I had never visited the Lake Garda or Brescia area of Italy before so was immediately keen to accept an invitation to visit. Golf in Italy is a major leisure industry with 800 million euros worth of business completed annually. Currently 60% of that business is generated from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Italy is a wonderful place to visit for golf
Given the excellent access routes, this offers UK travellers a genuine opportunity to sample some exceptional products and experiences.
Access to the area can be by direct flights from Manchester and the London airports into one of the three Milanese airports. I needed to be at a meeting early in the afternoon so travelled into Linate via a connecting flight from Frankfurt. I returned home via a direct flight from Bergamo to Manchester that took around two and a half hours. This area is easily accessible for the UK based golfer.
What makes playing golf in Italy extra special
Lombardy, and the province of Brescia in particular, is redefining the traditional golf holiday. They have recognised that gastronomic golf packages are becoming increasingly popular.
The cuisine offered in this part of Italy ranged from great to simply superb. All the golf courses we visited have restaurants that are open to the public and excellent reputations. Some have taken this to a new level by arranging partnerships with Michelin-starred partner venues.
The plan for the trip was to undertake a whistle-stop tour of the most popular golf courses and stay at a wide range of hotels and accommodation to provide a flavour of what the region has to offer the visiting golfer.
Discover golf, culture and cuisine
Most golf trips will be based at one or two venues rather than the range of travel we undertook. However, this was an excellent trip providing an intriguing view into the world of Northern Italian golf and its culture and cuisine.
Some courses were good enough to have hosted Italian Opens; others had a location and heritage that many other clubs worldwide would envy.
The golf courses are not co-located, but this is not an issue as the road networks are excellent and offer some jaw dropping views and places to explore between golf venues.
I was genuinely surprised at the quality and range of food and leisure activities available in this area. I am already looking to plan a private return trip next year such was its impact.
The quality of the spa and wellness retreats that are to be found in the venues we visited is also notable. They are well equipped, well-staffed and a wonderful way to wind down after a long day on the golf course. I was surprised to spot that there were many couples on the golf course, where only one of the pair was playing but the non-golfing partner was happy to simply enjoy the time in nature, with wonderful surroundings enjoying some gentle exercise. This could be my new best venue for golfer/non golfer trips worldwide.
Lake Garda offers something for everyone
Situated around Lake Garda, a renowned tourist destination for decades, the local tourist board are keen to promote this as an up-and-coming golf destination. The mountains and valleys provide the area with its own microclimate that is suitable for year-round golf.
A quick search reveals a humid subtropical climate with a continental influence from the Po Valley. The average temperatures offer ideal golfing weather from March to October. Daylight hours offer access to 2,700 hours of sunshine annually providing golf access until evenings.
Every facility we examined was multilingual with French, German and English guests easily accommodated.
The golf is relaxed and accommodating. A perfect way to finish a day of golf was a heated pool swim followed by a short cinema sauna experience and massage followed by exquisite local dining. I loved the cinema sauna experience and have not seen this offered anywhere else in the world.
GardaGolf Country Club
GardaGolf Country Club is a beautiful venue and setting with course conditioning to match anywhere in the world. Celebrating its 40th year this is a venue that understands its quality and accentuates it in an understated but confident manner. There are a range of other leisure activities offered from wine tastings to painting and driving tours.
This location offers 27 holes designed by the British practice Cotton, Pennink & Steel & partners. Three legends of golf course design and this venue is a delight to play and enjoy.
Established in 1986 in Soiano del Lago, the club has hosted the Italian Open three times, in 1997, 2003 and 2018. The 2018 edition was the tournament’s first Italian appearance as part of the prestigious Rolex Series. If you are looking for a genuine test rather than a postcard view, this is the venue to choose. The clubhouse is set in a historic villa supported by fine dining at ‘Bucadiannove’ restaurant led by Michelin-starred chef Piercarlo Zanotti. It also features a lovely boutique hotel called Masion Garda Golf.
The courses are offered as white, red and yellow. When major events are played here they use a blend of the holes to test the world’s best golfers. It has ranked within the top 200 courses in continental Europe and holds and maintains GEO environmental certification.
The opening tee shot in these major events is taken from an elevated tee box next to the villa that requires a metal gate to be drawn back from its everyday placement. An unusual and intimidating feature for the average golfer but this allows the first hole to be extended for tournament play. Tees for the day for other golfers are detailed within the second photograph. The lake and mountains provide a majestic backdrop to a beautiful golf course.
When playing the red course, take a few moments to sit on the red bench that sits on the second hole. I had not seen this idea previously, but it is a tacit and clear indication of support for those involved in domestic violence of any gender.
My research revealed that it is a movement that started in 2016 in Italy. A publicly displayed red bench (panchina rossa) is a permanent public symbol dedicated to raising awareness against gender-based violence, domestic abuse, and femicide.
High-season green fee: €160 (2027 price list). See here for more.
Golf Bogliaco
We also played the third oldest course in Italy that provided a sensory experience that matched the quality of the golf. Some of the backdrops to the holes we played were simply majestic and distracted from the golf. The clubhouse at Bogliaco oozes golfing tradition and heritage.
Brescia offers more than 150 golf holes but due to the time available to use we managed nine holes at each of the venues. I did, however, use a buggy to drive around the rest of the holes to get a better idea of the whole package and its quality, and I am happy to report that every venue has attractions that I would happily recommend.
Golf Bogliaco (established in 1912) is an 18-hole par-70 course measuring 5,235 metres in Toscolano Maderno, situated 100 metres above the lake. It is short and narrow, with small, well-protected greens.
This historic course provides a counterpoint to the modern complexes.
It also has a club restaurant serving local dishes at prices considerably lower than those found in closed resort environments. I loved the feel of this place. It felt relaxed and welcoming for the visiting golfer with an assured confidence that comes from age and maturity. If you are visiting this region do not miss out on the chance to play here as it will stick long in the memory.
High-season green fee: €76 on weekdays and €97 on public holidays. The best value for money in the region - and you can learn more about it by clicking here.
Arzaga Golf Club
(144 hectares, 27 holes) this is where two icons of international golf-course design meet:
- 18 holes by Jack Nicklaus II - broad, American-style fairways.
- 9 holes by Gary Player - more technical, with deep bunkers integrated into the undulating terrain of Valtenesi.
I thoroughly enjoyed the playing experiences here on both the Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus II designs.
The Gary Player was a more difficult prospect but still great fun. All the hazards were visible except for the opening drive and that was a risk reward par 4 with diagrams of the hole layout available on the tee box. Errant shots playing here are penalised by a lost ball. It is much less forgiving than its near neighbour but still great fun to play.
Green complexes were very well protected by some deep rounded bunkers. Water featured on a few holes. Pace of play here was great as wayward shots could be found and knocked back into play with ease.
The Jack Nicklaus II design was of the American style of design with wide fairways set amongst some stunning scenery. Well-conditioned throughout, this is a fun layout for the travelling golfer.
Don’t forget to check out the excellent driving range facilities here and there is a very well-run academy operated by Alain Vergari.
Check out the accommodation options available at QC Grand Hotel Villa Arzaga if you wish to stay on the site. The wellness centre here is superb incorporating the 15th century renaissance residence. 78 rooms offer direct access to the spa and golf course facilities.
See here for everything you need to know.
Garda Hotel San Vigilio Golf
This venue offers 36 holes in Pozzolengo, designed by Kurt Rossknecht: three nine-hole championship courses - Benaco, Solferino and San Martino - together with an executive nine. It represents the scale of the modern Italian golf industry in its purest form and is designed to accommodate significant tourist demand.
The courses have an American style and feel and the bunkering is obvious and playable. Water features heavily in the layout but all the hazards are clear and routes for every level of player are obvious from the tee box. All the courses were well conditioned and fun to play.
Green fee: approximately €105-€120 in high season (2025 price list - confirm before booking). Visit here for more information.
Franciacorta Golf Club
Here you will find 27 holes woven into the vineyard landscape under the name ‘The Wine Golf Course’. Each tee sign bears the label of a different wine producer.
Three courses are named after local wine production - Brut (technical), Saten (scenic) and Rose (modern and challenging) - created through a collaboration between Pete Dye of TPC Sawgrass fame and Italian architect Marco Croze.
The wines produced here are globally recognised through the application of the DOGC wine standard. The golf facilities here match the standards set by the world leading sparkling wines.
Bistro del Golf is the clubhouse restaurant that won the best restaurant award in Italian golf in 2022. The course has an excellent pedigree of sustainable and ecological management practices.
The relaxation, spa and wellness packages offered here are also of the very highest standards.
High-season green fee: €80 on weekdays and €105 on public holidays; all-day rate €90-€120. Click here to find out more.
The food here is simply extraordinary
I consider myself incredibly lucky to have had the chance to experience La Speranzina, which is located on the edge of the Lake and its azure, blue waters.
Situated in the town of Sirmione and offering one of the greatest and most theatrical dining experiences I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying.
A simply perfect way to finalise a trip that opened my eyes to Brescia golf and provided a host of questions that will require a return visit. We had access to a bespoke menu prepared for us and were able to enter the kitchen and wine cellar with the owner. This was an exceptional meal that will stay long in the memory.
The Italian lifestyle surrounding golf is above all about how you use your time after walking off the 18th green. The region makes highly effective use of its historic infrastructure.
One example is the 15th-century residence integrated with the Arzaga course, which now houses QC Terme and its extensive wellness facilities. In Franciacorta, next to the golf course, stands L’Albereta Relais & Châteaux - a 19th-century villa belonging to the Moretti family, owners of the Bellavista winery. The 53-room hotel features the Espace Chenot spa, offering detox and longevity programmes, as well as six dining venues, including the fine-dining restaurant L’Aurum and La Filiale pizzeria, led by Franco Pepe. Bellavista is only a few minutes away on foot, making this an ideal base for visitors who take wine as seriously as they take their golf.
The experience is completed by the region’s winemaking, led by the renowned Cantina Bellavista, and access to Michelin-starred restaurants such as La Speranzina in Sirmione. Together, these elements reinforce the destination’s luxurious character.
How to plan your visit
The highlight of a golf trip is rarely the final score recorded on the card. Organised tours can make travellers prisoners of a rigid timetable - from the meeting point and tee time to a prescribed dinner. To experience the true Italian pace of life and enjoy long evenings over wine, it is worth organising the trip with friends.
September is the optimum time: the weather is favourable, the peak tourist season has ended, and temperatures are comfortable for a round. A group of four can share one car and one flight, while retaining complete control over the itinerary. However, this requires careful planning.
The best way to get there and travel around
There are several airports that offer regular flights to the UK. Taxis in this area can be a little pricy so hiring a car for your group is a serious consideration if the venue does not offer a transfer facility.
For a short trip, calculate whether hiring clubs locally would be more economical.
This is a realistic option:
- Arzaga hires Premium Brand sets for 18 holes at €55.
- GardaGolf charges €50, and Bogliaco €20-€30.
For two or three rounds, this can be cheaper than transporting a golf bag in both directions. I used hire clubs at all our venues and found them to be well kept and of a decent standard.
Do you need to use a golf buggy?
The terrain may tempt you to hire a buggy, particularly on the undulating courses of Valtenesi. However, be aware of the cart path only rule. At Arzaga Golf Club, the rule is explicit: buggies may travel only on designated paths and must be operated under the supervision of an adult.
In practice, this means that if your ball finishes on the other side of the fairway, you still have to walk to it, often taking several clubs from the bag. A traditional push trolley or an electric trolley, which can be taken directly to the ball, may provide greater comfort and make the round flow more smoothly - while also costing considerably less.
A buggy for 18 holes costs €45-€60, an electric trolley €15-€25, and a manual trolley approximately €5 almost everywhere.
Where should you eat after the round?
The main dilemma appears in the evening. Those seeking to reduce costs can choose a small osteria away from the main tourist routes, but this requires booking a table and appointing a designated driver. Taxis in Italian golf resorts are expensive and difficult to find at short notice. Check for local recommendations for restaurants, etc.
An alternative is après-golf immediately after the round. At Bogliaco, for example, you can enjoy excellent local food at accessible prices while sitting on a terrace overlooking the mountains.
FAQ
When is the best time to play golf around Lake Garda?
September offers the best compromise: stable weather, the end of the peak tourist season and comfortable temperatures for a round. May and June are also good options. At most clubs, the high season runs from March to early November.
How much is a green fee in the Brescia region?
For 18 holes in high season, prices range from €76 at Bogliaco to €160 at GardaGolf. Outside the high season, rates can fall as low as €53.
Do I need a handicap certificate?
Yes. GardaGolf and Franciacorta require documented golf-club membership and a maximum handicap of 36. Bring your certificate.
Please check with the venue directly if they will accept a Golfshake handicap prior to travel. Remember it is good enough to gain access to the Old Course at St Andrews and should be fine for Italian venues.
If you would like to know more, please check out https://www.visitbrescia.it/en/ or our travel partners, Golfbreaks, who have some tremendous packages to play golf in Italy.
