When does the Golf Boom begin in Italy?

[Mike Jansen]

I just got back from a 2 week vacation from Italy which covered approx 1/3 of the country from Milan to their west coast and down south of Rome.... and I saw 2 golf courses the whole time!!  As a comparison I saw about 10 courses in the last few minutes flying into SF.

We visited big cities and beautiful sea-side villages, cliff-hanging seashores and all the rolling hillsides inTusacny and not a single golf course insight!

We begs the questions: Where are the more notable courses in Italy?  Where did the Molinaris and Mattessaro learn the game?  Why aren't they building golf courses left  and right in all of these amazing locations?

[Ivan Lipko]

I have exactly the same question.

[Alex Miller]

I was in Italy in summer of '09, and although I didn't get to play I was curious enough to research the courses around Rome. There were a number of them if I recall, with the most appealing/interesting being Circolo Golf Roma Acquasanta (named for the nearby aqueduct?).

There was also a course in Venice! On Lido, one of the larger islands just southeast there is a course which seemed pretty interesting as well.

As for where the Molinaris and Mattesano learned the game, I'm afraid I don't know and haven't googled it yet.

[bakerg]

When I was over there I asked that question and I was told that there wasn't enough water to maintain golf courses.  Not sure if that is true but that is what I was told.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

look for the Brits.

[Brett_Morrissy]

Hi Mike,

I think the Italians would rather play football/soccer - no demand and perhaps challenging terrain.

Adam Lawrence's magazine has a couple of articles:
state of play
http://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/Article/The-state-of-golf-in-Italy/1190/Default.aspx

and a new course:
http://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/Article/On-Site-Tenuta-di-Castelfalfi/2020/Default.aspx

[Mike Jansen]

Good hearing from you Brett!  Thanks for the link... that pretty much answers any questsions as to why golf just isn't popular in Italy.  What a shame... but it gtives all of us "architects in waiting" a hope for the future that it will become the next promised land, much like SE Asia is now.  It is funny to continue to read/ hear about this great divide between North and South Italy... the notherners claiming to be the hard working and very prideful people, and stating the south are all lazy and mafioso.

[Brett_Morrissy]

Mike - its the heat down south !

the golf may be lacking, but the Italians sure do make up for it with other pleasures, like wine and the food...

[Matt Day]

a very good friend of mine comes from a small town called Conversano, which is near Bari on the south east coast. They don't have enough water for theiir football pitches and were playing on crushed sea shells, so wasting water on a golf course isn't high on the list of priorities

[David_Tepper]

Here is a link to a list of golf courses in Italy. I did not count them, but there would appear to be 100 or so in the country.

http://www.golfeurope.com/euro_clubs/italy-golf-courses.htm

[Tom_Doak]

It's not just about water.  The land is expensive and usually rocky to boot ... construction would never be inexpensive in Italy.

I have been to Italy several times in recent years and never felt like I was missing out on golf when I was there.

[Padraig Dooley]

I've played a few times in Italy.

In Rome at Parco de Medici. Up around Milan in a 36 hole complex called Circolo Golf Bogogno. Both are worth playing. Robert Von Hagge designed the two in Bogogno. Very nice part of the world, views of the Alps, not far from Lake Maggiore.

Golf is definitely high end in Italy. They also might have the best golf club lunches I've come across.

 

[Sean_A]

CIRCOLO GOLF VENEZIA is a nice enough course if one is hangin' around Venice for perhaps a week.  Its a good break from the crowds and the lunch is very good and reasonably priced.  In fact, the land for the course is excellent and a very good course could be made if the current edition was scrapped or overhauled.  Still, there are a handful of memorable holes to enjoy - especially the short par 4s and par 3s.  The course wasn't too expensive - I think about $55 a few years back.  Its probably more now that the Dollar has slumped.

Ciao

[Ken Kearney]

I have played quite a bit in Italy... my father-in-law is Italian...expensive sport indeed for the Italians.
Played European Championships at Menticello GC...this is near Lake Como, a pretty classy place... I wouldn't liketo be footing the bill though...


KK

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

It's not just about water.  The land is expensive and usually rocky to boot ... construction would never be inexpensive in Italy.

I have been to Italy several times in recent years and never felt like I was missing out on golf when I was there.

The other barrier to golf development is archaeological finds. You can't dig a hole to bury your dead hamster, without coming across some sort of archaeological artifact. Once you come across something of historical significance, all works will be halted and there goes your soft opening planned for two years down the line.

I recall reading a National Geographic article on Italy a few years back; they simply cannot cope with the number of archaeological sites they have, and new ones are being uncovered on a daily basis.

[michael damico]

coming from an American-Italian, I can't even believe I'm saying this...but I've heard of problems not only with the government when it comes to development, but the mafia (which influences the gov't) especially in the south.

[Jason Baran]

I've played G.C. Biella Le Betulle in Biella, IT (Piemonte) a couple of different times on a few different trips.  It's really a beautiful course that is carved into the amazing rolling hills on that area.  As you might expect, maintenance standards aren't the same as in the US, but it's still in an extremely enjoyable way to spend the morning.  "Rental" clubs are available (which we have attained in the by giving the guy who runs the bag room a 20 euro, for which he'll provide you with use on an unsuspecting members set for the round).  The course is the only Italian club listed on Golf Digest's 100 Best Courses Outside the U.S.

[Mike Policano]

Mike,

The majority of the quality golf in Italy is in the north and on Sicily and Sardinia. I took a golf, wine and food trip to the Lakes Region last year.
The Villa D'Este Golf Club built in the 1920's is a very good course.  More to follow.

[Tim Pitner]

It's not just about water.  The land is expensive and usually rocky to boot ... construction would never be inexpensive in Italy.

I have been to Italy several times in recent years and never felt like I was missing out on golf when I was there.

I understand the urge to imagine golf courses on scenic locations such as in Italy, but golf need not be everywhere, especially if there isn't a strong golf heritage in that location.  In answer to the question, I would say likely never and that's okay.  As Tom said, Italy doesn't need golf.