On Friday 29 September 2023, after the opening session, Europe led 4-0, something that had never happened in Ryder Cup history. The course where it unfolded, in Guidonia, is a fifteenth-century castle with a par 72 around it.
The Marco Simone Golf & Country Club is a golf course with a castle in the middle of its fairways. In Guidonia, on the edge of Rome, the estate takes its name from a fortress that passed in 1457 to Simone dei Tebaldi and his son Marco. Five and a half centuries later, in autumn 2023, it hosted the Ryder Cup: Europe 16.5, United States 11.5, Europe's first home victory since 1993.
This profile describes the course as it is today, what changed for 2023 and how to play it as a guest, with the 2026 prices published by the club.
The 2023 Ryder Cup: the facts
The match was played from 29 September to 1 October 2023, with Luke Donald as European captain and Zach Johnson as captain of the United States. Europe ended the first day ahead 6.5 to 1.5, according to Wikipedia. The decisive point came in the singles: Tommy Fleetwood, winning the 16th against Rickie Fowler, went dormie two up, securing the half point Europe needed.
For the Ryder Cup the course was played as a par 71; the club, in everyday use, presents it as a par 72. The closing three holes entered the story of the tournament: the 16th is a 352-yard par 4, the 17th a 206-yard par 3, the 18th a 626-yard par 5, according to Wikipedia.
The course: from Jim Fazio to Tom Fazio II
The original design, opened in 1989, is by Jim Fazio. For the Ryder Cup it was completely renovated by Tom Fazio II and European Golf Design. The result is a par 72 with four par 3s, ten par 4s and four par 5s, measuring 6,674 to 7,299 metres depending on the tees, with four tees for men and three for women.
The philosophy of the design can be read in the terrain. The club speaks of lakes and amphitheatre-style contours, designed to let spectators see the holes, and states a capacity of 50,000 visitors a day. From several points on the course you can see the dome of St Peter's, about 17 kilometres away in Rome. Within the estate stand the castle and the remains of a second-century Roman villa.
The castle: from the Tebaldi to Laura Biagiotti
The history of the estate, as reconstructed by the club, is a long one. In 1457 the property passed to Simone dei Tebaldi and his son Marco; from 1545 Cardinal Federico Cesi renovated it and turned it into Castel Cesi; in 1678 it passed to the Borghese family; at the end of the nineteenth century to the Brancaccio. After being abandoned in the years following the Second World War, it was restored by the fashion designer Laura Biagiotti together with the heritage authority (Soprintendenza).
After the Ryder Cup: the Italian Open
The course hosted the Italian Open in 1994 and then in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions, the last of them won by Adrian Meronk, according to Wikipedia. It therefore remains a venue for top-level golf even without the Ryder Cup.
Playing Marco Simone as a guest
The club has a guest tariff and tee times are booked online. In 2026 the 18-hole green fee on the Ryder Cup course is €195 in low season (January, February, July, August and from 3 November to December) and €270 in high season (April, May, June, September and October up to 2 November), the same on weekdays and weekends. Nine holes cost €135; in high season, after 2:30 pm, the afternoon rate is €180.
The club is closed on 1 January and 25 December, and in 2026 green coring is scheduled from 23 to 27 June. No handicap limit is stated on the website: ask the club office.
Besides the course there are a driving range, the academy, a gym, a spa, a swimming pool and the On The Green restaurant, serving Italian cuisine. The club offers stay and play packages with the Rome Cavalieri and Savoy hotels.
Where to play in Rome beyond Marco Simone
Anyone wanting to compare the Ryder Cup course with other golf in Rome has plenty of choice. The Circolo del Golf Roma Acquasanta presents itself as the oldest in Italy, with the links of the Torlonia princes ratified in 1903. Olgiata has hosted two World Cups and three Italian Opens. Parco di Roma is an 18-hole par 72 by PB Dye, opened in 1999.
Curiosities
- A castle with four names. Tebaldi, Cesi, Borghese and Brancaccio: the owners the club remembers.
- Fifty thousand a day. The declared spectator capacity for the Ryder Cup.
- St Peter's from the fairway. The dome is visible from the estate, about 17 kilometres away.
- Four-nil. Europe finished the first session 4-0 ahead, something unprecedented in the Ryder Cup, according to Wikipedia.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2023 Ryder Cup?+
Europe, 16.5 to 11.5 against the United States, at Marco Simone in Guidonia. It was Europe's first home victory since 1993.
Is Marco Simone open to guests?+
Yes, the club has a guest tariff and bookings are made online. The website states no handicap limit, so it is best to ask the club office.
How much does it cost to play Marco Simone?+
On the 2026 tariff the 18-hole green fee is €195 in low season and €270 in high season. Nine holes cost €135.
How long is the course?+
From 6,674 to 7,299 metres depending on the tees, as a par 72 in the club's own usage.
Who designed the course?+
The original design is by Jim Fazio; for the 2023 Ryder Cup it was renovated by Tom Fazio II and European Golf Design.
Can you see St Peter's from the course?+
Yes, from several points on the course the dome is visible, according to the club.
When is Marco Simone closed?+
On 1 January and 25 December; in 2026 green coring runs from 23 to 27 June.
