Clube de Golf Santo da Serra

What Clube de Golf Santo da Serra does

Clube de Golf Santo da Serra (CGSS) is a private sporting association operating a 27-hole championship golf facility on Madeira Island, Portugal, at 660 meters above sea level near Machico. The course was redesigned in 1991 by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and comprises three distinct 9-hole layouts — Machico (coastal), Desertas (championship), and Serras (mountainous) — supported by a clubhouse with panoramic restaurant, pro shop, practice facilities (driving range, putting greens, chipping green), and a courtesy shuttle connecting seven partner hotels. The club served as a regular European Tour host for 21 editions of the Madeira Islands Open between 1993 and 2015 and currently wins industry recognition through the 2024 World Golf Awards (World's Best Par 3 Hole, World's Best Sustainable Water Capture Course System, World's Best Emerging Golf Destination) and inclusion in the Rolex World's Top 1000 since 2010.

The company monetizes the facility through multiple streams: per-round green fees (€95/9 holes, €145/18 holes), annual memberships with tiered joining fees up to €7,500 and recurring €660-€1,010 subscriptions, PGA-qualified golf instruction (Academy of Golf Peter Mitchell; head professional João Pedro Sousa), junior academy programs (~60 children), corporate golf-day packages with conference facilities, and clubhouse restaurant, bar, and pro shop sales. Beyond the main course, the club extended into urban golf via the 2025 Quinta Magnólia facility, developed with the Regional Government/PATRIRAM to deliver golf within the regional school sports program reaching approximately 720 students annually. It also participates in the Madeira Golf Passport multi-round package with Palheiro Golf and operates direct-to-consumer tee-time booking through teetimes.santodaserragolf.com, complemented by channel partnerships with seven hotels (including Preferred Partner Enotel Santo da Serra, Reid's Palace/Belmond, Pestana Casino Park, Meliã Mare Madeira) and co-marketing arrangements with Visit Madeira and BinterCanarias.

Name

Clube de Golf Santo da Serra

Legal name

Clube de Golf Santo da Serra

Website

https://santodaserragolf.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Clube de Golf Santo da Serra is a private golf association operating a 27-hole Robert Trent Jones Sr. course on Madeira Island, Portugal, serving international tourists, members, corporate groups, and junior golfers through green fees, memberships, instruction, and partner-hotel packages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Golf Club Services

NAICS

Golf Courses and Country Clubs (713910)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Golf Tours & Professional Circuits (MPAKAAAK), Luxury Golf Resorts (THAGACAH), Golf Clubs & Club Fitting Retail (CRAMAGAA), Golf Apparel Retail (Men’s/Women’s/Youth) (CRAMAGAD)

Keywords

• Golf course operations
• Golf club membership
• Golf instruction services
• Golf event hosting
• Golf tourism packages

Headquarters

HQ city

Machico

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Green Fees: Visitors pay green fees to play the 27-hole golf course. Pricing varies by number of holes (9 or 18), with junior discounts available.
2. Golf Membership: Annual membership fees provide unlimited access to the course and practice facilities, plus member benefits including discounts at the pro shop and restaurant, exclusive tournament invitations, and reduced rates for guests.
3. Golf Lessons and Academy Programs: Individual and group golf instruction provided by PGA-qualified professionals. Pricing includes 30-minute, 1-hour, and 2-hour lessons, plus clinics for groups of 5-10 people.
4. Pro Shop Sales: Retail sales of golf equipment, apparel, and club merchandise including TaylorMade club rentals and branded items.
5. Clubhouse Restaurant and Bar: Panoramic restaurant and bar services within the clubhouse, offering dining with ocean views.
6. Corporate Events: Corporate golf days and team-building events, including use of the clubhouse event space with technology facilities for presentations and conferences.
7. Madeira Golf Passport: Multi-round golf packages (3 or 5 rounds) allowing play at Santo da Serra and partner Palheiro Golf courses on Madeira Island.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Clube de Golf Santo da Serra operates a 27-hole championship golf course on Madeira Island designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., divided into three 9-hole loops (Machico, Desertas, and Serras). The club sells green-fee rounds, annual memberships, PGA-led instruction through its Golf Academy (including a junior program), equipment rental, clubhouse restaurant and bar services, and hosts corporate golf events. It also partners with hotels and the regional Madeira Golf Passport to package rounds for visiting golfers.

Product overview

Clube de Golf Santo da Serra is a prestige golf destination on Madeira Island offering a 27-hole golf course divided into three distinct 9-hole courses (Machico, Desertas, and Serras), redesigned in 1991 by Robert Trent Jones Sr. The club provides comprehensive golf services including the Golf Academy with PGA-qualified instruction (João Pedro Sousa), Junior Golf Academy, Corporate Golf Events, and the Quinta Magnólia Golf Experience urban facility. Additional offerings include a fully-equipped Pro Shop, clubhouse with restaurant and bar, practice facilities (two putting greens, chipping green, driving range with covered station), equipment rental (buggies, clubs, trolleys), member services through FPG DataGolf portal, tee time booking system, live webcam, and courtesy bus service. The club operates membership programs and special packages including the Madeira Golf Passport. Founded in 1937, it hosted the Madeira Islands Open on the European Tour for 21 editions until 2015 and has been recognized by World Golf Awards and included in the Rolex World's Top 1000 Golf Courses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Madeira Golf Passport: A golf pass offering 3 or 5 rounds at Santo da Serra Golf or Palheiro Golf on Madeira Island, promoted as the World's Best Emerging Golf Destination
• Academia de Golf Junior
• Quinta Magnólia Golf Experience
• Academia de Golf Peter Mitchell
• Corporate Golf Day

Products and services

• 27-Hole Championship Golf Course (Machico, Desertas, Serras)

Quantifiable outcome

• 21 editions of Madeira Islands Open hosted (European Tour)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• BinterCanariascoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2009Airline partner that organized a four-day event in Madeira culminating in a golf tournament at Santo da Serra to promote air routes between the Canary Islands and Madeira. The tournament attracted 106 participants including Madeira residents and regular BinterCanarias clients. The event aimed to boost the air route the company has maintained with the island since 2004.
• Enotel Santo da SerraflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred Partner Hotel offering guests privileged access to the Clube de Golf Santo da Serra. The hotel celebrates the balance between comfort, nature, and unforgettable experiences, providing the perfect starting point for exploring the island's natural beauty and enjoying rounds of golf at one of Madeira's most iconic courses.
• Dreams Madeira Resort, Spa & MarinacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorResort hotel located on the eastern side of the island in Caniçal, offering golf packages to guests seeking fun and relaxation in the sun with completely renovated facilities and activities for all ages.
• Meliã Madeira MarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorContemporary-style hotel on the seafront in the Lido zone, 3km from Funchal center, offering golf packages to guests with panoramic Atlantic Ocean views and full spa facilities.
• Pestana Casino ParkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFive-star hotel designed by Oscar Niemeyer, adjacent to Funchal cruise port and surrounded by 15,000m² of private gardens. Offers golf access to guests seeking luxury accommodations with spa and leisure facilities.
• PortoBay Serra GolfcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCharming boutique hotel adjacent to the golf course, surrounded by nature, welcoming environments, and Madeiran traditions. The main house, built in 1920 and restored in 1999, is classified as regional heritage with over 90 varieties of flowers and plants in the garden.
• Reid's Palace (Belmond)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIconic luxury hotel on 10 hectares of lush gardens overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, featuring a Michelin-starred William restaurant. One of Funchal's finest hotels offering golf packages to discerning travelers seeking refined luxury.
• Vila Galé Santa CruzcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHotel offering incomparable Atlantic views combined with the picturesque atmosphere of Santa Cruz village, located just five minutes from the airport and 15 minutes from Funchal, with two restaurants, two bars, outdoor pool, and spa facilities.
• PATRIRAM (Regional Government)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Regional Government through PATRIRAM and the Regional Secretary for Education executed and developed the Quinta Magnólia urban golf project. This initiative reestablished Quinta Magnólia as a space for golf practice, with an artificial grass putting green and driving range, making golf accessible to school children and urban residents.
• Peter Mitchell (Academy of Golf)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Academy of Golf Peter Mitchell offers professional golf instruction at the highest professional level, named after the golf professional associated with the club.
• TaylorMadecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGolf equipment brand providing club rental services at the club. Special packages available: pay €265 and receive one week of TaylorMade club rental.
• TitleistminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGolf equipment and ball brand available through the club's Pro Shop, providing quality balls and accessories to golfers.
• Porto Santo LineminorOthersMaritime transportation company listed as a club sponsor, facilitating access to Porto Santo Island.
• Federação Portuguesa de GolfminorOthersPortuguese Golf Federation listed as a club sponsor and partner organization.
• Palheiro GolfcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner golf course included in the Madeira Golf Passport program, allowing passport holders to play at both Santo da Serra and Palheiro Golf courses on the island.
• NOS MadeiraminorOthersTelecommunications company listed as a club sponsor.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• La Manga Club: Multi-course resort and sports club in southern Spain offering championship golf, tennis, and hospitality. Comparable Iberian destination combining golf, academy programs, corporate events, and hotel partnerships under a unified membership/guest model.
• Quinta do Lago: Premier golf resort in Portugal's Algarve with three championship courses, luxury real estate, and international tournament hosting. Comparable destination-golf business model serving affluent European golfers with premium green fees and resort integrations.
• Oitavos Dunes: Arthur Hills-designed links-style championship course near Cascais, Portugal, ranked among Europe's elite. Comparable premium coastal golf destination serving international visitors with similar green-fee pricing, sustainability credentials, and luxury hospitality partnerships.
• San Lorenzo Golf Club: Highly ranked championship course in the Algarve situated along the Ria Formosa estuary. Comparable as a destination golf club that has hosted European Tour events and caters to premium international golf tourism, similar to CGSS's heritage positioning.
• Monte Rei Golf & Country Club: Jack Nicklaus-designed championship course in the Eastern Algarve offering high-end membership and guest experiences. Comparable as a premium Iberian golf destination combining resort amenities, corporate hospitality, and tournament pedigree.
• Vilamoura Golf (Dom Pedro Golf): Network of championship courses in the Algarve that have hosted multiple European Tour and PGA events. Comparable as a major Portuguese golf tourism operator with similar multi-course destination model, member programs, and tournament heritage.
• Palheiro Golf: The other major championship course on Madeira Island and direct partner in the Madeira Golf Passport program. Palheiro Golf offers comparable 18-hole resort-style golf targeted at international tourists visiting the island.

Regional players

• Royal Golf Club de Belgique: Established European member-governed golf club with comparable heritage and tournament pedigree. Comparable governance model (member association), championship history, and academy offerings, though serving primarily Belgian/Continental membership rather than international tourism.

Others

• Federação Portuguesa de Golfe: National Portuguese golf federation and CGSS sponsor/partner operating the FPG DataGolf member portal. Relevant as an ecosystem enabler and supporting organization rather than a direct competitor, governing competitive play and handicap services referenced across Portuguese golf clubs.

Broad incumbents

• Penha Longa Resort: Luxury Ritz-Carlton resort near Sintra featuring an Arthur Hills-designed championship course. Comparable as a premium Portuguese golf offering tied to luxury hospitality, though part of a broader luxury hotel brand rather than a member-governed club.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtripadvisor.pt/Attraction_Review-g580260-d585895-Reviews-Clube_de_Golf_Santo_da_Serra-Machico_Madeira_Madeira_Islands.html
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@portalnetmadeira/streams
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clube-de-golf-santo-da-serra

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clube de Golf Santo da Serra