At Arzaga, under the local rules, a wall and a toilet block are integral parts of the course: if the ball ends up against them, there is no free drop. In the Valtenesi hills above Lake Garda, two famous names designed 27 holes at the foot of a fifteenth-century villa.
Golfers usually read a course's local rules for the out-of-bounds. At Arzaga, in the Valtenesi hills, there is a detail between the lines that raises a smile: the wall behind the 7th green of the Gary Player course and the toilet block behind the 15th green of the Nicklaus course are treated as integral objects of the course, so there is no free drop if the ball finishes against them.
A 1998 course around a fifteenth-century villa
The Golf Club Arzaga stands in Calvagese della Riviera, in the province of Brescia, on an estate of 144 hectares. According to the Nicklaus Design website, the course opened in 1998. At the centre of the estate is Villa Arzaga, a fifteenth-century Renaissance residence, built as a monastery according to the same profile, and now home to the hotel.
There are two signatures. Jack Nicklaus II, son of the great Jack, designed the 18 holes of the main course; Gary Player designed the nine-hole course. In all, there are 27 holes.
The Jack Nicklaus II course: 18 holes, American style
The main course is a par 72, described by the club as an American-style layout with wide fairways. The character of a course like this is not always measured by its hazards. The 16th shows it: it is the number one handicap hole, but only because of its length, as it has no notable traps. The 10th is livelier, a gentle dogleg with a water hazard running along much of the left side.
The hole the club puts in the shop window is the 18th: a par 4 with a double water hazard and a tee facing the clubhouse. According to the club, it is spectacular in the afternoon with the sun behind you.
Gary Player's nine: cedars, crater bunkers and the lake
The Gary Player nine-hole course, par 36, follows the undulations of the Valtenesi. You start from the top, in a wood of centuries-old cedars, and the greens are defended by round bunkers that the club describes as "sometimes as deep as craters". The 4th is an almost straight par 5, the toughest of the nine. The 6th is the par 3 over the lake: the green sits on a peninsula stretching out into the water. The 9th is an uphill par 3 towards the Palazzo Arzaga and the church of San Martino.
The Gary Player is also the option for anyone who wants a short round: those without time for 18 holes still get a complete course.
What it costs to play and how to book
Tee times are requested through the club's online form. The 2026 price list distinguishes two seasons:
| Period | 18 holes weekday | 18 holes weekend |
|---|---|---|
| Low season (1 January-15 March, 9 November-end of year) | €65 | €80 |
| High season (16 March-8 November) | €110 | €130 |
Nine holes range from €40 to €70. For rentals: golf buggy €60 for 18 holes (€40 for nine), electric trolley €25, manual trolley €5, premium bag €55. Parking on site is included in the green fee, subject to availability. Frequent visitors can buy a multi-round card: ten rounds of 18 holes on weekdays cost €880, twenty cost €1,550. The club also sells Stay & Play packages of 3, 5 or 7 nights, with accommodation in the apartments of Borgo Drugolo. The price list covers every month: according to the club, the microclimate is mild in every season.
The academy, the practice ground and the competitions
The club calls its practice ground "the most complete in Italy": that is its own description. An academy runs individual and group lessons for adults, and on Tuesdays the Arzaga Tuesday is played, an 18-hole competition with a leaderboard.
Where to stay: the QC Grand Hotel Villa Arzaga
Next to the course, in the fifteenth-century villa, stands the QC Grand Hotel Villa Arzaga, a five-star hotel with a spa run by the QC Terme group. The spa has 7 pools, 12 relaxation rooms and 17 experiences. One clarification matters: the hotel and the club are managed separately, so green fee and room are booked separately, and the club's Stay & Play packages include accommodation at Borgo Drugolo.
Other nearby courses on Garda
For comparison, on the lake there are GardaGolf in Soiano del Lago, 27 holes that have hosted three Italian Opens, and Chervò San Vigilio, 36 holes around a twelfth-century Benedictine abbey, venue of the 2020 Italian Open.
Trivia
- A wall in play. The wall behind the 7th green of the Gary Player is an integral object.
- A toilet block in play. The same goes for the toilet block behind the 15th green of the Nicklaus.
- The hardest without traps. The 16th of the Nicklaus II is handicap 1 only because of its length.
- Two monuments from the tee. From the 9th of the Gary Player you play towards the Palazzo Arzaga and the church of San Martino.
- Sirens on the course. One long blast stops play, two short repeated ones restart it.
Frequently asked questions
Who designed Golf Club Arzaga?+
Jack Nicklaus II designed the 18-hole, par 72 course; Gary Player the nine-hole, par 36 course. In all there are 27 holes.
How much is the green fee at Arzaga?+
Under the 2026 price list, 18 holes on weekdays cost €65 in low season and €110 in high season; at weekends €80 and €130.
Is Arzaga open in winter?+
Yes, the price list provides for a low season from 1 January to 15 March and from 9 November to 31 December, with lower green fees.
When did Golf Club Arzaga open?+
In 1998, according to the Nicklaus Design website.
Can I stay at Villa Arzaga and play the course?+
Yes, but the hotel and the club are run by different companies and are booked separately. The club offers Stay & Play in the apartments of Borgo Drugolo.
What happens if the ball hits the wall or the toilet block?+
They are integral objects under the local rules: there is no entitlement to a free drop.
