Golf Club La Pinetina: 18 holes in the Appiano pinewood

The Golf Club La Pinetina course borders the sports centre that made the name Pinetina famous, Inter's training ground, but the two have nothing in common: here you play among the pine trunks of the regional park between Appiano Gentile and Tradate. The 18 holes, par 71, were laid out in the early 1970s by the Englishman John Harris.

At a glance

18 holes, par 71, with fairways among the pines of the Pineta park of Appiano Gentile and Tradate
Designed by John Harris, an English architect active in Italy since the early 1970s
According to the online price list, 18 holes at 90 euros on weekdays and 110 at weekends
Restaurant and bar at holes 9 and 18, a golf school and an adjoining hotel

✓ Driving range
✓ Putting green
✓ Golf academy
✓ Golf carts
✓ Trolleys
✓ Pro shop
✓ Restaurant
✓ Hotel on site

The course at Golf Club La Pinetina: 18 holes among the pines

The layout is the work of the English commander John Harris, who in the early 1970s designed it inside the pinewood that is now part of the regional park of Appiano Gentile and Tradate. There are 18 holes, par 71, with fairways lined by pine trunks and rolling terrain, which the Top 100 Golf Courses guide describes as well “routed”, meaning a good rhythm from one hole to the next.

The hole that stays most in the memory, again according to that guide, is the par 3 at the 14th: the tee drops steeply towards a green defended by a large bunker. Among the less romantic aspects, the same source notes the high-voltage cables over holes 4 and 5.

The club's website presents the course as a layout in the midst of nature, open 365 days a year; the scorecard with the tee lengths is available in the course section.

Playing at Golf Club La Pinetina as a guest

The price list published by the club, with no indication of the year it applies to, sets the guest fee at 90 euros for 18 holes on weekdays and 110 at weekends; nine holes cost 50 and 60 euros. For those who only want to practise, entry to the driving range is 20 euros, and juniors get a 50% discount on the respective rates.

A golf cart costs 35 euros for nine holes and 60 for 18, an electric trolley 20 euros, a manual one 5 euros. Tee times, competitions and course conditions can be found in the dedicated section of the website; for handicap requirements and to book, it is best to call the club office (+39 031 933202).

The club: golf school, restaurant and hotel

The club has recently celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. Today it includes a pro shop with the main brands, the Pinetina Golf School with professional instructors and the Club dei Giovani for the youngest players.

The food and drink offer is twofold: the restaurant-bar is located at holes 9 and 18, so you can take a break halfway through the round. The website also mentions the complex's hotel. The club is part of the Lake Como Golf Destination consortium.