Given the wide variety of Italian golf courses, all hosted in historic and/or scenic locations the selection was not easy, but here is our selection of the Top 10 Italian courses based on the following criteria:
Designed by Robert von Hagge and inaugurated in 1997, the Bogogno Gold course consists of two 18-hole par-72 courses: "Del Conte" and "Bonora".
The design of the "Del Conte" is typical of a "links" course with wide open spaces and various rather flat areas, large lakes and wild rough, while the outskirts are framed by the peaks of the Monte Rosa mountain chain.
The "Bonora" reminds that of a "parkland course" spread over a vast hilly area surrounded by the local, streams and woods that are typical of the Ticino Nature Park.
Castelconturbia Golf Club
Agrate Conturbia, Piemonte (Architect: Robert Trent Jones)
The original golf course, called the Coutourbier, was inaugurated in 1898 and it was, at that time, one of the two only golf courses that existed in Italy. By the mid 80s the overall golf club had been refurbished for the third time and re-opened to the public with a renewed course design by Robert Trent Jones sr.
It now offers a very challenging experience for the players who have to cross rivers, small lakes and imposing trees in a magnificent scenery on the Monte Rosa (Western Alps).
The Italian open was played here twice (in 1991 and 1998).
Castelgandolfo Country Club
Castel gandolfo, Lazio (Architect: Robert Trent Jones sr)
The Clubhouse of the Castelgandolfo Golf Club is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe. It is an ancient house of the 1600s belonging to a famous Roman cardinal, Flavio Chigi (nephew of Pope Alessandro VIII). The "terrazzo" of the Club house overlooks the whole course with a wonderful scenery over the valley of Rome that reaches to the shore.
The course - par 72 - is quite challenging thanks to the different obstacles created by Trent Jones sr. and requires a specific technical mastery with the mid and long irons.
Gardagolf Country Club
Soriano del Lago, Lombardia (Architect: Donald Steel)
This course is considered by the golf professionals as one of the most challenging of the courses having been designed in Italy in the last 15 years. It is located in a wonderful area, near the Garda Lake, just between the "Rocca di Manerba" and the castle of "Soiano" surrounded by a beautiful natural landscape created by the hills of "Valtenesi".
The Italian Open was played here twice (in 1997 and 2003) and the course also hosted the first Feminine Italian Open of Italy.
Golf Le Querce
Sutri, Viterbo (Architect: George and Jim Fazio)
Situated across a scenic valley at the north of Rome, the Le Querce Golf Course has been consistently ranked as one of the ten most precious and challenging golf courses of Italy. Hole 1 (595 yards and par 5) is not only the most difficult hole on this golf course, but is also considered one of Europe's 50 toughest golf holes.
The Robinie Golf Club
Olona, Lombardia (Architect: Jack Nicklaus)
This course - par 72 - is the only one in Italy that was designed by the "Golden Bear" Jack Nicklaus. It is a masterpiece in terms of green difficulties; bunkers, water obstacles and natural slopes form a formidable protection for the holes. A beautiful particularity of this course is the fact that nearly all the holes are designed in the shape of an amphitheater which enables the player to see all the different obstacles very clearly (even if it is very difficult to overcome them...)
Royal Park
An ancient hunting reservation surrounded by a mature forest and with the Alp chain in the background gave the club it's name. - the Club's morphological structure is in perfect harmony with its natural context.
The original course laid out by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1971, was extended with the addition of 18 new holes by architect Michael Hurdzan.
Villa d'Este Golf Club
Como, Lombardia (Architect: Peter Gannon)
Founded in 1926 in one of the most attractive areas of Italy in the neighborhood of the Lake Como, this course has always been considered as one of the most prestigious of Italy. This short, but difficult par 69 has been played by King Leopold of Belgium, Edward of England, Alfonso XIII of Spain, Costantino of Greece, among others. Additionally, the club hosts one of the most elegant and beautiful hotels of Italy, Villa d'Este.
Best Golf Courses in Italy (Top 10 Italian Golf Courses) in alphabetical order
The 500 World's Greatest Golf Holes
by George Peper (Editor),
Editors of Golf Magazine,
The Editors of GOLF Magazine
The most scenic, the most challenging, the most strategic, best ocean, best mountain, best links, best Ross, best Tillinghast, the holes that have produced historic moments, and a lot more. More information:
