Luxury masserie in Apulia near golf: three towers and two alternatives

In Apulia the word “masseria” means a fortified farm: lookout towers, underground olive presses, chapels and stables with star-shaped vaults. When one of these houses becomes a luxury hotel, golf is a late idea, but in Fasano it has found room: an 18-hole course by the sea, a nine-hole course among the olive trees and three masserie of very different character.

Three masserie and two alternatives

There are three true masserie, all in Fasano: Masseria San Domenico, Torre Coccaro and Torre Maizza. Beside them are two alternatives that are not masserie but solve the same problem, sleeping well and playing golf: Borgo Egnazia, a village built in 2010, and Posia, a luxury five-star in Salento.

Masseria San Domenico: the tower of the Knights of Malta

The core is a 15th-century lookout tower of the Knights of Malta, enlarged until the 18th century and restored as a hotel in 1996. It has 40 rooms and suites, accepts only guests aged 14 and over and, according to the Michelin Guide, closes from November to February; in August a minimum stay of seven nights applies. The spa is based on thalassotherapy, with programmes of one or three days and olive-oil rituals; the main pool is brackish water, set among natural rocks.

San Domenico Golf belongs to the same owner. It is a par 72 of more than 6,300 metres, designed by Andy Haggar with the shaper Brian L. Jorgensen, with the sea visible from every hole and a maestrale wind that, according to the club, is an ally or an adversary depending on the hole. It has hosted the Grand Final of the European Challenge Tour. In 2026 the 18-hole green fee for hotel guests, with the San Domenico Hotels agreement, runs from 65 to 105 euros instead of 95-150. An EGA handicap of up to 36 is required. The Play & Stay package combines three nights, three dinners, two green fees and a golf cart for two days, in spring, from 7 April to 31 May, and in October; from 8 October to 10 November 2026 a four-nights-for-the-price-of-three offer also applies.

Torre Coccaro: the Muolo family's masseria and the nine-hole course

Torre Coccaro began as a fortified farmhouse in the 16th century: the whitewashed tower was part of the defence line against Saracen raids; the chapel dates from 1730. Ownership and management belong to the Muolo family. The Michelin Guide has awarded it one Key. The Egnathia restaurant occupies the old stables with star-shaped vaults and the Aveda spa is carved into natural caves.

The home course, 400 metres away, is the Coccaro Golf Club: nine executive holes, par 27, of about 1,150 metres, among olive and almond trees, water hazards and sea views. The almond trees blossom in March. It is designed for the short game; for a championship round the hotel points to San Domenico Golf, 1 km away, noting that the club accepts outside players only at certain times. It is a masseria for families: in summer there is a kids' club, a playground with water slides, a cookery school and a riding centre.

Torre Maizza: Rocco Forte and the same nine-hole course

Torre Maizza began in the 16th century as a lookout tower; Rocco Forte Hotels opened it as a hotel in 2019, with interiors by Olga Polizzi. It has 51 accommodations, and the Michelin Guide has awarded it two Keys. The Carosello restaurant, in the old stables, has a menu by Fulvio Pierangelini; the Irene Forte Spa occupies a restored olive press. The sea is at Lido Bambù, reached by shuttle. According to the hotel, Brindisi is about 40 minutes away and Bari 50.

The nine-hole executive par 27 course of 1,150 metres is inside the estate, with a driving range and putting green, and some rooms look onto the course. The hotel admits that it is a short layout, suited to working on irons and the short game around the green. It is the same course that Torre Coccaro promotes under the name Coccaro Golf Club.

Borgo Egnazia and Posia: two alternatives

Borgo Egnazia, in Fasano, has 184 rooms and was chosen in June 2024 as the venue of the G7 summit. From the clubhouse of San Domenico Golf the rooftops of the village can be seen; the club lists Borgo Egnazia among its partner hotels, but the hotel does not publish golf packages. At Due Camini, chef Domingo Schingaro held a Michelin star every year from 2019 to 2024.

Posia, on the seafront at San Foca, has 23 rooms. Its reference course is the Acaya Golf Club, 15 minutes away, designed by Hurdzan/Fry: a par 71 of 6,192 metres, the first course in southern Italy with 5 BVGA stars. The reception books the tee time and arranges the transfer.

When to go

The windows indicated by Masseria San Domenico for golf are spring, from 7 April to 31 May, and October; the 2026 price list of San Domenico Golf runs from 95 euros in low season to 150 in August. The same masseria closes from November to February, while Torre Coccaro also offers a New Year package: for other dates it is best to ask the hotels.

Curiosities

• The first “masseria”. According to the Michelin Guide, when the Melpignano family turned one into a hotel, it was the first time the word had been used for an accommodation property.
• Golf with an archaeological view. From San Domenico the ruins of ancient Egnathia can be seen.
• Almond trees in bloom. In March those on the Coccaro course flower, with a small lake in play at holes 2 and 8.
• Shooting stars. At Torre Maizza stargazing evenings are organised with experts from the PASCAL observatory in Bari.