Sardinia for Yacht, Wine and Golf: Costa Smeralda, Pevero and Vermentino (2026)

Few Italian regions let you play a championship course in the morning, taste wine among granite boulders in the afternoon and spend the next day anchored off a granite island. Northeast Sardinia does all three within a short drive. The Costa Smeralda has Pevero, Gallura grows Vermentino under Sardinia’s only DOCG, and the La Maddalena archipelago, a national park, lies a short boat ride offshore. Here is how to combine them, with Pula in the south as an alternative base.

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This guide is part of our Yacht, Wine and Golf in Italy series. If golf comes first, see the best golf resorts in Italy.

The golf: three courses

Course details below come from the clubs’ directory listings. None of the three clubs had published 2026 green fees when we checked, so ask the club for current rates.

Pevero Golf Club (Porto Cervo)

Pevero was laid out by Robert Trent Jones Sr. (one course guide also credits Ron Kirby) for the original Costa Smeralda project; the club dates from 1972. It is 18 holes, par 72, 6,170 metres from the white tees and 5,805 from the yellows, routed over a granite headland between the bays of Pevero and Cala di Volpe. Expect elevated tees, sea views and fairways squeezed by rock and macchia.

• Handicap: valid home club certificate; directories give a limit of 34 or 36, so check with the club.
• Buggy: electric carts and trolleys for hire; on this hilly course a cart makes sense in summer.
• Season: listed as open all year, though one directory lists Tuesday as a closing day; check with the club before you book.

Golf Club Puntaldìa (San Teodoro)

About an hour south of Porto Cervo, Puntaldìa is a nine hole course founded in 1990, 1,831 metres from the men’s yellow tees, with views across to Tavolara. No par is published on its scorecard listing. It suits a relaxed late afternoon loop rather than a serious test.

• Handicap: valid certificate, limit 36.
• Buggy: electric carts and trolleys for hire.
• Season: weather dependent; green fee periods run from mid April to early November.

Is Molas Golf Club (Santa Margherita di Pula)

The southern alternative, founded in 1976 about 3 km from the sea near Pula, has 27 holes. Our research turned up different descriptions: one directory lists an 18 hole course plus a separate nine, another three combinable nines (Yellow, Red and White). The 18 hole layout measures 6,383 metres from the whites. We could not verify the designer or par, so check with the club. There is a golf school on site.

• Handicap: valid certificate required for the 18 holes; booking ahead is essential.
• Buggy: electric carts, trolleys and rental clubs.
• Season: listed as open all year. The rates page shows seasonal green fees without a year, so confirm 2026 prices.

Is Molas is around four hours by car from Porto Cervo. Treat it as a separate southern trip, paired with Argiolas and boat days from Pula or Cagliari.

The wine: Vermentino and Cannonau

Gallura, behind the Costa Smeralda, is Vermentino country, and Vermentino di Gallura is Sardinia’s only DOCG. Vines on decomposed granite give a saline, mineral white that suits seafood. Cannonau, the island’s main red grape, has its heartland around Nuoro, with important producers in the south. For context, see our guide to Italian wine regions.

Vigne Surrau (Arzachena)

At Località Chilivagghja near Arzachena, about 15 minutes from Porto Cervo and Pevero, Surrau combines a terrace above some 50 hectares of vines, a wine shop and an art gallery with changing exhibitions. Tastings of three or five wines come with carasau bread, olives, salami, cheese and sweets, with or without a cellar and vineyard tour. The range runs from Vermentino di Gallura (Branu, and Sciala Superiore) to reds, sparkling and passito.

Booking: reserve by phone or email, especially in July and August. A guide updated in May 2026 lists daily opening from 10am. Prices are not published, so check with the estate.

The Gallura hills (Monti, Berchidda, Tempio)

Inland from Olbia, about an hour from Porto Cervo, the cork oak and granite country around Monti, Berchidda, Luras and Tempio Pausania holds many DOCG vineyards. We could not confirm 2026 visit programmes for individual estates here, so ask your concierge to book a tasting rather than arriving unannounced.

Argiolas (Serdiana, for a southern base)

From Pula, Argiolas in Serdiana is roughly an hour by car, about 20 km from Cagliari. The family farms around 250 hectares and grows Cannonau, Vermentino, Carignano, Monica and Bovale; its best known wine, Turriga, blends Cannonau, Carignano, Bovale and Malvasia Nera. Winery tours with tastings are offered in 2026, and in July 2026 the Italian press reported a new five room guesthouse, Casa di Nonno, and a restaurant, Domu, open to non-guests with tasting menus at 70 or 85 euros. Tasting formats and prices at the winery: check with the estate.

For staying among the vines elsewhere, see our hub on vineyard hotels and wine resorts in Italy.

The water: a day in the La Maddalena archipelago

Marinas

• Porto Cervo: the coast’s main yacht harbour, a short walk from the Piazzetta.
• Cannigione: on the Gulf of Arzachena, about 20 minutes by car from Porto Cervo, with a shorter run to the islands.
• Palau: the closest mainland port to La Maddalena.

Routes, swim stops and timing

A classic loop crosses to Caprera and Spargi, then heads for Budelli, Razzoli and Santa Maria, where the Porto della Madonna passage is known for its colour. Cala Corsara on Spargi and the coves of Santa Maria are common swim stops. The Spiaggia Rosa on Budelli is closed to visitors and can only be seen from the water. Cala Coticcio on Caprera is visited on land by guided walk only, with an environmental fee. A half day of around four hours covers one island and a couple of swims, ideal after golf; a full day of about eight hours reaches the northern islands with lunch on board or in La Maddalena town. The season runs roughly May to October.

What a skippered charter typically includes

Usually the boat, a licensed skipper, fuel for a standard route, towels and soft drinks; some add lunch, a hostess or snorkelling kit. Ask in writing whether fuel, the park fee and lunch are included.

Marine park rules

• Authorisation: boats in park waters need a park authorisation, bought online and paid via PagoPA, priced by boat length and duration. A professional skipper usually arranges it.
• Speed: under a 2026 Coast Guard ordinance, 7 knots within 500 metres of the coast and 10 knots between 500 and 1,000 metres.
• Anchoring: banned on Posidonia seagrass, allowed only on sand or mud, and prohibited altogether in some areas, including around the Spiaggia Rosa.
• Other: no waste water discharge and no taking of sand or shells. These measures apply from 1 June to 30 September; check current park and Coast Guard notices.

A sample four day itinerary

Based in Porto Cervo. Times are approximate, outside peak traffic.

• Day 1: land at Olbia, 40 to 45 minutes to Porto Cervo. Late afternoon tasting at Vigne Surrau (15 minutes). Dinner in the Piazzetta.
• Day 2: early tee time at Pevero, about 10 minutes away. Afternoon at the pool or beach.
• Day 3: full day skippered charter from Porto Cervo, or 20 minutes to Cannigione for a shorter crossing. Back for sunset.
• Day 4: an hour south to Puntaldìa for nine holes, then around 30 minutes to Olbia airport.

Comparison table: the courses

Best months and practical tips

When to go: late May, June and September bring warm sea, comfortable morning golf and quieter marinas than August, when heat, prices and anchorages all peak. April and October suit golf and wine, but some hotels and boats are closed.

Wind: the Maestrale (Mistral) blows from the northwest and can make the Strait of Bonifacio rough for days. Schedule the boat mid stay so it can move.

Handicap and dress: all three clubs ask for a certificate; bring your card. Dress codes are not published in detail, so plan on collared shirts, tailored shorts or trousers, soft spikes and no denim.

Transfers: tell your hotel you travel with golf bags so it sends a large enough car, or hire an estate or SUV. Our Italy travel planner covers transfers and car hire. Book Pevero tee times well ahead for June to September.

Where to stay

The first four hotels suit a northeast trip; Forte Village suits Is Molas.

Hotel Cala di Volpe, a Luxury Collection Hotel (Porto Cervo)

Jacques Couëlle’s village-style landmark on its bay is a few minutes by car from Pevero and about 15 from Porto Cervo marina, with a Shiseido spa and a Mouratoglou tennis centre. It opened its 2026 season on 16 April; ask the hotel for the closing date. Read our Hotel Cala di Volpe review.

Best for: golfers who want Pevero on the doorstep.

Check rates at Hotel Cala di Volpe

Romazzino, A Belmond Hotel, Costa Smeralda (Porto Cervo)

The coast’s original beach hotel reopened under Belmond in 2024, with phased renovation continuing through 2026. It sits on its own white sand beach, around ten minutes from Pevero and Porto Cervo, with fresh and saltwater pools and a spa. Ask for a renovated room and check season dates.

Best for: couples who want a beach day between golf and boat.

Check rates at Romazzino

Cervo Hotel, Costa Smeralda Resort (Porto Cervo)

Above the Piazzetta and the marina, so you can walk to your boat. Pevero is about ten minutes by car, Surrau 15. All 80 rooms have balconies, plus a freshwater pool and a boat to a private beach from late May. It opened its 2026 season on 27 March; ask the hotel for the closing date.

Best for: sailors who want the marina on foot.

Check rates at Cervo Hotel

Baglioni Resort Sardinia (San Teodoro)

Opened in 2021 near San Teodoro, a few minutes from Puntaldìa, about an hour from Pevero and close to Olbia airport. Three outdoor pools, a spa and the Michelin-starred Gusto by Sadler; the beach is about eight minutes on foot. Season dates: ask the hotel.

Best for: food lovers who want nine holes and a short airport run.

Check rates at Baglioni Resort Sardinia

Forte Village Resort (Santa Margherita di Pula)

A resort of several hotels on the south coast, under an hour from Cagliari airport and a short drive from Is Molas; Argiolas is roughly an hour away. There is a thalasso spa and more than 20 restaurants. It is seasonal, so ask the hotel for dates. Read our Forte Village review.

Best for: families who want golf, Cannonau and boat days in the south.

Check rates at Forte Village Resort

For routes and park rules on the water, see Sardinia by boat.

For every course on the island in detail, see our guide to golf in Sardinia.

For wine lovers: see our Sardinia wine guide for estates that take visitors, booking rules and where to stay.

Across the strait: southern Corsica is a short crossing from Gallura. See Bonifacio by Boat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a handicap certificate to play Pevero?

Yes, a valid certificate from your home club; directories give a limit of 34 or 36, so confirm with the club and book tee times in advance.

Can I combine Pevero and Is Molas on one trip?

Only on a longer stay: they are around four hours apart by car. Most visitors choose either the Costa Smeralda or Pula as a base.

Do I need a permit for a boat day in La Maddalena?

Boats in the national park need an authorisation, paid online. Skippered charters usually arrange it; ask whether the fee is included.

Can I land on the Spiaggia Rosa?

No. The pink beach on Budelli is closed to visitors and anchoring is prohibited around it. You can see it from the water.