THE BEST GOLF COURSES - MAREMMA & ARGENTARIO
Our southern Tuscany golf holiday guide.
Argentario Architect: D. Mezzacane (2006). 18 holes: 6,218m: par 71.
The course (and resort) sits in a huge bowl flanked on three sides by forested hills and on the open side the lagoons between the island and the mainland. This creates a secluded environment into which a tremendous golf course has been etched that will entertain every time you play. The front nine is fairly open with water and sand added to define the holes and just one hill (the second hole): the back nine has more inclines (gentle ones) and many more trees demanding greater accuracy off the Tee.
Saturnia Architect: R. Fream (2004). 18 holes: 6,316m: par 72.
Most visitors come here for the extensive spa hotel that has sprung up around the hot sulphurous waters of Saturnia, leaving the course strangely deserted at times: a round here can be played in total tranquillity under blue skies and broad views away to the Tuscan hills. The course runs over ideal terrain: a few elevation changes and plenty of established woodland. From these ingredients Ronald Fream has crafted a tricky test of golf with many dog-legs or Fairways that are tightly choked in places, so some forethought is required before plucking the Driver from the bag; Greens are tailored to match the length of approach too, so keep your thinking cap on!
Punta Ala Architect: G. Cavalsani (1964). 18 holes: 6,213m: par 72.
The oldest course in this part of Italy created as part of the (slightly odd) seaside development of Punta Ala. The Clubhouse sits high on a hill behind all the villas by the sea and the course spreads out and down through the pine and oak clad hillsides from here. This means that nearly every hole is either heading down away from or back up to the Clubhouse. There are a few glimpses of the coast but the vistas are primarily arboreal.
Riva Toscana Architects: G. Calvasoni & P. Negroni (2006). 18 holes: 6,135m: par 72.
An unassuming course through old Tuscan olive groves that lies just inland from the seaside resort of Follonica, a busy spot during the peak Italian holiday season in August: reasonably quiet througout the rest of the year. A tricky course design with lots of twists and turns, so distance control from the Tee is often crucial (as well as direction!). On hot, dry, sandy subsoil, the course demands a lot of water over the Summer so visually at its best in the Spring before the off-course areas are ravaged by the Summer sun! A fun, course with a very relaxed ambience, plus a good three-star hotel on-site makes Riva Toscana a very good value Tuscany golf holiday resort.
Toscana (Il Pelagone) Architect: K. Preston (1999). 18 holes: 5,899m: par 71.
A holiday style golf course that has been created in tandem with the Teutonic 'Il Pelagone' hotel so the course is usually occupied by Germans. The quantity of land available for the course was not enormous and broken into several sections by local roads, so holes run quite closely together in places, Fairways separated by stumpy olive trees. The holes themselves though are good and testing, frequently with small ponds to negotiate. Little shade anywhere so you will certainly feel the heat in the Summer!
Anyone for Siena?
La Bagnaia Architect: R. Trent Jones Jnr. (2005). 18 holes: 6,671m: par 71.
La Bagnaia sits in glorious isolation a long way from any other golf course but very close to the delightful town of Siena: so it's really a one-course destination. This modern layout has been spread over some classic Tuscan terrain: almost bereft of trees, but bedizened by a barrage of Bunkers. La Bagnaia has a very Trent Jones feel about the course with excessive sand and electric Greens; all maintained to the highest standards, creating some visual feasts; not least from the hilltop Clubhouse.
Lovely, borgo-style, hotel on-site (see our Tuscany Hotels page) for a quiet golf getaway or many more in Siena for a more gastronomic/cultural golf holiday! P.S. Autumn is a wonderful time to be in Siena.