COSTA NAVARINO GOLF COURSES
Reviews of the four Greek golf courses: Bay, Dunes, Hills & Olympic.
N.B. All four courses at Costa Navarino are 'buggy only'; the cost of which is included in the Green-fees.
Costa Navarino - Bay Architect: R. Trent Jones Jnr. (2011). 18 holes: 5,536m: par 71.
One of the first courses to be set-out at Costa Navarino, consequently Mr. Trent Jones Jnr. had the pick of the topography to work with and has done it justice with an eye-catching, yet not too testing course that brushes up against Navarino Bay in several places and carries all the Trent Jones hallmarks. The Bay course begins amongst the new development at 'Costa Navarino Waterfront' (W Hotel, marina, shops and restaurants) from where it climbs inland amongst the ubiquitous olive groves in this part of the Pelopennese, before returning to the bay again for the finishing holes under the gaze (and mood music!) of the Mandarin Oriental hotel. At a very approachable length (under 6,000m), it's perfect for holiday golfers wanting a scenic game (and buggy ride) in a picturesque setting: anything wrong with that?
Costa Navarino - Dunes Architect: B. Langer (2010). 18 holes: 6,581m: par 71.
Costa Navarino Dunes course wraps around the Westin hotel and with just a hundred metres to stroll from the hotel to the Clubhouse it's the most convenient of the four courses for Westin residents*. Probably the toughest test at Costa Navarino (Danke schön Herr Langer) but thankfully five sets of Tees mean that you can choose how much pessure you put on your game! On the plus side, rough is kept to the bare minimum, so as long as you can avoid the woods and water, good progress can be made. Named the Dunes as a few holes have an almost linksy feel but don't expect towering mountains of sand smothered in marram grass (or linksy weather!); the bulk of the course runs inland over the first hills of this mountainous region of Greece. Large Clubhouse to enjoy once it's all over, normally frequented by golfers not resident at the adjoining Westin.
*The Costa Navarino Golf Academy is sited here as well, home to Lee Johnson's golf school weeks: Winter Golf Schools.
Costa Navarino - Hills Architect: J.M. Olàzabal
(2021). 18 holes: 6,280m: par 72.
One of the second pair of courses at Costa Navarino that share a Clubhouse high on the hills above Navarino Bay. From here the Hills course spreads out amongst the wild vegetation that covers the rolling hills of Messinia. José-Maria was kind enough to carve super-wide Fairways through this impenetrable Greek jungle, so you won't be put-off plucking the Driver from the bag! The course is not extremely hilly but everyone seems to play from a buggy - not a bad idea with average temperatures up in the 30°s even in the cooler months and some strolls from Green to Tee.
Costa Navarino - Olympic Architect: J-M. Olàzabal (2020). 18 holes: 6,366m: par 72.
Tho Olympic course at Costa Navarino has by far the best scenery, especially the nerve-jangling stretch of holes that run along the cliif-top directly above the bay. It is also the trickiest of the four golf courses with tighter holes demanding a greater degree of accuracy than elsewhere and a correspondingly heightened level of retribution for any wayward strikes! It's full title is the Olympic 'Academy' course but don't be fooled into thinking it's designed for beginners! However, it is great fun to play and having battled your way round, you can enjoy the delightful views from the Clubhouse terrace.