The Italian golf resort that you simply must experience

UK golfers who like the finer things in life beyond the fairways are blessed to live so close to mainland Europe. As well as fabulous courses, the Continent offers a vast variety of cultural experiences, with food and drink to die for.

I could name a handful of countries I have visited where all of these good things in life come together. But my favourite for epicurean delights is Italy.

People often dismiss this country for golf and assume they should head for Spain, Portugal or Turkey where there are a better concentrations of courses within easy reach.

But if you like memorable clubhouse and restaurant food and drink after a relaxing round in the sunshine then you just can’t beat Italy.

While you can find clusters of courses around the big cities such as Turin and Milan, the best way to enjoy a relaxing break is to stay-and-play at a single resort, perhaps with the option of an excursion to another course nearby.

One such location is the Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort on Tuscany’s Adriatic coast, home of Italy’s PGA National golf course and host of the 2025 Italian Open.

The Course

The clubhouse is a minute’s walk from the hotel’s reception so you don’t even need a shuttle. There you will find a small driving range, a putting green and a short game practice area. The course itself is walkable, but buggies are available.

This course is so easy on the eye with sea and lagoon views, and an inland backdrop of wooded rolling hills. Typical garrigue vegetation dots the landscape with a profusion of wild flowers, olive groves, oaks and the occasional vineyard.

Its owners pride themselves on its use of organic fertilisers throughout and their approach is echoed by the naturalness of the design, which seamlessly fits in with the surrounding land.

The 6,218m par 71 layout opened in 2006 and has enjoyed a steady stream of admirers, especially among those who love testing their skills on technically challenging courses.

For some reason the view of the fairways from the hotel belies that challenge. Looking over the 18th for example, it appears to be a reasonably straightforward par 5, yet in reality it is a brute - a long dogleg with the approach over water to an offset green surrounded by bunkers.

After a relatively easy opening hole, provided the ditch running in front of the green is navigated, it soon becomes apparent that the course is no walk in the park.

It begins to show its teeth immediately after the starting hole with a par 5, the dogleg 2nd set against a glorious backdrop of the densely wooded hillsides.

A short par 4 is then followed by the excellent 4th, another par 4, featuring a large mature oak that has become a major element of the resort’s logo.

It doesn’t take long to realise that while the fairways are generous, the bunkers are plentiful, somewhat penal, and that the greens are relatively small and undulating.

If you’re not too hard on yourself with expectations of scoring well it’s difficult not to enjoy playing this course - the surroundings, views, particularly from the elevated 11th and 12th tees over the lagoon create an overall ambience and are all truly memorable.

Many prefer the opening nine to the return which features more water but in my experience they were each other’s equal.

Conditioning throughout during my visit in April was very good, with well turfed fairways and true putting surfaces. My only quibble would be the texture of the bunker sand which was too crispy for my standard of play.

The Resort

Situated outside the charming seaside town of Porto Ercole on a former island now joined to the mainland by a road which created the Orbetello lagoon, this is a luxury destination on the southern Tuscany coast and 90 minutes drive north from Rome’s Fiumicino airport.

The hotel was the first in Italy and one of only a few in Europe to become part of the Marriott golf portfolio, joining the exclusive Autograph Collections Hotels brand, celebrating its unique design.

Its style is based on its wellness philosophy - guests are immersed in nature in a chic environment. Public rooms, its 73 bedrooms and a small number of villas are designed in contemporary fashion, inspired by the palettes and feels of natural materials.

As well as golf there is a spa and gym, tennis, padel, cycling and all the trapping associated with a five star resort.

Argentario also has a formal partnership with Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, the 2023 Ryder Cup venue, offering discounted green fees.

Food and drink in the clubhouse restaurant is authentic and exceptional, using local produce and offering wines from the surrounding Maremma sub region, including a delicious Morellino di Scansano house red. There is also a high quality restaurant, Dama Dama, whose offerings include a fine dining and wine pairing menu in collaboration with a top Italian producer, Marchesi Antinori.

Exploring the promontory is well worthwhile and the nearby towns of Porto Ercole and Orbetello are pretty and typically laid back Italian.

See our travel partner Golfbreaks for deals at Argentario.

Getting There

It takes about 90 minutes to drive from Rome’s Fiumicino. The hotel offers transfers, but a car hire is recommended to enable exploration of the Monte Argentario promontory. Rome’s second airport, Ciampino, is a little further away requiring a drive of approximately two hours.

*Holiday Extras is the market leader in UK airport parking, hotels, lounges, and transfers - and in 2025 its customers saved an average of £200 per trip by booking their airport parking in advance.

Booking airport parking means you can enjoy more holiday with less hassle. Plus with Flextras, if you need to cancel or amend you can without charge. Three days’ parking at Drop & Go Express Manchester Airport is available for £69.99 based on arrival on 20/06/2026.

For more information and to book, visit HolidayExtras.com or call 0800 316 5678.      

*All costs supplied are the cheapest available rates for the product specified and therefore availability may be limited at this price. Prices were correct as at 28/04/2026.