The Italian Lakes have drawn discerning travellers for centuries—poets, aristocrats, and adventurers captivated by crystalline waters set against snow-capped peaks. Today, these same landscapes offer something equally extraordinary for the modern visitor: championship golf courses where every swing unfolds against backdrops of breathtaking natural beauty.
Within an hour of Milan, seven exceptional courses await—each with its own character, from historic clubs founded by Victorian-era English gentlemen to contemporary designs bearing the signature of legends like Jack Nicklaus and Robert Trent Jones Sr. Whether you seek the challenge of elevation changes through ancient woodlands or the serenity of lakeside fairways reflecting Alpine summits, the lakes deliver an experience unlike anywhere else in Europe.
Golf Club Menaggio & Cadenabbia
Perched on the slopes of Monte Crocione above Lake Como's western shore, Menaggio & Cadenabbia holds a singular place in Italian golf history. Founded in 1907 by a group of English visitors who had fallen under the lake's spell, it remains the second-oldest golf club in Italy—and arguably its most romantic.
The course climbs and tumbles through 18 holes of pure theatre. Narrow fairways thread between mature trees, demanding precision over power, while the elevated position grants views that stop even the most focused golfer mid-backswing. From the signature holes, the expanse of Lake Como stretches below like hammered silver, framed by the villas of Bellagio in the distance and the Grigne mountains standing sentinel to the east.
The club's motto, Far and Sure, captures both the challenge and the philosophy here: this is golf that rewards thoughtful play and patience. After your round, the elegant clubhouse—home to one of Europe's finest golf libraries—offers the perfect setting for a restorative pranzo with fellow enthusiasts.
Address: Via Wyatt, 54, Frazione Croce, 22017 Menaggio (CO)
Hours: Summer 8:00-18:00 daily; Winter 9:30-12:30 Mon-Fri*
Course: 18 holes, Par 70, 5,482m
Phone: +39 0344 32103
Email: reception@menaggio.org
Website: golfclubmenaggio.com/en/
Note: *Hours may vary seasonally. Verify before visiting.
Circolo Golf Villa d'Este
If Menaggio represents golf's romantic soul, Villa d'Este embodies its competitive heart. Ranked the #1 course in Italy by Leading Courses, this legendary layout near Montorfano has hosted twelve editions of the Italian Open and consistently challenges the world's finest players.
Designed by Peter Gannon in 1926, the course winds through over 30,000 century-old chestnut, birch, and pine trees at 400 metres elevation. The terrain recalls the great Scottish heathland courses—undulating, strategic, demanding every shot in your repertoire. Water hazards appear at critical moments, and the greens, surrounded by that cathedral-like canopy of ancient trees, require absolute precision.
The historic villa clubhouse, overlooking the small Lago di Montorfano, provides a suitably grand setting for this temple of Italian golf. Recently reacquired by the legendary Villa d'Este hotel on Lake Como, the club now offers exclusive packages combining lakeside luxury with championship golf just 14 kilometres away. The on-site Lodge Golf Villa d'Este provides accommodation within the first nine holes for those who wish to immerse themselves completely.
Address: Via per Cantù 13, 22034 Montorfano (CO)
Hours: March-December, daily except Tuesdays*
Course: 18 holes, Par 69, 5,760m
Phone: +39 031 200 200
Email: reservation@golfvilladeste.com
Website: golfvilladeste.com
Note: *Hours may vary seasonally. Verify before visiting.
Golf Club Varese
Some golf clubhouses occupy buildings of architectural interest. Golf Club Varese occupies an 11th-century monastery—one of the oldest clubhouses in the world, and certainly among the most atmospheric. The former Monastery of Sant'Antonino, with its medieval cloister and converted chapel, now welcomes golfers to a course that matches its setting in distinction.
Founded in 1897 and established at this Luvinate site in 1934, Varese offers an 18-hole championship layout at 425 metres elevation, designed originally by Gannon and Blandford with later refinements by the renowned Peter Harradine. The course meanders through ancient woodland, each hole framed by majestic trees that have stood for centuries.
But it's the views that elevate Varese to the extraordinary. From various points on the course, four bodies of water reveal themselves: Lake Varese directly below, Lake Monate to the west, glimpses of Lake Maggiore in the distance, and Lake Comabbio completing the quartet. Behind them all rises the magnificent bulk of Monte Rosa, its glaciers gleaming in the morning light. On clear days, this panorama alone justifies the journey.
Address: Via Vittorio Veneto, 59, 21020 Luvinate (VA)
Hours: February-November, closed Mondays*
Course: 18 holes, Par 72, 6,029m
Phone: +39 0332 229302
Email: info@golfclubvarese.it
Website: golfclubvarese.it/en/
Note: *Hours may vary seasonally. Verify before visiting.
Golf Des Iles Borromées
Rising 500 metres above Stresa on the Alto Vergante plateau, Golf Des Iles Borromées offers perhaps the most spectacular panorama of any course in the region. From the 18th tee, on clear days, you can see the Milan skyline with the naked eye—along with four lakes (Maggiore, Varese, Monate, and Comabbio) and the entire sweep of the Swiss and Simplon Alps.
The course itself—18 holes, par 72, stretching 6,122 metres—rewards strategic play across terrain that ranges from open meadow to intimate woodland. The microclimate here, fresh in summer and sunny in winter, allows year-round play, while the pristine natural environment remains largely untouched by development.
Properties on Lake Maggiore & Lake Como
Discover your dream home on the Italian lakes
Just six kilometres from Stresa and the famous Borromean Islands, the club makes an ideal base for golfers exploring Lake Maggiore. The well-appointed clubhouse and restaurant provide sustenance between rounds, while the area's legendary Grand Hotels—including the Regina Palace and Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées—offer accommodation befitting this storied corner of Italy.
Address: Località Motta Rossa, 28833 Brovello Carpugnino (VB)
Hours: Year-round; closed Mondays in winter months*
Course: 18 holes, Par 72, 6,122m
Green fee: Winter rates from €45 (18 holes)
Phone: +39 0323 929285
Email: booking@golfdesiles.it
Website: golfdesilesborromees.it/eng/
Note: *Hours may vary seasonally. Verify before visiting.
Golf Club Continental Verbania
Where most lake-district courses climb mountainsides, Golf Continental Verbania takes a different approach—stretching along the enchanting shores of Lake Mergozzo, the purest lake in Europe, fed entirely by underground springs. This flat, parkland-style layout offers a more accessible challenge while sacrificing nothing in scenic splendour.
The 18-hole, par-69 course winds through extensive alder woodland, with internal water features adding strategic complexity. The Alpine backdrop—including views toward the peaks of the Val Grande National Park—creates a sense of peaceful immersion in nature. It's the kind of course where you might pause on a fairway simply to absorb the silence, broken only by birdsong and the distant bells of lakeside villages.
The club is currently developing a new clubhouse and hotel complex, scheduled to open in 2026—a sign of growing recognition for this understated treasure. For now, excellent practice facilities, a welcoming atmosphere, and proximity to both Verbania and Stresa make Continental an ideal choice for golfers seeking quality without pretension.
Address: Via 42 Martiri, 15, 28924 Fondotoce di Verbania (VB)
Hours: Summer 8:00-21:00 daily; Winter 9:00-17:00, closed Wednesdays*
Course: 18 holes, Par 69
Phone: +39 0323 80800
Email: info@golfcontinentalverbania.it
Website: golfcontinentalverbania.it/en/
Note: *Hours may vary seasonally. Verify before visiting.
Golf Club Castelconturbia
For golfers seeking true championship pedigree, Castelconturbia delivers in abundance. This 27-hole complex, designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones Sr., has twice hosted the Italian Open and remains one of northern Italy's most respected tournament venues.
Jones himself described the site as "stupendo"—and it's easy to see why he was inspired. The course occupies rolling terrain with the Monte Rosa massif providing a dramatic backdrop, while mature trees and strategic water hazards demand the full range of shotmaking. Three distinct nine-hole loops (Yellow, Blue, and Red) can be combined in different configurations, offering variety across multiple rounds.
The estate includes the Golf Hotel Castelconturbia for those wishing to stay on-site, plus excellent dining facilities and an extensive practice area. From January 2026, the new Edoardo Molinari Golf Academy will offer instruction from one of Italy's most accomplished professionals—a fitting addition to a club that takes the development of the game as seriously as its preservation.
Address: Via Castelconturbia, 10, 28010 Agrate Conturbia (NO)
Hours: Daily except Tuesdays; winter closure Jan 7-30*
Course: 27 holes (3 x 9), Par 72 (18-hole combinations)
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Phone: +39 0322 832093
Website: golfclubcastelconturbia.it/en/
Note: *Hours may vary seasonally. Verify before visiting.
Le Robinie Golf Club
Italy has exactly one golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus—and you'll find it in the Lombard countryside between Milan and the lakes. Le Robinie represents the Golden Bear's singular Italian masterpiece: 70 acres transformed by two million cubic metres of earthmoving into a landscape of amphitheatres, terraced bunkers, and strategic ponds that professionals consider among Europe's finest.
Nicklaus designed Le Robinie to be "challenging but not punishing"—playable for all skill levels while offering championship-calibre tests for those seeking them. The course occupies the grounds of an 800s-era Lombard farmstead, the historic buildings now converted into a resort hotel and restaurant that blend seamlessly with the contemporary golf facility.
Located just 45 minutes from Milan Malpensa Airport, Le Robinie makes an ideal first or final stop for international golfers—or a standalone destination for those seeking world-class design in an accessible setting. The resort accommodation allows multi-day immersion in what is, without question, one of Italy's most distinctive golfing experiences.
Address: Via per Busto Arsizio, 9, 21058 Solbiate Olona (VA)
Hours: Year-round*
Course: 18 holes, Designer: Jack Nicklaus
Green fee: €70-€100
Phone: +39 0331 329260
Email: golf@lerobinie.com
Website: golf.lerobinie.com
Note: *Hours may vary seasonally. Verify before visiting.
Planning Your Golf Journey
The concentration of quality courses in this region—eight championship-calibre layouts within 80 kilometres—creates exceptional opportunities for golf-focused itineraries. Base yourself in Stresa for Lake Maggiore courses, Como or Cernobbio for Lake Como options, or choose a central location like Varese to access both regions comfortably.
Spring (April-June) and autumn (September-October) offer ideal conditions: pleasant temperatures, lighter crowds, and the added beauty of Alpine wildflowers or autumn foliage framing every fairway. Summer brings longer days and warmer weather, while several courses remain playable through winter thanks to the lakes' moderating influence on local climate.
Most clubs welcome visitors with valid handicap certificates, though advance booking is essential during peak seasons. Many offer attractive packages combining golf with local gastronomy, wine tasting, or cultural excursions—because here among the Italian Lakes, even the most dedicated golfer finds reasons to set down their clubs and simply savour la dolce vita.
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