Ponta do Pargo, on the most westerly point of Madeira, is the focus of a major infrastructure project that officials say will boost the local economy and tourism. During the Day of the Parish celebrations, Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries, Nuno Maciel, restated the government’s support for the long-delayed Ponta do Pargo Golf Course. The development carries an estimated investment of 16.4 million euros and has been in planning for more than a decade. Authorities say it is intended to decentralise tourism, encourage economic diversification in Calheta municipality, and attract private investment through the related real estate component. The project also includes sustainability measures such as native Kikuyu grass, which can grow on natural rainfall, and a modern water management system to reduce environmental impact. Designed by six-time Major champion Sir Nick Faldo, the 18-hole championship course will feature more than 600 feet of elevation change and views over the Atlantic. Plans also include practice facilities, a nine-hole pitch and putt course, a clubhouse, a restaurant, and hotel facilities, with progress having resumed in 2023 after a halt during the 2009 financial crisis. Officials now expect the construction phases to become a functional reality in the near term, marking a new stage for Ponta do Pargo and Madeira’s golf tourism ambitions.
