So beautiful that it's almost impossible to concentrate on the game. But only almost.
1. Greece
Even the gods would have loved it
Since being named Golf Resort of the Year in 2017, Costa Navarino on the Peloponnese peninsula has become a highly sought-after destination. The rooms, suites, and bungalows are luxurious, while the infrastructure is sustainably managed and elegantly integrated into the landscape. The two associated golf courses – Dunes and Bay – are located near Kalamata. Dunes, designed by Ryder Cup winner Bernhard Langer and opened in 2010, runs along the stunning Navarino Bay; the fairways are wide, and the greens are exceptionally fast. Bay, opened in 2011 and designed by Robert Trent Jones II, is hilly with winding, fast greens.
Do you love bunkers? Then this is the course for you!
Where to start raving about it? The sea, the dolphins and turtles? The wonderfully fragrant roses? The beach restaurants like ‘Barbouni’ (an absolute must!)? Or the archaeological sites, such as the Palace of Nestor, which served as a royal residence in the 13th and 12th centuries BC?
2. Great Britain
A year's wait – but it's worth it
Founded in 1754, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, not far from Edinburgh, is the oldest golf club in the world. This venerable House of Golf sits directly on the coast and is surrounded by six 18-hole courses and one 9-hole course, all maintained with the dedication befitting a nation with a proud horticultural tradition.
If you want to play on the legendary Old Course, patience is key: waiting times can be as long as a year. However, if you register early in the morning, with a bit of luck, you might secure a last-minute cancellation. The first nine holes run from south to north, and the second nine in the opposite direction. The 18th hole crosses the famous Swilcan Bridge, which is open to visitors—what a view! Beginners may find it challenging: the fairways are often narrow, the bunkers deep (some with sod walls), the roughs dense, and the slopes treacherous. After a day on the course, you can relax in the clubhouse or enjoy the resort’s dining options. And if you’re in the mood for some online fun, check out the Crusino no deposit bonus for a risk-free start at their casino platform.
Castle, cathedral ruins, university, harbour, beaches, pubs… St Andrews is truly a crown jewel!
3. Valais
Do better than McIlroy
The Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club boasts four courses, with the 18-hole course in Crans-Montana—named after the legendary professional Severiano Ballesteros—ranking among the most beautiful in Europe. Situated 1,500 metres above sea level, it offers a unique Alpine panorama, including views of the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc from the 7th tee. Everyone who is anyone has played here. In 2019, superstar Rory McIlroy teed off at the start of the Omega European Masters final but had to concede victory to the little-known Swede Sebastian Söderberg.
Crans-Montana may retain a certain mountain village charm, but it is by no means sleepy. While nightlife has quieted due to coronavirus restrictions, first-class dining is still very much on offer. Those seeking peace and seclusion can book accommodation in the nearby hamlet of Colombire, perched at 1,850 metres. For those preferring something more elegant, the Hotel Ambassador provides a refined stay.
4. Spain
A course that swallows balls
Spain is home to many top golf courses—Finca Cortesin, PGA Catalunya, Valderrama—but the Lumine Mediterránea Beach & Golf Community stands in a class of its own. In addition to its two 18-hole courses, Hills and Lakes, and a 9-hole course, it offers a beach club, a fitness centre, and wellness facilities. As the name suggests, a buggy is recommended for Hills, which features long par-4 holes and stunning sea views. Lakes, designed by Greg Norman, is more technical, running along water hazards that seem to be teeming with golf balls. Varied and with wide fairways, the course is challenging in all the right ways. The icing on the cake is the clubhouse, serving excellent Catalan cuisine. It’s no wonder Lumine won the ‘Europe’s Best Golf Venue 2019’ award.
Beyond Salou, the popular seaside resort on the Costa Dorada, the city of Tarragona is well worth a visit. Its Roman ruins have earned it UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
5. Italy
Golf like kings and queens
Where the King of Savoy and his noble companions once went hunting, today people tee off and putt. The 3,600-hectare Parco La Mandria just outside Turin is home to the Royal Park & Country Club I Roveri. Its two 18-hole courses—one of which hosted the Italian Open in 2009—are relatively flat but dotted with water hazards and bunkers. The truly regal atmosphere, surrounded by stately beech, chestnut, and oak trees, inspires you to play in a manner befitting the sublime surroundings.
Parco La Mandria is not only a nature reserve, home to deer, foxes, owls, and other wildlife, but it also boasts a magnificent collection of over 20 listed buildings: numerous historic farmhouses, the remains of a medieval refuge, and, above all, the royal apartments in Borgo Castello, which have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.
6. France
Insider tip with first-class steak tartare
Just a two-hour drive from Geneva, in Saint-Quentin-sur-Isère, lies the Golfhotel Charmeil. Its name, almost sounding like “charming,” is perfectly fitting: the course—with 18 holes and an additional 5-hole practice area—is ideal for both beginners and near-professionals. Beautiful water features, a few tricky bunkers, fairways lined with oak trees and flower beds, and views of the Vercors and Chartreuse mountain ranges… what more could you want? Perhaps the only downside is the guaranteed exhaustion from lugging your golf bag around this flat but engaging course. Afterward, those in need of refreshment can enjoy the steak tartare at the hotel restaurant. Prices are more than fair, and the peaceful setting—despite its proximity to the motorway—makes it even more appealing.
Grenoble is nearby, of course, but the caves of the Vercors massif offer an unforgettable experience. One highlight is the huge, well-lit Grotte de Coranche.
7. Austria
The Tyrolean with tradition
Named after the neighbouring lake, the Achensee Golf Course is not only one of the most beautiful in Austria but also the oldest in Tyrol. Opened in 1934, it nestles between the lake and the Karwendel mountains and offers a number of technical challenges. Some fairways feature pronounced doglegs, the terrain runs uphill and downhill as the course winds through the valley, and the greens are tricky. Nevertheless—or perhaps because of this—the course is very popular, not least thanks to the convivial atmosphere in the clubhouse.
Take to the mountains on your bike or hit the water: thanks to ideal wind conditions for sailors and surfers, Lake Achensee is also known as the Tyrolean Sea. Prefer something more relaxing? Treat yourself to a ride on Europe’s oldest steam cog railway. Since 1889, the Achensee steam cog railway has been puffing and hissing its way up to Jenbach, 440 metres higher.
8. Germany
Spoilt for choice
The coat of arms of the Bavarian town of Bad Griesbach features a silver rock, but a golf club would not be out of place either. This town of 9,000 inhabitants boasts a total of ten golf courses: six 18-hole championship courses, three 9-hole courses, and a 6-hole children’s course. Nestled in the gently rolling landscape of “Lower Bavaria’s Tuscany” and designed in part by renowned course designers—including Bernhard Langer and Kurt Rossknecht—they are sure to bring a blissful smile to even the most discerning golfer. Are you a secret pro? Try the Beckenbauer course, which has already hosted a PGA tournament. Or the Lederbach course: hellishly exhausting!
Anything with “Bad” in its name is bound to be a spa town. The three springs developed in 1973—Nikolausquelle, Marienquelle, and Karlsquelle—reach temperatures of up to 60 °C and some emerge from depths of 1,522 metres. You can enjoy them at a handful of hotels. Our pick? The “Drei Quellen.”
9. Uri
Designed by specialists
The Andermatt golf region comprises four courses, each with its own unique characteristics and, thanks to two mountain passes, only a 30-minute drive apart. These include the three 9-hole courses in Realp (UR), Sedrun (GR), and Obergesteln (VS), as well as the 18-hole Andermatt Swiss Alps Golf Course, which opened in 2016. Nestled in spectacular natural surroundings at 1,444 metres above sea level, it was designed by German golf course architect Kurt Rossknecht, who has built over 70 courses worldwide. “The most technically challenging aspect of Andermatt was the varied soil conditions, ranging from rock to deep moorland,” says Rossknecht. If you’re lucky, you might even meet the president of the golf club in person: skiing legend Bernhard Russi.
Andermatt already impressed Goethe. Today, it has only been on the to-do list for jet-setters since Samih Sawiris chose it as the location for his luxury hotel, The Chedi, where guests are pampered to the hilt. More modest but equally charming is the boutique hotel River House in the old village centre.
10. Portugal
Perhaps the best golf course in Europe
Dream destination alert! The super-exclusive Monte Rei Golf & Country Club in the Algarve, around 50 km from Faro, has been voted the best golf destination in Europe several times. As you play, you’re treated to spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. The designer, renowned golfer Jack Nicklaus, crafted the course so that flights of golfers cannot see each other—it’s like being alone in paradise. The course is challenging, but when every hole is a gem, tackling the obstacles is part of the fun—eleven holes, for example, feature water hazards. A buggy is highly recommended, especially in summer, due to the many changes in elevation.
This clubhouse, this resort (rooms and villas), this Michelin-starred cuisine! You may not feel like leaving the grounds, though it would be a shame to miss the surrounding region, which is rich in stunning landscapes and cultural highlights. Gourmets in particular will be delighted: local specialties and wines from the Alentejo are simply irresistible.
Cold outside? Then let's play golf indoors!
Some winter destinations—Gstaad, Silvaplana, Nendaz, Crans-Montana—offer the unique experience of golf in the snow. Complete with orange balls! Here, the focus is more on enjoyment than technique.
Indoor golf is a different experience altogether: you pay your green fee in Switzerland and then work on your swing or perfect your putt on virtually simulated courses such as Pebble Beach, Abu Dhabi, St Andrews, Montrose, Alene Resort, or Valderrama—all without the risk of quarantine, long waiting times, or CO₂ emissions.
Take, for example, the indoor golf facility at Sports Zugerland in Cham, the largest indoor facility of its kind in Central Switzerland. With two simulators, a 75 m² chipping green, and a pitching green with a bunker, both experienced golfers and complete beginners will get their money’s worth. If you want expert guidance, you can book a lesson with one of the two Swiss PGA-certified golf instructors.
Fancy a change? At Sports Zugerland, you can also play tennis, badminton, billiards, or squash. After your workout, treat yourself to something delicious from the Asian buffet, the grill, or the Chäs-Stübli. These dining options are popular with non-athletes too, by the way.