Eight regions – from Valle d’Aosta in the northwest to Friuli-Venezia Giulia in the northeast – make up the northern area of Italy, an area known to the locals as Alta Italia. These regions are split into 46 provinces, from where an impressive total of 241 golf facilities (two thirds of all the courses in the country) are affiliated to Federazione Italiana Golf, the national governing body. This northern stronghold of the Italian golfing scene is where many of the top layouts are found and it’s dominated by old tracks from the 1920s – such as the Peter Gannon-designed Milano and Villa d’Este courses – and the 1950s, with the likes of the John Morrison courses at Torino La Mandria (Blue) and Biella-le Betulle. A number of modern courses have also attained national prominence, including Robert von Hagge’s Conte and Bonora layouts at the 36-hole Bogogno complex whilst the two Robert Trent Jones Snr courses at Royal Park I Roveri in Turin and Castelconturbia, near Milan, are comfortably ranked within the Top 100 list of golf courses in Continental Europe.
Northern Italy, Italy
Robert Trent Jones designed Royal Park I Roveri and it’s his first Italian architectural ensemble, which opened its doors for play in 1971.
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Northern Italy, Italy
Golf Club Biella known locally as "Le Betulle" is located in Valcarozza, one of the most evocative and serene spots in northern Italy. The club was founded in 1958 and the English architect John Morrison designed it.
Peter Gannon cut the course at Circolo Golf Villa d’Este through a pine, ash and chestnut forest back in 1926 and this former Italian Open venue is still as stylish today as it was back then.
John Morrison designed the original Torino golf course and a number of holes were renovated by the Canadian architect Graham Cook in preparation for the 1999 Italian Open, won by Padraig Harrington.
Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Castelconturbia Golf Club opened for play in 1984 to a standing ovation. It’s located about one hour’s drive to the north of Milan and it has bags of Italian style.
Founded in 1928, Milano Golf Club is one of Italy’s most prestigious clubs and the course is routed through glorious parkland on fairly flat terrain.
The original eighteen holes at Bergamo-L’Albenza Golf Club were formed by C K Cotton in the early 1960s and this course was just one of several Italian layouts that he designed or restyled around that time.
Bogogno Golf Club, or Circolo Golf Bogogno, is one of Europe’s most impressive 36-hole golf resorts. With two contrasting Robert von Hagge-designed courses, it’s a destination well worth knowing.
A corner of paradise where golf meets the unparalleled beauty of Lake Garda.
Del Conte is one of two Robert von Hagge courses at the impressive golf club Circolo Golf Bogogno.
Set within a sprawling, 360-acre property the fairways of the Nicklaus course at Arzaga Golf Club are wide and generally forgiving, though water comes into play at several holes...
Routed around the Venetian fortress of San Nicolo, Venezia is a delightful, eclectic amalgam of parkland-cum-links, with lovely tree-lined fairways laid out on sandy soil...
Back in 1992, Le Robinie was where the Nicklaus Design team established their first Italian course and the Golden Bear himself put his signature stamp on the property.
Founded in 1958, Golf Club Bologna was the first golf club to be established in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. The course was designed by Ken Cotton and John Harris when they were in partnership...
Designed by American architect Jim Engh in collaboration with Bernhard Langer, the course at Modena Golf & Country Club hosted the fiftieth edition of the Italian Open in 1993, three years after the layout first opened for play.
The 27-hole golf facility at Franciacorta Golf Club is one of Pete Dye’s rare European projects from the mid-1980s and he designed the layout in collaboration with Marco Croze.
Peter Gannon and Cecil Blandford co-designed a number of Italian courses back in the 1920s and 1930s and they established the original course at Golf Club Varese, which was subsequently doubled in size during the mid-1950s...
Wilfried Moroder of MPS Golf Design laid out the course at Golf Club Passeier Meran and this relatively short but engaging track is set spectacularly within the heart of the Alps.
The Hurdzan and Fry-designed course made its debut at Royal Park Golf I Roveri in 2006, thirty-five years after the Robert Trent Jones layout opened for play.
Set close to Lake Como and originally founded in 1907, Menaggio & Cadenabbia Golf Club is the second oldest in Italy. The course was redesigned by Commander John Harris in 1965.
Host to seven Italian Opens between 1975 and 1992, the Rosso course at Golf Club Monticello was originally laid out by Jim Fazio and Baldovino Dassù, with more recent renovations by Graham Cooke...
Designed by architect Marco Croze, the 18-hole layout at Golf Club des Iles Borromées is routed around a hilly, 180-acre property which lies within an extensive pine and silver birch forest overlooking Lake Maggiore.
The original nine holes at Golf Club Verona were designed in the early 1960s by John Harris, who made great use of the hilly terrain. Giulio Cavalsani's longer, more open second nine appeared in 1973 to form today’s formidable 18-hole layout.
The course at Golf Bogliaco sits a hundred metres above Lake Garda, where tree-lined fairways offer glimpses of the azure waters below.
The Yellow course at Circolo Golf Torino has evolved down the years with architect Marco Croze extending the original Blue course to a 27-hole layout before fashioning a further nine to produce two fabulous 18-hole tracks.
Situated a mere 20km to the north of Milan, Barlassina Country Club is an exclusive and private club, which was originally founded in 1956 by a group of wealthy Italians...
Starting in 2004, Castello di Tolcinasco Golf & Country Club hosted five editions of the Italian Open and it’s the Blu and Giallo nines at this 27-hole facility which are regarded as the championship 18-hole combination.
Commander John Harris laid out the original course at Golf Club Padova in the early 1960s. Another 9-hole circuit was added in 2003 to complete a wonderful 27-hole facility...
Architect Marco Croze laid out the initial nine holes here in 1972 – one of several collaborative golf projects he completed with Commander John Harris around that time – and he returned twenty-two years later to add a second nine.
Situated at the foot of the Schlern massif in the heart of the Dolomites, the 18-hole course at Golfclub St.Vigil Seis is routed across a spectacular Alpine landscape, offering a mountain golf experience of the highest order.
