Twenty euros: that is what the Italian Golf Federation's GOLFPOP Card costs, with a lesson from a teaching professional, a membership card and insurance, and since 2026 it is the simplest way to give the game a try. After that come the clubs' courses and the hotels' packages, all the way to a first handicap.
Yes, in one week you can get started, but you will not become an independent player. In Italy the route runs like this: a trial lesson (with the Federation's GOLFPOP Card you start from 20 euros), a short course at a club or hotel, then the Green Card (Carta Verde) to go out on the course on your own and the rules course for a first handicap. Here are the options, with the year of the price list where known.
The first step: the GOLFPOP Card
The Italian Golf Federation (FIG) launched GOLFPOP on 20 January 2026. The GOLFPOP Card costs 20 euros and includes a lesson with a PGAI professional at a participating club, FIG membership valid until 31 December of the year after the one in which it is issued, and the Federation's insurance cover. According to the programme, no equipment of your own is needed. It is aimed at people who have never played, and also at those who have not been members for at least three years.
Clubs offering it include Asiago, where the card entitles you to one lesson and is valid until the end of the following year, and Tiber, in Rome, which describes what it covers (lesson, equipment and membership). Break Point, in the Valsugana, offers GolfPop as four introductory lessons with the FIG beginner's membership card. Participating clubs can be found at golfpop.it.
What you need next: the Green Card and the rules course
According to the Federation's guide (version 1.7, January 2023), a new member becomes NA (Not Qualified) and may use only the clubhouse and the practice area. When the club considers the player ready, the Handicap Committee or a professional issues the Green Card: from that moment you may go out on your own on the course. Only after the rules course, which is free for Green Card holders and is held at any club, do you obtain the Handicap Index 54. It is worth checking the Federation's website to see whether the procedures have changed since 2023.
Beginner courses and packages: club formats and prices
| Club | Format | Price | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesino | beginner fee (plus €10 membership card) | €100 | 2026 |
| Ugolino | beginners' course, eight half-hours | €170 | 2026 |
| Saluzzo | "Prova il Golf" (Try Golf): five 30-minute lessons and two months of practice area | €150 | not stated |
| Conero | 4-hour basic course, clubs and balls provided | €100 | not stated |
| Terme di Galzignano | daily lessons by appointment, 9 am to 7 pm, equipment for beginners | not stated | not stated |
Conero also offers an 8-hour introductory course at 200 euros, plus one hour on the rules. Other clubs have longer trial offers: Casalunga, near Bologna, offers two months of free practice area and club hire to those who have never played, with lessons to be arranged with the professionals.
Learning at a hotel: two examples
The Parkhotel Marlena, in Marlengo, sells "Handicap in 5 Days": four days, ten hours of one-to-one tuition at Golf Club Lana, green fee and club hire included, and the federal exam for the handicap. For anyone starting from zero it works as a shortcut; the price should be requested from the hotel. At Il Picciolo Etna Golf Resort, in Sicily, the course's green fee is reserved for those with a handicap or the Green Card, but beginners can take lessons with the professionals and use the practice area; according to the hotel, a full set of equipment is lent to beginners.
Where to start: short courses
The 18-hole round comes later. To begin with, there are courses designed for training the short game: Break Point is a 6-hole pitch & putt (par 18, 546 metres) with a floodlit driving range; the Modena Golf & Country Club has an Executive course of nine par 3s, 976 metres, which the club describes as a real course for letting beginners play.
Frequently asked questions
Can I learn to play golf in a week's holiday?+
You can get started and take your first lessons; to play on your own in Italy you then need the Green Card and, for a first handicap, the rules course.
How much does it cost to try golf in Italy?+
The Federation's GOLFPOP Card costs 20 euros and includes a lesson, FIG membership and insurance. At the clubs, beginner packages range from 100 to 170 euros.
Do I need to bring my own clubs?+
Not with the GOLFPOP Card: according to the programme, equipment is provided. Some clubs lend it to beginners, such as Il Picciolo and Terme di Galzignano.
What is the Green Card?+
It is the certificate that authorises a qualified player (GA) to go out on the course alone; it is issued by the Handicap Committee or a qualified professional.
How long does a golf lesson last?+
It depends on the club: from 30-minute or one-hour lessons to four-hour courses.
Can I get a handicap during my holiday?+
The Parkhotel Marlena sells a four-day package with ten hours of tuition and the federal exam. Check the terms with the hotel.
