At Verdura the junior programme runs from ages 6 to 16, at Saturnia the green and orange tees are reserved for under-12s, and at Is Molas there is a summer camp for young players. Eight resorts where you can play golf with your children without leaving them behind.
A golf holiday with children works on one condition: there has to be something for them to do, with or without clubs. A good resort for golfing families is not the one with the most famous course, but the one where a child can learn the first shots with a coach in the morning and head to the kids club in the afternoon, while the parents finish their round.
There are two things to look for. Golf provision designed for young players: a junior programme, a camp, short tees, a practice course. And services for children away from the course: kids clubs, playgrounds, activities. Not every resort has both.
How to choose: where the difference lies
| Resort | Golf for young players | Children's services |
|---|---|---|
| Verdura (Sicily) | junior programme ages 6-16, academy with two PGA pros | Verdùland, in high season |
| Is Molas (Sardinia) | summer camp for young players | not listed by the hotel |
| Argentario (Tuscany) | clinics and golf camps for young players | Mini Club in high season |
| Quellenhof Passeier (South Tyrol) | 3-hole executive course for learners and young players | kids club and junior club |
| Torre Coccaro (Apulia) | lessons for children with the golf pros | summer mini club |
| Terme di Saturnia (Tuscany) | short tees for under-12s | Thermal Park open to children |
Verdura: the most structured junior programme
The Verdura Resort, in Sciacca, has 45 holes by Kyle Phillips (East Links, West Shore and Executive). According to the resort, the academy has two PGA professionals and a junior programme for ages 6 to 16. Off the course there is Verdùland, open in high season, which the Times named Europe's best kids club in 2023. Note the state of the courses as of 3 October 2026: the East Links is open without restrictions, the West Shore is open but being converted to Bermuda grass until spring 2027, and the Executive, the nine-hole par-3 course best suited to beginners, is closed until then. For children taking up golf, it is therefore worth asking in advance. The club is the Verdura Golf Club.
Sardinia: Is Molas and Forte Village
The Is Molas Resort, near Pula, has its own course: 27 holes, including a par 72 from 1975 that has hosted four Italian Opens, and an academy that works with TrackMan and runs a summer camp for young players. The club (Is Molas) charges players under 18 40 euros for 18 holes on weekdays. For younger children the answer is the nearby Forte Village: it has no course of its own and uses Is Molas, but it has Mario's Village (a children's club), a nursery, the U-Club for teenagers, a water park and more than thirty sports academies, from tennis to sailing. The reception desk books tee times and transfers.
Argentario and Saturnia: the two Tuscan resorts
The Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort has the course that hosted the 82nd Italian Open in June 2025. The Argentario Golf Academy, according to the resort, organises clinics and golf camps for young players. The 2026 green fee runs from 120 euros in low season to 170 between June and September; juniors pay 80 to 110 euros on the club's price list. There is an indoor and outdoor play area, a dedicated pool and, in high season, the Mini Club.
At Terme di Saturnia, the course has shorter green and orange tees reserved for under-12s, seniors and unrated players (golf club). The 20,000 m² Thermal Park is open to children.
South Tyrol: Quellenhof and Andreus in the Val Passiria
The Quellenhof Luxury Resort Passeier is the most complete alpine resort for golfing families: a founding member of Golf Club Passeier Meran, five minutes away by car, it has four holes of its own inside the resort and, beside the club's clubhouse, a 3-hole executive course designed for learners and young players (club profile). For children there are a kids club and a junior club, a water park, a 3D cinema and a climbing gym. The Family Spa welcomes children from the age of 6. Guests pay 72 euros for an 18-hole green fee instead of around 105.
The Andreus Golf & Spa Resort stands directly on the course of the Golf Club Passeier.Meran (18 holes, plus a short three-hole course, season from March to December). For children: the FINKI Island adventure park with its pirate ship, a 15-seat cinema, alpacas and a riding stable.
Apulia: Torre Coccaro
The Masseria Torre Coccaro has a nine-hole par-27 executive course of about 1,150 metres, 400 metres from the masseria, where the golf pros give lessons to beginners, experienced players and children. In summer there is a mini club all day, a playground with water slides, the cookery school and the riding stable. According to the Michelin guide, extra beds for children aged 4 to 12 cost 110 euros a night. For 18 holes the hotel recommends the San Domenico Golf, one kilometre away.
Curiosities
- A plush turtle. In every Rocco Forte hotel an animal welcomes the children: at Torre Maizza it is Olivia the turtle.
- A resort without a mini club. The Picciolo, on Etna, states that it offers no childcare services: it has family rooms for up to four people, but no club.
- Six years of sport. From 2019 to 2024 the Forte Village won the title of World's Leading Sports Academy.
Frequently asked questions
At what age can children start playing golf?+
It depends on the resort's offering. At Verdura the junior programme starts at age 6; at Saturnia the short tees are reserved for under-12s.
Which is the best resort for a family with small children?+
The Forte Village, with Mario's Village, a nursery and a water park, for the youngest; the Quellenhof Passeier, with a kids club, a junior club and a Family Spa from age 6, for those who want golf in the same place.
Are there short courses suitable for children?+
Yes: the Quellenhof's 3-hole executive course, Torre Coccaro's nine-hole par-27 executive course, and Verdura's Executive (currently closed until spring 2027).
How much do young players pay in green fees?+
It depends: at Is Molas players under 18 pay 40 euros for 18 holes on weekdays (club price list), at Argentario juniors pay 80 to 110 euros (club price list).
Are there courses where children can play with their parents?+
Yes: the Passeier.Meran has a short three-hole course next to the 18, and Saturnia provides shorter tees.
Is it a good idea to travel in summer with children?+
Summer is the season of camps and kids clubs (Is Molas in summer, Verdùland in high season, Mario's Village), but the schedules should be confirmed with the property.
