better to concentrate on the essentials due to many blind shots and partly rutted cart paths. If you play carefully and precisely on the not too long course, you will have a lot of fun. Sometimes wide, sometimes narrow, challenging greens, large differences in elevation – you are constantly confronted with changing tasks.

Porto Santo Golf Course – “Seves” Legacy

The course on the neighbouring island of Porto Santo, designed by Severiano Ballesteros, is completely different. It is not situated on the slopes of the steep lava cliffs like the other two clubs, but at sea level at the foot of the surrounding mountains. The course stretches almost the entire length of the small island from the dunes in the south to the basalt cliffs in the north. Thus, the course also divides into very different halves. While the northern nine shows off the coastline and sea views, the southern loop of the Porto Santo Golf Club is reminiscent of American parkland golf. There are many water hazards in play here and long hitters usually have a considerable advantage. Porto Santo is wonderfully suited for a day trip. It takes only 20 minutes by plane from Madeira. But it’s also worth taking the ferry at least one way. A maritime dinner on the ship makes a wonderful end to the trip.

Hotels are ready for golfers

With the Madeira Golf Pass you can play three or five rounds on the three courses for a fixed price, which is much cheaper than booking a green fee each. The number of rounds you play on one of the courses is freely selectable. In the course of the expansion of golf tourism on Madeira, some hotels now also have a golf consierge available to assist with booking tee times and organising transfers. These hotels include the Galo Resort (5 stars), a spa and wellness hotel that claims to be climate neutral. The standard rooms are quite small, but the suites are all the larger. The location of the bar and restaurant, which are built directly on the steep cliffs, is outstanding. Here you can enjoy drinks and food with an unobstructed view of the ocean, whether indoors or on one of the terraces. The Galo Resort (Photo: Azalea Group)

Bright and colourful

Also right on the coast is the Melia Madeira Mare Resort (5 stars). Here, too, sea views are standard and the hotel is geared towards golfers. Even if the hotel has perhaps one star too many, you can spend relaxing hours here. In addition to golf, many holidaymakers oganise numerous other sporting activities. Both hotels are only about 15 minutes away from the island’s capital Funchal and thus invite you to make excursions to the coastal city. Besides the colourful flora, the brightly painted doors of many residential houses are a particular tourist magnet. One of the best places to get to know the extent of the island’s diverse vegetation is the Palheiro Garden, which borders directly on the golf course. The oldest trees have been here for almost 200 years. Thanks to the subtropical climate, there are different flowers to admire in every season. Palheiro Gardens (Photo: Azalea Group)
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PGA Tour

PGA TOUR: Monday finish at the Players

The Players Championship will be decided in a mega Monday finish (foto: Getty)
The Players Championship will be decided in a mega Monday finish (foto: Getty)

The Players Championship has been running for four days, but even now there is still no winner. In all likelihood, the tournament will end today. So a mega golf day awaits the players. After these eventful five days of Players, one of the players will prevail and take home the 3.6 million dollars.

Bad weather overshadows the Players Championship

The tournament was not under a good star. Already at the beginning of the Players week many responsible persons were aware that an end of the tournament on Sunday, as regularly planned, will be very difficult. Bad weather with heavy rain falling for hours on the TPC Sawgrass and partly heavy thunderstorms delayed the play more and more and made it difficult for the professionals. Now it’s Monday, actually the week after the tournament. But the tour has a clear plan and goal this Monday to finish the tournament. A mega-Monday finish is planned: First, the third round will be played out in the early morning in Florida. After that, the complete fourth round will be played. If everything goes smoothly, there would even be enough time for a playoff.

An epochal Monday finish

The exact schedule has it all: After the actual fourth day of the tournament was interrupted at 7:30 p.m. local time due to darkness, the players will take to the court again very early on Monday. Virtually at sunrise, the players who have not yet completed the third round will get going again. The PGA Tour gives the remaining players three hours to finish the third round. At 11 a.m. local time, i.e. at 4 p.m. German time, the round will then be completed.

At the same time, both the tee times for Round 4 and the new pin positions and tee shots will be gradually prepared. At 11 a.m. local time the first players will start into the final round, in three-man flights from tee 1 and 10. The best placed players after round 3 will start at 1 p.m. according to the tour. If all goes well, the final round is scheduled to end at 6 p.m. local time. After that, there would even be time for the traditional three-hole playoff. The tour is very optimistic about keeping to the schedule and it looks like the weather is finally playing along as well. Until the start of the fifth day, you can enjoy the best shots from the 17th hole here:

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Ladies Tours Live

Nanna Koerstz Madsen Final Round Highlights – 2022 Honda LPGA Thailand

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Nanna Koerstz Madsen Final Round Highlights – 2022 Honda LPGA Thailand

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PGA Tour

Player Championship 2022: Shane Lowry records 10th ace on 17

Shane Lowry's hole in one at The Players Championship 2022. (Photo: Twitter.com/@PGATour & Twitter.com/@DPWorldTour)
Shane Lowry's hole in one at The Players Championship 2022. (Photo: Twitter.com/@PGATour & Twitter.com/@DPWorldTour)

At the Players Championship, all eyes are on the famous 17th hole. A special highlight is when someone plays a hole-in-one on that very hole. It’s not very common, but at this year’s flagship event of the PGA Tour we saw the tenth ace in the tournament’s 40-year history at TPC Sawgrass.

Hole-in-one at the Players Championship 2022

In the third round of the tournament, which was marred by weather chaos, Shane Lowry holed the ball in one shot.

Hier geht es zum Leaderboard der Players Championship
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PGA Tour

Players Championship: Bizarre rule earns Major winner penalty strokes

Keegan Bradley collects penalty strokes at the Players Championship. (Photo: Getty)
Keegan Bradley collects penalty strokes at the Players Championship. (Photo: Getty)

Keegan Bradley managed to stay one-under-par on the third day and his second round of the Players Championship. He is proud of “one of the best rounds” of his career, but despite his outstanding performance in the face of difficult weather conditions, the result could have been even better.

Leaderboard Players Championship 2022

Bizarre rule wording causes penalty strokes


Keegan Bradley had a three-meter birdie putt in front of him and marked his ball with a ball marker for it. So far so normal, but the strong gusts of wind caused his ball to roll away. For Bradley and his teammates, this was a clear situation. His ball was marked and therefore he was allowed to put it back in its original place.

Only a few holes later – Bradley started from tee 10 – did chief referee Gary Young award two penalty strokes to the American. The explanation is found in the wording of Rule 9.4 a. Here is an explicit movement described, first mark the ball, then pick it up and the subsequent again put down at the same place is considered as an official mark of the ball.

Players Championship: Bradley is visibly surprised


For the American, this subtlety of the rule is not new, however, he thought it had since been changed in favor of simplicity. “Everyone in my group, and I guarantee most of the entire field, thought the USGA changed the rule to simplify it,” Bradley said. “Put your coin down, that’s where your ball is. So put my coin down, the ball moved, a huge gust of wind came up.

“I looked at the guys in my group,” he continued, “and we all said, yep, the coin was down first, all good. Didn’t think about it again until Gary came up and spoke to me on 2, and proud of the way I handled that because that was tough news, especially with some tough holes in front of me.”

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PGA Tour

Players Championship: Mega putts and hole-outs – The best shots on video

The best shots of The Players Championship 2022 on PGA Tour. (Foto: Getty)
The best shots of The Players Championship 2022 on PGA Tour. (Foto: Getty)

The TPC Sawgrass in Florida presents some challenges to the best golfers in the world. Designed by legendary golf course architects Pete Dye and his wife Alice, the Players Stadium Course demands the utmost concentration and golfing skill from the professionals on the PGA Tour. At the Players Championship 2022, too, it is a fine line between joy and frustration. We compile the best shots of the mega tournament (20 million US dollars prize money).

The Players Championship 2022: Livescoring

Day 3 brings wind and troubleshots

The conditions on the third day of the Players Championship do not provide for an excess of outstanding golf shots. Rather, the professionals are struggling with gusts of over 40 kilometers per hour.

Dustin Johnson showed his skills again on his last holes and placed the ball from more than 190 meters only centimeters next to the hole.

Jason Kokrak gave himself a gift on the 15th hole of his second round with a bunker shot that would probably be the envy of any golfer.

Only limited golf on day 2 of the Players

On the second day, the continuous rain over Florida gave the golfers a hard time. Before the first round was finally abandoned due to unplayability of the course and approaching thunderstorms, there were still some good shots to watch. Brive Garnett closed the gap to the top with this eagle, immediately followed by the end.

Kevin Kisner appears in this list for the second time. This time the American scores an eagle from the bunker at the 16th.

Cameron Young holes out for birdie.

Jordan Spieth scored his first birdie at the “fifth” major on hole 7 with this long putt.

PGA Tour: The best shots on day 1 of the Players Championship

Kevin Kisner, four-time winner on the PGA Tour, shone in round 1 of the Players Championship with this successful putt from over 16 metres from the front green.

Bad weather caused long interruptions on the first day, but Tom Hoge took advantage of the soft greens and holed the first eagle of the day on the second hole. After the first round had to be interrupted in the evening due to darkness, the American was even in the lead with six-under-par.

Anirban Lahiri also holed an eagle, sinking the ball from 125 yards (approx. 114 metres) on hole 6. The Indian brought a total of five-under 65 into the clubhouse.

Gary Woodland felt the ups and downs of golf. His first chip on the par-4 7th hole did not make it onto the green and rolled back again. At the second attempt, the 2019 US Open champion showed that he can do it better and saved the par in impressive fashion.

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PGA Tour

Players Championship: The pros despair of the wind – 17 becomes a ball washer

The gusts of wind make it difficult for the players at the Players Championship. (Photo: Twitter/Youtube @PGATour)
The gusts of wind make it difficult for the players at the Players Championship. (Photo: Twitter/Youtube @PGATour)

The third day of the Players Championship greeted spectators and players with sunshine, but steady winds and gusts of over 40 kilometers per hour made it difficult for the players. On the legendary Stadium Course, Kopeka, Fleetwood and Co. battled with the unpredictable gusts of wind and had to leave more than one ball in the water. In total, the field sank 33 balls on the 17th hole alone in round 1 and the 2nd round that started.

Golf is hard: The highlight of the windy Saturday at the Players Championship

If you read through the scores achieved on the 17th hole, you might well think it was an amateur tournament. But the island green at TPC Sawgrass is a challenge even under good conditions. With the strong wind, however, the penultimate hole developed into a final opponent for the players. Only two birdies, but nine bogeys, ten double bogeys and even four worse scores were recorded by the field on the third day of the Players Championship. 60 players made it to the iconic 17th hole in the second round. But for about 31 percent of the players it went into the drop zone. On the par 3, which is only 125 meters long, only just under 60 percent have even made it onto the green.

But also on the other holes of the waterlogged course there were penalty strokes. The highlights and lowlights from Saturday can be seen in the video:

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PGA Tour

Replica of the 17 and “wonder bread”: How to pass the time during the Players Championship

The pros also had to pass the time on the second day of the Players Championship. (Photo: Twitter/@PGATOUR; Screenshot Instagram/@ianjamespoulter)
The pros also had to pass the time on the second day of the Players Championship. (Photo: Twitter/@PGATOUR; Screenshot Instagram/@ianjamespoulter)

The Players Championship 2022 is drowning in weather chaos. On the first day, some players couldn’t even make a shot and on the second day, even less golf was played – 47 players still haven’t finished their first 18 holes. Some golfers therefore had a complete break from play on Friday, while others only had a few holes to play before play was paused at 11:15 a.m. local time and it was clear at 3:13 p.m. that there would be no play before 11 a.m. on Saturday either. So the stars of the PGA Tour had a lot of free time, which was used in different ways.

Here’s how it stands at The Players.

PGA Tour: Free afternoon for the players

Rory McIlroy is one of those who has not yet been able to hand in his first round scorecard. So far, the Northern Irishman has only played 15 holes, recording three birdies and four bogeys. The four-time major winner was then able to spend the free afternoon with his wife Erica and daughter Poppy.

Meanwhile, Max Homa philosophised during the rain delay why his mother never allowed him to eat the ” wonder bread” with peanut butter and jelly – he probably wouldn’t have been able to stop. Luckily, his caddies’ fiancée doesn’t see it so restrictively.

The fact that play was finally suspended completely for Friday probably didn’t bother the “Twitter King” of the PGA Tour, who is at two-under-par after 14 holes – after all, he can watch the new Batman then.

Justin Thomas hasn’t finished his first round either, but can spend his afternoon chilling on the couch.

The From the sofa, the defending champion also immediately found the guilty person: Max Homa.

But it could also have been Ian Poulter who caused the break-up. The Englishman had already finished his first round in a hurry on Thursday and therefore had Friday completely free. The 46-year-old was literally feverishly anticipating the break-off, letting his fans share it in his Instagram story and, given the weather, logically wanted to avoid the trip to the golf course. While the pro himself passed the time with Netflix at his house on the beach, his son Joshua rebuilt the signature hole of the TPC Sawgrass on the beach and also imitated his hurried father.

Players Championship Video: Ian Poulter in a race with darkness
Poulter hopes for rain, watches Netflix and checks out the "island green". (Photo: Screenshot Instagram/@ianjamespoulter)
Poulter hopes for rain, watches Netflix and checks out the “island green”. (Photo: Screenshot Instagram/@ianjamespoulter)

Players Championship at TopGolf?

With so many breaks, the stars naturally have time to connect with fans on social media. Some initiate discussions about the interruption of the tournament, Kevin Kisner would like to hear the expert opinions of the internet. One of them: Simply move the tournament to the nearby TopGolf facility – problem solved.

Justin Rose is organising a small contest on Instagram to pass the time. The Englishman, who currently has 14 holes played, wants to announce the winner after his second round. Cynically, you could say: There’s still plenty of time to take part.

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PGA Tour

Players Championship Video: Different kind of entertainment at 17

At the Players Championship 2022 on the PGA Tour, hardly any golf can be played because of the weather. So there will be other ways to pass the time. (Photo: Twitter/@PGATOUR)
At the Players Championship 2022 on the PGA Tour, hardly any golf can be played because of the weather. So there will be other ways to pass the time. (Photo: Twitter/@PGATOUR)

On the second day of the Players Championship 2022, hardly any golf could be played due to the weather. Continuous rain and thunderstorms ruled the stage in Florida, where the tournament with the highest prize money in golf is supposed to be played. In fact, even after two days, almost 50 players have not yet finished the first round and the flagship event of the PGA Tour will not be decided before Monday.

Players Championship: Entertainment at 17

The persistent rain made the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass non-playable, but it could be used for fun of a different kind. At the 17 with the spectacular island green, it was not the players who put on a show for the fans this time. The wet terrain was turned into a sliding area.