This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Tuscany is not Scotland, and it does not pretend to be. There are no links courses here with centuries of history, no Open Championship rota, and fewer than forty clubs in the whole region. What Tuscany has instead is golf as part of a larger pleasure: a morning round between cypress rows and olive groves, lunch with a glass of Brunello, an afternoon in a hill town or on a boat. For travelling golfers who also care about wine, food and where they sleep, that combination is hard to beat anywhere in Europe.
This guide picks the courses worth building a trip around, explains which are open to visitors and which need a resort booking, and shows how to combine them by area so you spend your time on fairways rather than motorways.
Quick answer
For the best golf in Tuscany, stay at a resort with its own course: Castiglion del Bosco near Montalcino (private, resort guests only), Royal Golf La Bagnaia near Siena or Castelfalfi near San Gimignano. Base yourself in Florence for Ugolino and Poggio dei Medici, or on the coast for Argentario and Punta Ala. You will need a car: compare rates on Localrent or GetRentacar.
How golf in Tuscany works
Most Tuscan courses accept visitors with a handicap certificate, and many are quiet midweek outside the spring and autumn peaks. Green fees are generally lower than at comparable resort courses in Spain or Portugal, although the best resort courses price accordingly. Buggies are common and often wise: the region is hilly, and summer afternoons are hot. Book tee times directly with the club, ideally a few days ahead in spring and autumn, and always ask whether hotel guests receive priority or reduced fees.
The best seasons are April to early June and September to October. July and August are playable early in the morning but punishing later, and some coastal courses fill with Italian holidaymakers in August. Winter golf is possible on the coast and in the lower valleys, though greens can be slow and some clubs reduce their hours.
The courses worth travelling for
The Club at Castiglion del Bosco, Montalcino
The most exclusive golf in Tuscany sits on a vast estate of vineyards and woodland near Montalcino, home of Brunello. The 18-hole course was designed by Tom Weiskopf and threads through the hills with long views across the Val d’Orcia. It is a private members’ club: the only way for a visitor to play is to stay at the Rosewood resort on the estate. If that suits your budget, it is one of the most complete golf and wine stays in Europe. The estate has its own Brunello winery, and you are a short drive from the cellars covered in our guide to Montalcino.
Royal Golf La Bagnaia, near Siena
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., La Bagnaia lies in the countryside of Murlo, south of Siena, beside a restored medieval hamlet that now forms the resort. It is open to visitors and regularly ranked among the best courses in Italy. Expect rolling terrain, raised greens, lakes and strategic bunkering that rewards thinking before you swing. Siena itself is a half-hour drive, which makes this an easy base for combining golf with the city and its cathedral.
Castelfalfi, Montaione
Between Florence, Pisa and San Gimignano, the Castelfalfi estate is an entire restored village with a castle, hotels and two courses: an 18-hole championship layout and a shorter nine. The terrain is hilly and the views over the Val d’Elsa are some of the finest you will find from a tee box in Italy. It is well placed for a mixed trip. San Gimignano and the Chianti hills are both within easy reach.
Golf Club Ugolino, Florence
Florence’s historic club traces its roots to the British community of the late nineteenth century and has played at Ugolino, in the Chianti hills just south of the city, since the 1930s. It is a short, tight, old-fashioned parkland course among cypresses, umbrella pines and olive trees, where accuracy matters far more than length. It has hosted the Italian Open in the past, and the clubhouse terrace is one of the nicest places in Tuscany to sit after a round. From central Florence it is around twenty minutes by car.
Poggio dei Medici, Scarperia
North of Florence in the Mugello valley, Poggio dei Medici is a long, modern championship course with a resort hotel attached. It is more open and exposed than Ugolino, with little shade, so it suits spring, autumn and even winter play better than high summer. Combine it with a visit to the Mugello circuit if you are a motorsport fan, or with the medieval town of Scarperia, famous for its knife makers.
Le Pavoniere, Prato
Laid out on land once owned by the Medici, with a restored villa as its clubhouse, Le Pavoniere is a flat course defined by water and wide fairways, associated with Arnold Palmer’s design company. It is the easiest of the Florence courses for a relaxed round and is close to the motorway, which makes it handy on an arrival or departure day.
Argentario Golf Resort, Porto Ercole
On the southern Tuscan coast, the Argentario course climbs a hillside above Porto Ercole with views across the lagoon of Orbetello and out to sea. It is part of a five-star resort with a spa, and it pairs perfectly with a few days on the water. The marinas of Porto Ercole and Porto Santo Stefano are among the most glamorous in Italy; see our guides to Porto Santo Stefano and the best yacht spots along the Tuscan coast.
Punta Ala and Terme di Saturnia
Two more Maremma courses round out the coast. Punta Ala, opened in the 1960s, runs through pine woods above the sea near Castiglione della Pescaia and is one of the most scenic courses in central Italy. Inland, Terme di Saturnia sits beside one of Italy’s best-known thermal spas, so the post-round recovery takes care of itself. Both work well for a week split between golf, beaches and the wineries of Morellino di Scansano.
Tuscan golf at a glance
| Course | Area | Access | Character | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castiglion del Bosco | Montalcino | Resort guests and members only | Weiskopf design, vineyards, big views | Car hire from Florence or Rome |
| Royal Golf La Bagnaia | Murlo, near Siena | Visitors welcome | Robert Trent Jones Jr., lakes, raised greens | Car hire or private transfer |
| Castelfalfi | Montaione | Visitors welcome | 18 + 9 holes, hilltop estate | Transfer from Pisa or Florence |
| Ugolino | Florence | Visitors with handicap | Historic, tight, tree-lined | Florence transfer then taxi |
| Poggio dei Medici | Mugello | Visitors welcome | Long, open championship course | Car hire |
| Le Pavoniere | Prato | Visitors welcome | Flat, water, wide fairways | Car hire |
| Argentario | Porto Ercole | Visitors welcome | Hillside, sea views, spa resort | Car hire from Rome |
| Punta Ala | Maremma coast | Visitors welcome | Pine woods above the sea | Car hire |
| Terme di Saturnia | Southern Maremma | Visitors welcome | Spa resort course | Car hire from Rome |
Three ways to plan a Tuscan golf trip
Florence and Chianti: four nights
Stay in Florence or in a villa just outside it. Play Ugolino one morning and Poggio dei Medici or Le Pavoniere another, then use the free days for the city and the vineyards. Our guide to wine tours from Florence covers the best half-day and full-day options, and Chianti Classico explains which estates are worth the drive. For hotels, see the best luxury hotels in Florence. Arriving by air, a private transfer from Florence airport gets you and your clubs to the hotel without wrestling a bag into a taxi.
Siena and the Val d’Orcia: five nights
This is the classic luxury golf and wine combination. Base yourself at La Bagnaia or, if you want the best, at Castiglion del Bosco. Play in the morning, then spend afternoons in Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano, following our Val d’Orcia road trip. A car is essential here; book one with automatic transmission and enough boot space for golf bags through Localrent, which lists local suppliers with clear deposits.
The Maremma coast: golf and boats
Fly into Rome or Pisa and drive to Argentario or Punta Ala. Alternate rounds with days on the water around Giglio and Giannutri, long seafood lunches in Porto Ercole and a soak at Saturnia. This is the most relaxed of the three, and the best for couples where only one person plays.
Travelling with golf clubs
Most airlines treat golf bags as checked luggage or sports equipment with a fee; check the rules before you book, as they vary a lot. If a flight is badly delayed or your bag goes missing, AirHelp can check whether you are owed compensation. On the ground, choose a car with a large boot: two golf bags and two suitcases will not fit in the compact cars most rental firms offer by default. Clubs can also be hired at most of the courses above, which makes sense for a one-round detour on a wider trip.
For staying connected on the road and on the course, an Airalo eSIM saves roaming charges. Our Italy travel planner lists all the services we use for transfers, car hire and connectivity.
Golf elsewhere in Italy
If you enjoy Tuscany, the obvious next trips are Lake Como, where several historic clubs sit within half an hour of Bellagio and Menaggio (see our guide to golf courses near Lake Como), and Sicily, where Verdura offers genuine resort golf with winter sunshine (see golf in Sicily).
Charlotte’s pick
If I could recommend only one thing here, it would be a rental car through Localrent. Golf in Tuscany only works with your own wheels. Choose an automatic with a large boot for the clubs, and base yourself near Siena so that La Bagnaia, Castelfalfi and the Chianti wineries are all within an easy drive.
For a lakeside alternative, see our guide to golf on Lake Garda.
Where to Stay: compare hotels and current prices in Siena and Montalcino on Trip.com.
FAQ
Do I need a handicap certificate to play in Tuscany?
Most clubs ask for proof of a handicap or club membership. Bring your certificate or app record, and check each club’s rules before you arrive.
Can I play Castiglion del Bosco without staying at the resort?
No. The course is reserved for members and resort guests.
What is the best month for golf in Tuscany?
May and late September to mid October. Temperatures are pleasant, the courses are green, and the harvest season adds a reason to visit the vineyards.
Is it worth taking my own clubs?
For a dedicated golf week, yes. For one or two rounds on a wider holiday, rental sets at the club are usually the easier option.
Can I combine golf with a wine tour on the same day?
Yes, and it is the best way to do Tuscany. Play early, have lunch at the club, and book an afternoon tasting. Avoid the reverse order.
Where to stay: our guide to golf hotels in Tuscany compares the best bases for a golf trip, and our Italy-wide list of the best golf resorts in Italy covers ten more.
