If you are looking for the best golf courses in Italy, you’ve come to the right place. The country is home to some of Europe’s most famous championship courses, including La Marchesa and Villa d’Este. Then, there’s the Circolo Golf Ugolino.
La Marchesa
The course offers a challenging, scenic landscape while also providing excellent golfing facilities. The layout is a mixture of open space and rolling countryside. It was designed by Jim Fazio and David Mezzacane and was the site of the 1994 Italian Open. A few years later, European Golf Design revamped the course to make it even more challenging. The course has a lake at the centre and is surrounded by pine and Ash trees.
The East course starts with a clockwise loop, starting with a long hole that plays over water with the sea as a backdrop. The 18-hole course ends with a short par three. The course has a few dramatic moments, but is fun to play, as well.
Villa d’Este
Circolo Golf Villa d’Este, a 1926 course, is located in a wooded area. The Pini, Castani, and betulle contribute to the natural beauty of the course. The setting is an angolo of a paradise.
The layout of Villa d’Este is a mix of short, tough, and long holes. There are plenty of par fours here to challenge any player. The course is short, only 6,300 yards, but offers a lot of variety. It challenges your brain as well as your dexterity, with narrow corridors between trees and small, sloping greens. The course is not for beginners, though – it is considered one of the best in Italy by many golfers.
The course was designed by RTJ Snr. The golf course features six long par threes and several short par fours. The 18th hole is particularly beautiful, playing to a green beneath the clubhouse.
Tolcanasco
The Tolcanasco Golf Club was opened in 1993 and is located near the city of Milan. It has a total area of 110 acres, including three championship golf courses and a nine-hole executive course. The course is also famous for hosting the Italian Open five times between 2004 and 2008. The courses are both challenging and beautiful.
The East course starts with a clockwise loop that leads down to the southern-east corner. The sixth hole features a dog-leg over water with the sea as a backdrop. The course continues along the sea for the final hole, a shortish par 3. The course has a lot of dramatic moments, but it’s also a lot of fun to play.
Circolo Golf Ugolino
The Ugolino Golf Course is a world-renowned course in Tuscany. It was established in the 1930s on the scenic Via Chiantigiana between Florence and Siena. The course has a rich history and features a course clubhouse that is protected by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage. It has been extended several times over the years and is one of the best courses in Central Italy.
In 1989, the course hosted the Italian Open. It has been nominated for the Italian Golf Hall of Fame. It also has a good reputation for maintaining its greens.
Olgiata
One of the most interesting golf courses in Italy is the Olgiata Golf Club. This course is situated near the ancient Etruscan city of Veio, and it offers two distinct routes: the West Course (with 18 holes) and the East Course (with nine holes). The original design of the Olgiata Golf Club is by English architect C. Kenneth Cotton, and it was later redesigned by Jim Fazio in 1996. The Olgiata Golf Club has hosted several important international tournaments, including the Eisenhower Trophy and the World Cup. The course has also hosted the European Tour’s Italian Open twice, with Ian Poulter winning the latter in 2006. This course was also home to the Challenge Tour’s Roma Open in 2009.
One of the oldest courses in Italy, Olgiata was designed by C. K. Cotton in the 1960s, and is located in Rome. It once housed a stud farm, where world-class thoroughbreds were raised. In fact, a horse racing track remains in the area south of the course. The course features three putting greens and a driving range.
