Twelve Italian Opens at Villa d'Este, nine at Monza, seven at Monticello, three at GardaGolf: the story of the big tournaments is almost entirely Lombard, but Italian golf stretches all the way to Sicily, and choosing where to start is the hardest part.
For a golf holiday, Italy offers a wider choice than most people expect, and that is exactly why it can feel confusing. There are courses that have hosted the Ryder Cup (the Marco Simone, in 2023), clubs founded before 1910, links courses overlooking the Mediterranean, layouts more than 1,000 metres up in the Alps and resorts where the hotel opens straight onto the first tee. The question is not whether the right course exists, but which region to start from. The answer runs through the areas, the courses worth the journey, the hotels, what it costs to play, the rules to expect and how to get there.
The areas of Italian golf: a map to help you choose
Italian golf is divided into nine areas, each with its own character.
| Area | Character | Signature courses |
|---|---|---|
| Lombard lakes | Moraine hills, historic clubs, Italian Opens | GardaGolf, Arzaga, Menaggio, Villa d'Este |
| Piedmont and Lake Maggiore | Hunting estates, views of the Alps | Royal Park I Roveri, Des Iles Borromées |
| South Tyrol and the Dolomites | Mountains, short season, hotels with spas | Petersberg, St. Vigil Seis, Passiria |
| Veneto and Friuli | Links by the lagoon, Asolo hills | Alberoni, Asolo, Albarella |
| Liguria | Riviera, open all year | Rapallo, Garlenda, Sanremo |
| Emilia-Romagna | Plains and Riviera | Cervia, Croara, Molino del Pero |
| Tuscany | Maremma, Chianti, Versilia | Argentario, Ugolino, Punta Ala |
| Rome and Lazio | Ryder Cup, Italy's oldest club | Marco Simone, Acquasanta |
| South and islands | Links by the sea, resorts | Verdura, Pevero, Is Molas, San Domenico |
Lombard lakes, the North of the great clubs
This is the area with the most history and the most courses. Here three Italian Opens were played at GardaGolf, twelve at Villa d'Este and seven at Monticello; here stands the Menaggio e Cadenabbia, Italy's second-oldest club, founded on 10 January 1907. From Verona airport the nearest Garda courses are 39 to 55 minutes away by car (estimate without traffic); for Lake Como, Malpensa is about 48 minutes from Villa d'Este, according to the hotel. The Golf Club Arzaga on Lake Garda has 27 holes and a 2026 price list from 65 to 130 euros, while the Villa d'Este on Lake Como has its own club at Montorfano, designed by Peter Gannon in 1926.
Piedmont and Lake Maggiore, parkland and views of the Alps
Royal Park I Roveri, near the Reggia di Venaria, has 36 holes: in 1971 the Agnelli family commissioned Robert Trent Jones Senior to build a course in the La Mandria hunting reserve; it has hosted four Italian Opens (2009–2012). On Lake Maggiore, the Golf des Iles Borromées, at about 600 metres above sea level, has a view that on clear days reaches Milan and four lakes.
South Tyrol and the Dolomites, mountains with a spa
Here golf is played from March/April to October/November and the hotels are built around wellness: the Andreus hotel stands on the Val Passiria course and the Quellenhof has four holes of its own. The Petersberg club, at about 1,250 metres, is according to the club the first 18-hole course in the province; at Carezza, at 1,680 metres beneath the Catinaccio, a single round can involve up to 400 metres of elevation change.
Veneto and Friuli, links and hills
The Alberoni, a links-style course between the Adriatic and the lagoon, came about, according to the club's history, after Henry Ford landed at the Hotel Excelsior on the Lido with his golf bag and found Venice had no course; Asolo has three nines of par 36 and Italy's first federal Academy (2003).
Liguria, golf that doesn't hibernate
Rapallo (1929), Garlenda, Filanda and Castellaro state that they are open all year. At Garlenda, the La Meridiana hotel can be reached on foot from the course.
Tuscany, three landscapes
The Maremma has the Argentario, host of the 2025 Italian Open; Chianti has the Ugolino, where in 1983 Ballesteros holed out from off the green; Versilia has Marco Croze's parkland course facing the Apuan Alps.
Rome and Lazio
The Marco Simone hosted the Ryder Cup of 29 September–1 October 2023: Europe beat the United States 16.5 to 11.5. The Circolo del Golf Roma Acquasanta, according to the club the oldest in Italy, began on links land leased from the Torlonia princes in 1903.
South and islands, links by the sea
Verdura in Sciacca has three courses by Kyle Phillips; the Pevero on the Costa Smeralda, 1972, is a Robert Trent Jones design; Is Molas at Pula has hosted four Italian Opens; the San Domenico at Savelletri, by Andy Haggar, has hosted the Grand Final of the European Challenge Tour.
Historic courses and the courses of the great events
If history is your criterion, this is the chronology of the main clubs, with the dates the clubs themselves state.
| Year | Club | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1903 | Acquasanta (Rome) | According to the club, the oldest in Italy |
| 1907 | Menaggio e Cadenabbia | Second oldest in Italy |
| 1912 | Bogliaco (Garda) | Describes itself as the third oldest |
| 1926 | Villa d'Este (Montorfano) | Twelve Italian Opens |
| 1928 | Golf Club Milano (Monza), Alberoni | Nine Italian Opens at Monza |
| 1934 | Ugolino (Florence) | 1983 Italian Open, Langer ahead of Ballesteros |
| 1971 | Royal Park I Roveri | Four Italian Opens |
| 1972 | Pevero (Costa Smeralda) | 1978 Italian Open |
| 1989 | Marco Simone | 2023 Ryder Cup, after its renovation |
| 2006 | Argentario | 2025 Italian Open |
Where to stay: on the course, near the course, in town
The choice of hotel changes the trip more than the course does. There are three formulas.
On the course. The hotel opens onto the fairways: Verdura Resort, with 203 rooms and three courses; the Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort, with rooms whose terraces overlook the 2025 Open course; the QC Grand Hotel Villa Arzaga, a Renaissance villa with 27 holes; Terme di Saturnia, with a course tended with thermal water; and La Meridiana, where the course is a walk away.
With playing arrangements. Many hotels have no course of their own but organise tee times: the Pevero is the reference course for Cala di Volpe, Romazzino and Pitrizza on the Costa Smeralda; Is Molas is the course of the Forte Village. In Apulia, Borgo Egnazia has the San Domenico next door, and the Masseria San Domenico, under the same ownership as the course, offers its guests rates of 65 to 105 euros against 95–150 for the public (2026).
In town. For those who alternate golf with sightseeing, the courses on the edge of Rome and Milan (Marco Simone, Parco de' Medici, Golf Club Milano) can be reached from a city hotel.
Some hotels belong to recognisable groups: Forte Village Villa del Parco, Terme di Saturnia, Grand Hotel Alassio and Royal Hotel Sanremo are members of The Leading Hotels of the World; La Meridiana and L'Albereta are Relais & Châteaux.
How much it costs to play golf in Italy
Green fees vary widely by course and season. A few reference points for 18 holes, from the 2026 price lists published by the clubs:
| Course | 18-hole green fee |
|---|---|
| Bogliaco (Garda) | €53–76 |
| Arzaga (Garda) | €65–130 |
| Is Molas (Sardinia) | €80–135 (weekdays) |
| San Domenico (Apulia) | €95–150 |
| Argentario (Tuscany) | €120–170 |
| Pevero (Costa Smeralda) | €120–180 |
| Ugolino (Florence) | €130 |
| Marco Simone (Rome) | €195–270 |
The figures say two things: the gap between courses is more than fivefold, and within the same course the season makes the difference (at the Argentario, 120 euros in low season, 170 in high season). On top of these amounts come the golf cart (generally 50–60 euros for 18 holes) and club hire. For hotel prices it is always best to check the dates on the property's own website, because nightly rates change with the season.
The rules for playing in Italy as a foreign visitor
Handicap. It depends on the club. The Pevero and Menaggio ask for a maximum handicap of 54; San Domenico and Ca' degli Ulivi for a handicap of 36; Il Picciolo sells green fees only to players with a certified handicap or a green card; Il Colombaro in Salò also accepts players without a handicap, with a rules test equivalent to EGA 54. Always bring your federation card.
Dress code. Stricter than many people expect. The Pevero bans jeans and T-shirts and asks for tailored Bermuda shorts and polo shirts with a collar; San Domenico asks for trousers, Bermuda shorts and polo shirts, with no shorts or sleeveless tops; Acquasanta has a written dress code that bans jeans and metal-spiked shoes.
Booking. Almost all clubs take bookings online or by phone. The Pevero and Menaggio use Chronogolf. At weekends and in peak months it is wise to book ahead: at the Pevero, cancellations with less than 48 hours' notice cost 100%.
A special case: private clubs. Some clubs are reserved for members or limit guests. The Golf Club Milano keeps weekends and public holidays for members and their guests; the course at Castiglion del Bosco is a private club open to hotel guests.
Four sample itineraries, with driving times
To get your bearings, here are four combinations.
A week on Lake Garda. From Arzaga to GardaGolf takes about 14 minutes, from GardaGolf to Il Colombaro about 9, and from Gardone Riviera to Bogliaco 13. You can play five courses in five days without changing hotel more than once.
Maremma and Chianti. From the Argentario to Terme di Saturnia takes about 66 minutes, from Punta Ala to Pelagone 47, from Royal Golf La Bagnaia to the Ugolino about 78. Chianti can be reached from the coast in a day, but it is better to split the trip between two bases.
Sardinia, two worlds. From the Pevero to Puntaldia it is about 68 minutes, but from the Pevero to Is Molas, in the south, about 320 kilometres: it is better to pick one area and not try to combine the two.
Sicily from coast to coast. From Verdura to Il Picciolo takes about 228 minutes (258 kilometres): a week in which the scenery changes halfway.
Getting there: airports and journey times
The hotels state their journey times from the nearest airports:
- Lake Como: Milan Malpensa 48 minutes, Linate 60, Bergamo 100 (Villa d'Este).
- Garda: Verona about 20 minutes from Lazise (Quellenhof).
- Costa Smeralda: Olbia 40 minutes (Romazzino) or 50 (Pitrizza).
- Sicily: Palermo and Trapani about 80 minutes from Verdura, Catania about 3 hours; for Il Picciolo, Catania is about 60 kilometres away.
- Apulia: Brindisi 30–40 minutes and Bari 40–50 for the hotels in Fasano.
- Maremma: Rome Fiumicino about 90 minutes from the Argentario (hotel).
- Elba: airport about 15 minutes from the Hermitage.
You will almost always need a hire car, especially in the Maremma, Sicily and Sardinia; many resorts arrange transfers.
How to build the trip: three formulas
One base, several courses. The most comfortable formula: one hotel and three or four courses within 45 minutes. Lake Garda works this way, with Arzaga, GardaGolf, Chervò and Il Colombaro no more than 36 minutes from one another.
A resort with golf on the doorstep. Verdura, Argentario, Is Molas and Terme di Saturnia are designed for people who want to play and do other things without driving.
An itinerary. A week in Sicily, from Verdura to Il Picciolo, or a route through Tuscany between the Maremma and Chianti.
When to go
The calendar depends on the area: the courses of Liguria, Lazio, coastal Tuscany and southern Sardinia are open all year; the Alpine ones open from late May to June; South Tyrol from March/April to October/November. A few examples from the clubs' websites: Villa d'Este plays from March to December, Courmayeur opens on 29 May in 2026, and the Marco Simone closes only on 1 January and 25 December. September and October are the period when most areas are open at the same time.
Italian golf curiosities
- Ryder Cup 2023. Europe–United States 16.5 to 11.5 at the Marco Simone, from 29 September to 1 October.
- The highest score. Dale Hayes won the 1978 Italian Open at the Pevero with 293 strokes, according to the club the highest winning score on the European circuit.
- A chair born in a restaurant. Vico Magistretti's "Carimate" chair came out of the clubhouse restaurant.
- A course on a volcano. Il Picciolo has tees set into Etna's lava.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time of year for a golf holiday in Italy?+
It depends on the area: the coast and the South all year, the lakes from March to December, the Alps from June to September. September and October are the months when almost every area is open.
How much does a green fee cost in Italy?+
In the 2026 price lists published by the clubs, from 53 euros (Bogliaco, low season) to 270 (Marco Simone, high season); most resort courses fall between 65 and 180.
Do you need a handicap to play in Italy?+
Almost always: limits range from 36 to 54 and some courses ask for a certified handicap. A few clubs accept players without a handicap if they pass a rules test.
Which is the oldest golf course in Italy?+
According to the club, the Acquasanta in Rome, which began on the Torlonia princes' links in 1903. The Menaggio e Cadenabbia, founded in 1907, is the second.
Where is the best place to play golf in Italy?+
It depends on what you are after: the history of the great tournaments on the lakes, links by the sea in Sardinia and Sicily, the Ryder Cup in Rome, the Dolomites in South Tyrol.
Do you need a car for a golf holiday?+
Almost always, especially in the Maremma, Sicily and Sardinia. Many resorts arrange transfers from the airports.
