Pasta, wine, Roman ruins, the mountains – hundreds of things bring tourists to Italy. Be prepared to add golf to the list. If you want to go on a golf holiday, Italy has so many picturesque courses right in the heart of the country that it is quickly becoming one of the top golf destinations in the world. Golf courses in Italy range from those located high in the Alps in Lombardy and Piemont to those like the San Michelle Golf Club, making good use of its beautiful seaside location to entice golfers. Like you needed another reason to travel to Italy.

Italy golf package vacations usually revolve around the northern regions, between Milan and Venice in the Lakes District. Food, art, hiking – these can wait until after you hit the links. The lakes the region is named for, including the famed Lake Como; trickling rivers, verdant hills - they all come together here, and the many golf courses in Italy do their best to take advantage of the country’s scenic landscape.

The Golf Club Le Robinie was constructed by none other than Jack Nicklaus and brings tourists of all different skill levels to its Varese location. It bears all the signature marks of a Nicklaus designed course, from the tricky bunkers to challenging greens. Other nearby golf courses in Italy that are must-sees for any include the Golf Club Varese whose clubhouse is a converted twelfth-century monastery just a few miles away from Lake Como. The course itself is one of the oldest in the area, and a perfect location for a golf holiday. Italy’s great courses continue as you move towards Lake Maggiore. Whether you want to play overlooking the Borromean Islands or beneath the imposing Monte Rosa mountain range, this is one of the top areas for Italy golf package vacations. There are plenty of hotels nearby the Golf Club Des Iles Borromees in the cities of Stresa and Lesa, and the course is considered one of Italy’s finest. Well above sea level, the links here are endlessly green, spread wide above the shimmering lake on a scenic plateau. Great views of the neighboring cities only add to the wondrous course.

Italy Map

While most Italy golf package vacations are found in the charming northern regions, you can still find some great courses the further south you travel. Both the Napoli and Porto D’Orra Golf Clubs outside Naples offer some of the country’s best golfing.

But the central areas like Tuscany and Lazio are where you’ll experience the true joy of a golf holiday. Italy doesn’t get much better than these regions, and the golf courses here are no exception. The brilliant greens and hilltop views that make Tuscany one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country are on full display along the Tuscan golf courses – the standouts include Toscana Il Pelagone and Poggio Dei Medici (just a short trip from Florence). Mix recreation with culture with a stay in Tuscany, visiting the beautiful courses during the day and sampling the great wines and pasta at night.