Between 35 and 105 euros: that is the gap, in the price lists published by the clubs, between an 18-hole round at Colombera on a weekday and one at Franciacorta Golf Club on a high-season weekend. Four courses compared between Brescia and Bergamo, with the choice based on the kind of day you want.
Franciacorta is famous for its wine, but anyone travelling with a golf bag faces a practical question: which course? Here are four very different addresses, in number of holes, price and purpose: two in Franciacorta or on its edge, two on the fringes, towards Brescia and Bergamo. The right question is who each course is for.
The four courses at a glance
| Franciacorta Golf Club | Colombera | Rossera | Bresciagolf | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Corte Franca | Castrezzato | Chiuduno (Bergamo) | Brescia |
| Holes | 27 (three nines) | 12 (plus executive) | 9 | 3 par 3s |
| Founded | club 1984, course 1986 | not stated | 1972 | 1989 |
| 18-hole green fee | 60-105 euros (undated price list) | 35 or 50 euros (“Tariffe 2027” price list) | not published | not published |
| Stated opening | every day, 8-18 | all year | ask the club | every day, 8-20 |
Franciacorta Golf Club: the 27-hole course
Franciacorta Golf Club is the benchmark course of the area, in Corte Franca. It was designed by Pete Dye and Marco Croze and the club opened it in July 1986; it is played as three nines: Brut (par 36, 3,072 metres), Satèn (par 36, 3,071) and Rosé (par 34, 2,765), completed in 2009. That makes 27 holes, so you can play different rounds without repeating the same layout.
The published price list does not state the year. In low season (1 November-28 February) 18 holes cost 60 euros on weekdays and 85 at weekends; in high season (1 March-31 October) 80 and 105. Nine holes cost 35 to 55 euros; there is also an all-day option from 70 to 120. Golf cart 50 euros for 18 holes, trolley 5, practice range 10. Handicap requirements and booking rules should be asked of the office: +39 030 984167.
Who it suits: anyone who wants the real thing, with 27 holes and a signature design, and can afford the highest price in the area.
Colombera: twelve holes and the lowest price
At Castrezzato, on the edge of Franciacorta, Colombera is a twelve-hole course designed by Fulvio Bani over about 30 flat hectares, with small lakes and fruit trees. The Rosa course has nine holes (par 33, 2,376 metres) and the Verde three executive holes; they can be combined to play 9, 12 or 18 holes.
According to the club's published price list, titled “Tariffe 2027”, 18 holes cost 35 euros on weekdays and 50 on public holidays; 12 holes 32 and 45; 9 holes 30 and 40. Golf cart 25 euros for 9 or 12 holes and 35 for 18, trolley 5, practice range access 10. The club quotes 20 minutes from Brescia, 30 from Bergamo and 40 from Milan thanks to the A4 and BreBeMi motorways. Handicap requirements and closing day are not published: telephone 389 6276236.
Who it suits: a relaxed round without spending much, or 9 or 12 holes when time is short.
Rossera: nine holes with Donizetti's operas
Golf Club Rossera is a hilly nine-hole course, founded in 1972 at Chiuduno, about 15 kilometres from Bergamo, 35 from Brescia and 65 from Milan. The club calls it the twenty-first course built in Italy. Its distinctive feature is the Donizetti Course: each hole bears the title of an opera by the Bergamo composer, from Lucia di Lammermoor on the first to Anna Bolena on the ninth.
Price list, hours and closing day must be requested from the club: it is best to call +39 035 838600 before setting out.
Who it suits: anyone looking for a nine-hole course with a distinct character who does not mind making a phone call first.
Bresciagolf: practising in the city
Bresciagolf Country Club is not an 18-hole course: it has three par-3 holes with a small lake and a driving range with 22 bays, ten of them covered and fitted with Top Tracer. It is open every day from 8 to 20 and the club states that the range, putting green and chipping green are floodlit. The club does not publish a green fee list: telephone 030 2006981.
Who it suits: a practice session, a trial lesson or a rainy day when there is no long round to play.
How to choose in three questions
- Do you want a real 18 holes? Franciacorta Golf Club, or Colombera by combining the courses.
- Does budget matter? Colombera has the lowest price list among those published.
- Are you after something distinctive? Rossera for the Donizetti Course, Franciacorta Golf Club for the three nines named after the local wines.
Where to stay: L'Albereta
For a bed there is L'Albereta, in Erbusco: 53 rooms and suites, a spa and, according to the hotel, first place in the list of partner hotels of Franciacorta Golf Club. It has no course of its own and publishes no golf packages: golf is booked with the club. The hotel notes that nine courses lie within a 100-kilometre radius.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the biggest golf course in Franciacorta?+
Franciacorta Golf Club in Corte Franca, with 27 holes divided into three nines: Brut, Satèn and Rosé.
Which is the cheapest course?+
Among the published price lists, Colombera: 18 holes cost 35 euros on weekdays and 50 on public holidays, according to the club's price list.
How much does it cost to play at Franciacorta Golf Club?+
The published price list, undated, gives 60 euros on weekdays and 85 at weekends in low season, 80 and 105 in high season, for 18 holes.
Can you play 18 holes at Colombera?+
Yes: the course has 12 holes, but by combining the Rosa course and the three executive holes of the Verde you can play 9, 12 or 18 holes, according to the club.
Which course suits someone short of time?+
Bresciagolf, with three par 3s and a driving range open from 8 to 20; or Colombera with its 9- or 12-hole options.
When is Rossera open?+
Hours and closing day must be confirmed with the club: it is best to call +39 035 838600 before setting out.
