Golf In Lombardy

With over forty golf courses, the Lombardy region is effectively the golf capital of Italy.  This should be of no surprise, given the proximity to the rest of Europe.

Because of the number of golf courses in the region, and its relatively easy accessibility from North America via Milan, this is also the region in Italy targeted most by golf tour operators.

If golf is your top priority for a trip to Italy, then this is the place to visit, as you can still get a good bit of the history and charm of Italy if you have less time to travel.

One of the reasons you should visit Lombardy for a golf trip is the presence of the three big Italian Lakes… Como, Maggiore and Garda.

Along each of these lakes you will find some of most charming towns in all of Europe, and nearby access to some pretty good golf courses.

Lake Maggiore is located about 30 miles at its southern tip to the northwest of central Milan.  Lake Maggiore is also on the border with the Piedmont region of Italy, arguably the second best golf destination Italy.

The southern tip of Lake Como is less than 25 miles north of central Milan, and is known for the towns of Como, Bellagio and Menaggio.

Lake Garda is about 65 miles east of central Milan, and is perhaps the lesser known of the three big lakes in northern Italy.  However, it can be argued that it is every bit as beautiful as Lake Como.

Top Golf Courses In Lombardy

At the top of everyone’s list of courses to play in Lombardy is Golf Club Villa D’Este, located close to Como.  This comes a bit of a surprise, as it is not a long course, and has a par of 69.

However, many golfers who play there argue that the conditions and clubhouse are second to none.

About five miles to the west of Golf Club Villa D’Este is Golf Club Monticello, which has hosted the Italian Open on seven occasions.  The facility offers 36 holes, and it is the Red Course that was designed for tournament golf in mind.

A further drive up the west side of Lake Como to the town of Menaggio, you will find Menaggio & Cadenabbia Golf Club.  This is a short, par 70 course, typically well-maintained, and definitely worth the visit if in the region.

About 28 miles to the northeast of central Milan and within a few miles of Bergamo, you will find Golf Club Bergamo L’Albenze, which offers 27 holes of beautifully maintained parkland golf.

And, we are still not done!

There are three solid golf courses to play over by Lake Garda, the best of which is Chervo Golf Club San Vigilio.  This facility offers a nine hole executive course along with 27 holes.

Franciacorta Golf Club is another course in Lombardy close to the smaller lake Iseo.  This is regarded as one of the top three courses in the Lombardy region, and it offers 27 holes.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it!  As you can see, it will likely take several trips to the region to enjoy the best golf that Lombardy has to offer.

The great thing about traveling to this area is direct flights are available to Milan from New York.  From there, you can simply rent a car, or have transportation arranged, which is the best way to get around this area.