The best golf courses in Tuscany

Where to play golf from Florence to the Maremma

From Versilia to Casentino, through Chianti, and from Lunigiana to Maremma, Tuscany offers a wide choice of golf courses set in breathtaking landscapes. These courses, with their diverse challenges, attract enthusiasts from all over the world. Although golf has Scottish origins, the first real golf course in Italy was actually born in Florence in 1889, with the Florence Sporting Club, founded by a community of Englishmen who had settled in the Tuscan capital. With its mild climate and rolling hills, Tuscany is an ideal place for golf lovers. Here is a mini-guide to the best golf clubs in the region.

Florence and its surroundings:

Ugolino Golf Club
Via Chiantigiana Per Strada, 3 - Impruneta (FI)
ph. +39 055 2301009
(5672 yards, 18 holes)

Designed by architects Peter Gannon and Cecil Blandford in 1889, this is the oldest golf course in Tuscany. It is a fascinating 18-hole course, perfectly set in the rolling hills of the Via Chiantigiana, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, where the air is impregnated with the scent of maritime pines and gorse. Although not very long, the course is extremely technical: those who play it immediately notice the natural characteristics of the place. The greens, small and well defended by bunkers, along with the sloping fairways, make the game enjoyable but also challenging. The club has hosted numerous international tournaments, including the 1983 Italian Open, considered one of the most compelling ever played in the country. Facilities include a restaurant, pro-shop and a swimming pool. The driving range has two grass stations and a canopy that can accommodate up to eight players at once in rainy weather. Adjacent to the driving range is a new two-level pitching green, which allows shots up to 50-60 yards.

Ugolino Golf Club

Golf Club Bellosguardo
Via Provinciale di Mercatale, 25 - Vinci (FI)
ph. +39 0571 902035
(5800 meters, 9 holes)

Dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci, the 9-hole course with double tees is among the most challenging in Italy. The club has a panoramic swimming pool, accessible to both subscribers and outside guests, and a restaurant that enhances local cuisine with revisited traditional dishes and innovative offerings. Also on the property is La Fattoria di Bellosguardo, which welcomes guests in a typically Tuscan atmosphere. The Fattoria produces red and white wines and extra virgin olive oil, available for tasting and sale. In addition, it is possible to follow a unique itinerary dedicated to the Genius of the Renaissance, suitable for young and old alike.

Golf Club Bellosguardo

Golf Club Poggio dei Medici
Via di S. Gavino, 27 - Scarperia e San Piero (FI)
ph. +39 055 8435562
(6471 meters, 18 holes)

Opened in 1992 in the foothills of the Apennines, this golf course is located in the picturesque Mugello valley, surrounded by a landscape of extraordinary beauty. Designed by the celebrated Baldovino Dassù and architect Alvise Rossi Fioravanti to United States Golf Association (USGA) standards, the course offers five different starting tees, ensuring an engaging game for players of all levels. The facility features a large practice area with Pitching and Putting Greens, bunkers, six covered and twenty-four uncovered stations, with a PGA instructor available for individual and group lessons. The course, open year-round and daily, is fully organic. The elegance of the course is further enhanced by the clubhouse, located within the service center, which includes swimming pools, gymnasium and spa.

Golf Club Poggio dei Medici

Golf Club Castelfalfi
Loc. Castelfalfi - Montaione (FI)
ph. +39 0571 890200
(9400 meters, 27 holes)

Tuscany's largest golf course, designed by architects Rainer Pressmann and Wildfried Moroder, is a fascinating example of sustainability applied to sport, suitable for players of all skill levels. The course, featuring steep slopes and water obstacles, is considered one of the most spectacular in the region. Respect for nature is a top priority for the club, which has always been committed to preserving the landscape by using environmentally friendly maintenance techniques. The facility also includes a driving range with grass tees, covered areas for holding clinics, and a Country Clubhouse that houses a luxurious resort, complete with hotel, spa, conference center, restaurants, and stores.

Golf Club Castelfalfi

Entroterra, tra campagna e montagna:

Golf Montecatini Terme
Via Brogi, 32 - Pievaccia (PT)
ph. +39 0572 62218
(5932 meters, 18 holes)

Designed by architect Marco Croze, this golf course offers striking views and exciting vistas, enhanced by natural water obstacles and more than 2,000 olive trees, giving the site a unique charm. Complex and challenging, the course offers breathtaking views of the valley, making it an ideal place for a relaxing and enjoyable vacation, whether for solo players or those accompanied by family or friends. The Club House has a restaurant overlooking the valley, a pro-shop where clubs, carts and golf carts can be rented. On the more hidden side of the Club House, nestled in the vegetation surrounding the putting green, there is a swimming pool with an enchanting view of the hill of Montevettolini and the Villa Medicea, a UNESCO heritage site.

Royal Golf La Bagnaia
Locality Bagnaia - Murlo (SI)
ph. +39 366 6550031
(6101 meters, 18 holes)

Considered one of the best golf courses in Europe, this course was designed by renowned architect Robert Trent Jones and blends perfectly with the Sienese hills. The Tuscan landscape, with its breathtaking beauty, offers such a striking backdrop that it can distract even the best players. Voted Italy's Best Golf Course at the World Golf Awards 2023, the course is enhanced by beautiful lakes and typical Tuscan wildlife, creating a unique and exclusive golf experience. At the top of the hill stands the majestic Club House, once a brick factory, then renovated with great care, maintaining the authentic Tuscan style. Inside, Il Rosmarino Restaurant offers a large dining room and terrace overlooking all 18 holes. At the Golf Shop, you can book tee times, access the driving range, arrange golf lessons and rent state-of-the-art equipment such as the latest generation Qi10 bags.

Royal Golf La Bagnaia

Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort
Terme di Saturnia, Saturnia (GR)
ph. +39 0564 600844
(6316 yards, 18 holes)

Designed by renowned architect Ronald Fream, this golf course is a true championship course, located in the heart of the distinctive Maremma. Each hole possesses its own identity, making the course unique and easily memorized. The Club House is located within the Resort and offers Secretarial services at the Hotel Reception, with a Welcome Desk in the Lounge Hall. Members have free access to the Thermal Park, where expert therapists offer a variety of treatments. With lovely panoramic views, guests can enjoy a glass of local wine at the renowned Tuscan trattoria La Stellata, which offers an authentic regional dining experience.

Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort

Casentino Golf Club
Via Fronzola, 6 - Poppi (AR)
ph. +39 0575 529810
(5636 meters, 13 holes)

Established in 1985, this course runs 500 meters above sea level, offering spectacular views of Poppi Castle. The natural lay of the land and the obstacles present allow players to make the most of all the clubs in the bag and practice their entire repertoire of shots. The golf course is publicly owned and operated by the City of Poppi and the Province of Arezzo, under the direction of ASD Casentino Golf Club Arezzo. Facilities include a bar, restaurant, parking, bag and club rental, golf cart rental, lessons with an instructor, golf shop, card room and TV room. The facility also has a driving range with seven covered and fourteen grass stations, putting green, pitching green and practice bunker, ensuring a complete experience for golfers of all levels.

Along the coast:

Versilia Golf Resort
Via della Sipe, 100 - Pietrasanta (LU)
ph. +39 0584 881574
(5873 yards, 18 holes)

Nestled in the heart of Versilia, this golf course offers a challenging and varied experience for all golf enthusiasts. Characterized by a lively and diverse layout reminiscent of a parkland course, the course covers a large area, surrounded by lush natural surroundings. Players will find themselves traversing wide, well-maintained fairways surrounded by mature woodlands, sand bunkers and bodies of water, which add challenge and beauty to the game. The Golf Club provides guests with a range of amenities, including ample parking, locker rooms with showers, a driving range with 10 covered stations, golf carts, trolleys, and a ball vending machine. For a relaxing break, there is an American Bar where you can enjoy a moment of refreshment. For those who wish to approach golf for the first time or perfect their technique, the club's coach, Maurizio Villa, offers private lessons. Villa, who learned his tricks from the famous Haney Hank, Tiger Woods' master, is available to share his experience and expertise with guests.

Versilia Golf Resort

Golf Club Punta Ala
Via Del Golf, 1 - Punta Ala (GR)
ph. +39 0564 922121
(6168 meters, 18 holes)

Designed by Giulio Cavalsani according to the most modern criteria of golf architecture, this course is distinguished by its greens, almost all of which are undulating and large in size, strategically placed in the most relevant points of the available area. Located in the heart of the Maremma maquis, the club is easily accessible by car and is the ideal place for a relaxing golf vacation. The club offers a range of services for its guests, including secretarial, pro-shop, Caddie Master, locker rooms, golf cart rental, electric and hand carts, as well as access to the Golfers Bar & Restaurant. A real jewel of the Club House is the panoramic terrace with a sea view, perfect for a break during the warmer hours or to savor the tastes of local cuisine.

Golf Club Punta Ala

Golf Club Cosmopolitan Tirrenia
Via delle Eriche, 133 - Tirrenia (PI)
ph. +39 050 33633
(6045 yards, 18 holes)

Shaped with full respect for nature, this golf course is technically challenging, testing players with numerous water obstacles, including ponds and canals, that add an extra challenge. Strategically placed bunkers help make the game even more competitive. The club regularly hosts competitions and tournaments open to all members, with international golfers participating. Located just minutes from Pisa and its airport, the club is also well connected to major Tuscan tourist cities such as Florence, Lucca and Siena. The beautiful and welcoming clubhouse offers an elegant ambience and a high level of service in all available areas, including bar, restaurant, swimming pool, sauna, pro-shop and tennis courts. The relaxing experience is further enhanced by the elegant Resort, connected to the beach via a convenient shuttle service, making every stay unforgettable.

Golf Club Cosmopolitan Tirrenia