At the 14th at Is Molas the green is almost surrounded by water and traces the outline of the African continent. For Baldovino Dassù, who won the first Italian Open played here in 1976, the advice is to fly over Cape Town.
The first Italian Open played at Is Molas, in 1976, was won by Baldovino Dassù. Fifty years later he is the one walking visitors round the course hole by hole on the resort's website, with a tip for the 14th: send the ball over Cape Town, because west of Nigeria you need, he writes, "the precision of a watchmaker".
The Circolo Golf Is Molas is the championship course of southern Sardinia: opened in 1975, it has 27 holes and has hosted four Italian Opens. Here you will find the layout, the holes worth remembering, the 2026 prices and two places to stay nearby.
The championship course: 6,383 metres of water, bunkers and sea
The main 18 holes, made up of the White and Red courses, measure 6,383 metres at par 72. They were laid out by Cotton, Pennink & Partners on a design by Piero Mancinelli; a year after opening they were already staging the first Italian Open. The nine-hole Yellow course completes the complex.
The rest is water and hazards, and the resort's website describes it with a guide signed by Dassù.
The holes to remember: from the 5th to the green shaped like Africa
- The 5th is, for Dassù, probably the most punishing hole: stroke index 1, scrub on both sides, out of bounds on the left, a lake, a deep bunker and a lone tree guarding a "canyon" with a hidden stream.
- The 9th calls for the driver: 230 metres from the tee there is a lake, and the second shot has to carry 70 metres of water to reach a two-tier green.
- The 10th is a par 3 over the lake, with two horseshoe bunkers.
- The 13th is the "road hole": the fairway narrows to a little over 25 metres between the Sahara bunker and a small pond.
- The 14th has a green almost entirely surrounded by water, shaped like the African continent.
- The 15th, the "wall hole", is the longest par 5: out of bounds begins beyond a dry-stone wall.
- The 16th has to reckon with the "Beardies" of Is Molas.
Four Italian Opens and a course that keeps changing
Is Molas has hosted four Italian Opens, starting in 1976. The course does not stand still: the nine-hole Yellow course has been reseeded with Bermuda grass, which copes better with heat, and has been playable again since 31 December 2025. The irrigation system is also being replaced, with 18 holes already completed, to cut water use by at least 30%.
Playing Is Molas as a guest: 2026 price list
Tee times are booked online. The 2026 price list for 18 holes on weekdays runs from 80 euros in low season (7 January to 31 March, and November) to 90 in mid season, 110 in high season and 135 in August; at weekends it is 95 to 135 euros.
| Item, 2026 | Price |
|---|---|
| 9 holes | 50 to 70 euros |
| Juniors under 18, 18 holes on weekdays | 40 euros |
| Rental clubs, 18 holes | 50 euros |
| Golf buggy | 50 to 60 euros |
| Electric trolley | 20 to 25 euros per day |
| Practice range | 15 euros (25 with equipment) |
Anyone short of time can book the back nine of the Red course directly, subject to availability. The club publishes its rates for every month of the year, and the resort speaks of days in December and January that often top 15 degrees.
The Is Molas Golf Academy works with TrackMan and video analysis, and offers individual lessons, clinics and a Golf Camp for juniors. After your round you eat at the 19 Bistrot, which looks out over both the course and the sea.
Where to stay: Is Molas Resort and Forte Village
On the course stands the Is Molas Resort, with 72 fully renovated rooms: those with a sea view look over the Gulf of Nora. The beach club on the bay of Porto Agumu has 20 places on the beach and is linked by a frequent shuttle from June to September; an airport transfer from Cagliari can be booked on request. The unlimited golf packages of 3, 5 or 7 nights run from April to October, excluding July and August.
In Pula there is also the Forte Village, Villa del Parco & Spa. The resort has no course of its own: according to the hotel, its golf is Is Molas, a short drive away, and reception takes care of tee times, transfers, clubs and buggies. Access to golf is reserved, the resort says, for guests of the five- and four-star hotels and the villas.
More golf in Sardinia
For a second course on the island, in the north there is the Pevero by Robert Trent Jones, on the Costa Smeralda. In San Teodoro the Puntaldia has nine holes, and in Villasimius the Tanka has 18 holes at par 70 with views over the Capo Carbonara marine protected area.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the green fee at Is Molas?+
On the 2026 price list, 18 holes on weekdays cost from 80 euros in low season to 135 in August; at weekends from 95 to 135 euros.
How many holes does the Circolo Golf Is Molas have?+
Twenty-seven: the 18-hole championship course, par 72 and 6,383 metres, and the nine-hole Yellow course.
Is Is Molas open in winter?+
Yes, the club publishes green fees for every month; low season runs from 7 January to 31 March and includes November.
Why is the 14th hole famous?+
Because the green, almost surrounded by water, has the shape of the African continent. Dassù advises flying over Cape Town, where the green is widest.
How many Italian Opens have been played at Is Molas?+
Four; the first, in 1976, was won by Baldovino Dassù.
Can golf buggies and clubs be hired?+
Yes: a set of clubs costs 50 euros for 18 holes, a golf buggy 50 to 60 and an electric trolley 20 to 25 euros per day (2026 price list).
