The municipality of Cherasco, where an 18-hole course borders the hills, is one of those allowed to produce Barolo. Barbaresco means crossing the Tanaro, and to play golf you need to know where to stop first.
Anyone arriving in the Langhe with a golf bag soon notices one thing: the golf courses lie on the edges of this territory, not inside the municipalities of Barolo or Barbaresco. The one exception is partial: Cherasco, home to Golf Club Cherasco, appears among the municipalities that the production rules list as part of the Barolo production zone, although only for part of its territory. The rest is a matter of roads, and of planning the day with a little logic.
Barolo and Barbaresco: two wines, one grape
Both have been DOCG since 1980 and are made from 100% Nebbiolo, according to their production rules. The difference lies in the territory and in the time the wine spends in the cellar:
| Barolo | Barbaresco | |
|---|---|---|
| Grape | 100% Nebbiolo | 100% Nebbiolo |
| Minimum ageing | 38 months, 18 of them in wood | 26 months, 9 of them in wood |
| Production municipalities | Barolo, Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d'Alba in full; in part La Morra, Monforte d'Alba, Roddi, Verduno, Cherasco, Diano d'Alba, Novello, Grinzane Cavour | Barbaresco, Neive, Treiso and part of San Rocco Seno d'Elvio (Alba) |
The Consortium that protects them is based in Alba and brings together more than 550 members across nine denominations: Barolo is described as "the king of Italian wines", Barbaresco as "a regal wine between myth and reality". The ageing figures apply to the basic versions: Riservas require longer periods, set by the production rules. In Barbaresco, according to Wikipedia, the Cantina Sociale was founded in 1894, a sign that Nebbiolo had been grown here well before then.
Numbers are not enough to grasp the difference in the glass: you have to taste, ideally with a producer who can explain it.
The courses closest to the Langhe
None of these courses is a "Barolo course": they are clubs in southern Piedmont that can be booked as a guest.
- Golf Club Cherasco: 18 holes, par 72, at the confluence of the Tanaro and the Stura, with the Langhe hills on one side and Monviso in the background. The club is closed on Tuesdays that are not public holidays. The latest online price list dates from 2025: 65 or 80 euros on weekdays (low and high season), 90 or 100 on public holidays for non-FIG members; these need to be reconfirmed. The restaurant's kitchen focuses on tajarin, Val Maira cheeses, snails and Granda beef.
- Golf Club I Girasoli, in Carmagnola: 18 holes, par 71, on the rolling Roero terrain, with a restaurant serving locally sourced Piedmontese cuisine and a wine list that the club calls its flagship. In 2026 the green fee is 50 euros on weekdays and 65 at weekends.
- Golf Club La Margherita, in Poirino, between Turin and the Roero: 18 holes, par 72, closed on Tuesdays that are not public holidays. High-season price list for 2026 (until 31 October): 65 euros on weekdays and 85 on public holidays for FIG members, 80 and 100 for foreign members.
- Boves Golf Club, in the Cuneo area, along the Gesso stream: 18 holes, par 72, 6,018 metres, 50 euros on weekdays and 60 on public holidays in 2026.
- Golf Club Saluzzo: nine holes playable as 18, par 72, with the Cottian Alps and Monviso in the background; in 2026 the green fee is 40 euros on weekdays, 30 on Wednesdays and 45 at weekends. Closed on Tuesdays that are not public holidays.
How to plan the day
The rule is simple: the round first, the winery afterwards. Choose the producer and book the visit directly, because the time at which a round of 18 holes ends cannot be known in advance, and it is wise to give the producer some margin. Three clubs out of five are closed on Tuesdays that are not public holidays: on that day, if you wish, you have all the time for the wineries (opening hours and days should be checked with the producers). For dinner, the clubs' restaurants (Cherasco, I Girasoli) serve Piedmontese cuisine: a good way to start understanding the territory before heading up to Alba.
Curiosities
- A half-and-half municipality. Cherasco falls within the Barolo zone only in part, whereas Barolo, Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d'Alba fall within it entirely.
- Wednesday counts. At Saluzzo the Wednesday green fee drops to 30 euros in 2026.
- The King. The Consortium calls Barolo "the king of Italian wines".
Frequently asked questions
Which golf courses are closest to Barolo and Barbaresco?+
The clubs lie on the edges of the wine zone: the closest to the Langhe are Cherasco, I Girasoli in Carmagnola, La Margherita in Poirino, Boves and Saluzzo.
What is the difference between Barolo and Barbaresco?+
Both are 100% Nebbiolo and DOCG. They differ in production municipalities and minimum ageing: 38 months for Barolo (18 in wood), 26 for Barbaresco (9 in wood), according to the production rules.
Is Cherasco a Barolo zone?+
In part: the municipality appears among those where the production rules allow Barolo to be made, but only for a portion of its territory.
How much does it cost to play at Cherasco?+
According to the latest online price list, from 2025, 18 holes cost 65 or 80 euros on weekdays and 90 or 100 on public holidays for non-FIG members. The figures need to be reconfirmed before departure.
Which day is the course closed?+
Cherasco, La Margherita and Saluzzo are closed on Tuesdays that are not public holidays. At Boves, the closing day should be asked at the secretary's office.
Can wineries be visited without booking?+
It is always best to contact the producer directly: opening hours and visiting arrangements vary from winery to winery.
