Greece: A New Golf Frontier in an Ancient Land

Golf continues to grow like a weed, and its growth finds it earning footholds in places where it barely had a presence just a decade ago. Greece is a country known for its ancient ruins, but it is starting to draw interest beyond archaeologists and history buffs with its entry into golf.

Unlike Scotland, England, or Ireland, Greece does not have linksland, but it does have a massive coastline that offers views that rival those of Pebble Beach or Cypress Point. The Aegean, Ionian and Mediterranean Seas are enchanting and create a perfect backdrop for courses that resemble living paintings.

Such is the Costa Navarino resort. A destination in Messenia in the southwest of the Peloponnese peninsula, Costa Navarino is rated one of the top 100 resorts in Continental Europe, offering a classic Greek feel and a spectacular resort experience.

With four courses and luxury resort hotels, the Costa Navarino resort stretches over 2,471 acres, dotted with hills, ancient ruins and spectacular views of the sea.

Each of its four courses offers a different glimpse of the majestic lands where the ancient Greeks roamed centuries before Christ.

The Dunes Course, designed by Bernhard Langer, was the first signature-designed golf course in Greece. The par-71 course measures 6,581 yards from the back tees with generously wide fairways and large greens. Much of the course has been crafted to reflect the rugged outlines of the distant mountains. As you move further inland, the course unfolds, its character softening to fit with the surroundings of olive and citrus groves. Players are welcome to sample the ripe fruit from the trees around the course at their leisure.

The Bay Course, the second signature course to open at Costa Navarino, plays to a par-71 and is a little shorter than The Dunes Course. Situated a few minutes’ drive away and offering an alternative set of challenges, the layout was designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones Jr. and places a slightly greater emphasis on strategic play and positional golf. The idyllic setting runs through the foothills and right alongside the historic Bay of Navarino. Most tees offer breathtaking sea views, and the course winds through three distinct natural landscapes (seaside, canyon and grove), creating striking contrasts that make for a dramatic, memorable round.

Navarino Hills features two new 18-hole courses designed by two-time Masters champion and Ryder Cup legend José María Olazábal. Overlooking The Bay Course and the historic Bay of Navarino, the courses — the world’s first International Olympic Academy Golf Course and The Hills Course — are situated high above the coastline, offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and the Ionian Sea.

The International Olympic Academy Golf Course, launched in partnership with the International Olympic Academy and the Hellenic Olympic Committee, winds around the western part of the Navarino Hills property. The IOAG course benefits from having more than half its holes along the ridge of the hill overlooking the Bay of Navarino. The front and back nine are distinctly different in layout. The front nine circles the southern portion on softly undulating terrain and winds through old olive groves in a typical Greek landscape, while the back nine runs along the edge of the cliff and offers spectacular sea views.

Measuring 6,836 yards from the back tees, The Hills Course is more undulating, and the scenery is vastly different. Only once, on the fourth tee, can you catch a glimpse of the sea, but the view is still dramatic, with mountain tops, long valleys, and stunning rock formations. The 18 holes offer a good balance and variety, from doglegs to uphill and downhill holes, long par 5s, short par 4s and challenging par 3s. Additionally, a myriad of strategic options awaits you and provide a good test for creativity and course management.

Of course, golf is just part of the Costa Navarino resort experience. There’s terrific food at numerous restaurants on the property. Add in four great hotels, highlighted by the Mandarin Oriental, along with the W Costa Navarino, The Romanos, and The Westin Resort, and your time in Greece will provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

And don’t forget to spend a couple of days in Athens, which is an adventure all its own.