Since 2006 Bogogno has been the only Italian venue for the first stage of the European tour's Qualifying School: anyone chasing a tour card comes through here. The resort has 36 holes by Robert Von Hagge, the Conte as a links and the Bonora as parkland, with 2026 rates from 90 to 135 euros.
For anyone chasing a European tour card, one of the roads runs through a resort almost on the border with Lombardy, in the Lake Maggiore district. The Bogogno Golf Resort has 36 holes designed by Robert Von Hagge and opened in 1997: two par 72 courses, almost identical in length but opposite in character. Since 2006 it has been the only Italian venue for the first stage of the Qualifying School of the European circuit, now the DP World Tour.
This profile compares the two courses, gives the 2026 rates and explains what the resort offers to visitors from afar.
How the course came about: Von Hagge's idea
The design is signed by Robert Von Hagge, with Mike Smelek and Rick Baril: the idea dates back to 1990, construction began in 1994 and the opening was in 1997. In his presentation of the course, Von Hagge explains that hazards should be read not as obstacles but as visual messages, a kind of signage that suggests the tactics for each hole.
Conte and Bonora compared
| Conte | Bonora | |
|---|---|---|
| Holes and par | 18, par 72 | 18, par 72 |
| Length from the professional tees | 6,485 metres | 6,488 metres |
| Character | links-style: open spaces, lakes, wild rough | parkland: hilly, streams and woods |
| Professional record | Anton Haig, 64 (2005) | Marcello Santi, 69 (2000) |
| Amateur record | Alessandro Nardini, 63 (2021) | Francesco Molinari, 66 (2002) |
The Conte recalls a links course: wide open spaces, flat stretches, sizeable lakes and wild rough, with the summit of Monte Rosa as a backdrop. The Bonora, by contrast, has a livelier layout across a broad hilly area, with streams and woods still intact, typical of the Ticino Park. The records are those declared by the resort.
The resort maintains the courses with a staff of eighteen; in 2011 it won the award for best course maintenance in Italy given by il Mondo del Golf.
Playing at Bogogno: 2026 rates and rentals
The 2026 price list distinguishes two seasons, with an 18-hole green fee that is valid for both courses. Rates may vary during competitions and events.
| Green fee, 18 holes, 2026 | Weekdays | Weekends and public holidays |
|---|---|---|
| High season (April, May, June, September, October) | 115 euros | 135 euros |
| Low season (March, July, August, November) | 90 euros | 110 euros |
For rent: a Club Car golf buggy 55 euros, a Jucad electric trolley 25, a manual trolley 8, a Callaway set of clubs 50 euros, with the V.I.P. Rental service renewing the equipment every six months. The office is open from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm Monday to Friday, and from 7 am to 7 pm at weekends and on public holidays: the number is 0322 864137. The resort does not state the handicap required or a closing day; the Lake Maggiore district, of which Bogogno is part, declares courses open all year round except January.
Q-School, Vagliano Trophy and recognition
Besides the Qualifying School, in 2017 the resort hosted the Vagliano Trophy, the contest between the women's selections of Great Britain and Ireland and of Continental Europe, and the Junior Vagliano Trophy. The resort cites the title of best new course of 1998, its place on the Rolex World's Top 1000 list since 2010 and in Golf Today's Italian Top Ten since 2016.
Academy, practice area and clubhouse
The Bogogno Golf Academy has been running since 2001, with coaches such as Fabian Barrio, Carlo Zaretti, Andrea and Federico Ferrario and Simone Truchet, and offers analysis with FlightScope and K-Vest. There is also a Callaway Fitting Centre for custom fitting.
The driving range has 25 grass tees in the main area and as many in the secondary one, 12 on mats and 8 covered, with unlimited balls; the short-game area measures 900 square metres and the putting green has 36 holes on 1,200 square metres. The resort also includes a hotel, a spa and a restaurant-bistro.
Fun facts
- A card for the tour. It has been the only Italian venue for the first stage of the European Q-School since 2006.
- Hazards as messages. For Von Hagge they are visual signage, not traps.
- Molinari's 66. Francesco Molinari shot 66 on the Bonora in 2002, the course's amateur record.
- 36 holes of putting. The practice putting green has as many holes as the resort.
Other courses and where to stay nearby
In this part of Lake Maggiore a weekend can be built around several courses. The Castelconturbia Golf Club has 27 holes by Robert Trent Jones Sr., hosted the Italian Open in 1991 and 1998 and has a Golf Hotel with 21 rooms. The Golf des Iles Borromées, at about 600 metres on the AltoVergante, is an 18-hole par 72 by Marco Croze with views of four lakes. The Arona Golf Club presents itself as the first nine-hole course in Piedmont, active since 1965.
Those who prefer a luxury hotel on the lake can look at Villa e Palazzo Aminta in Stresa: according to the hotel, nine golf clubs are affiliated and the concierge books green fees; the hotel does not publish golf packages or the terms of the arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
How many holes does Bogogno Golf Resort have?+
Thirty-six: the Conte course and the Bonora course, both with 18 holes and par 72, designed by Robert Von Hagge and opened in 1997.
How much is the green fee?+
In the 2026 price list, 115 euros on weekdays and 135 on public holidays in high season; 90 and 110 euros in low season. The price is valid for both courses.
What is the difference between Conte and Bonora?+
The Conte recalls a links, with open spaces and large lakes; the Bonora is a hilly parkland with streams and woods of the Ticino Park. They have the same par, 72.
Can you play at Bogogno without being a member?+
Yes, the resort publishes a 2026 green fee price list for guests, valid for both courses.
Is a handicap required to play?+
The resort does not specify it: it is best to ask the office on 0322 864137.
What is the Qualifying School?+
It is the selection through which players seek a card for the European circuit, now the DP World Tour. Since 2006 Bogogno has been the only Italian venue for the first stage.
