Golf holidays in Rome
The city of Rome is quite remarkable in terms of its architecture, art and history. Although not really a true golfing destination as the city itself is vast and the golf courses are spread around the periphery, Rome can make a good golf-and-culture destination. We think there are two ways of playing it: either stay in the city centre and maximise your cultural exposure with a day or two of golf as a refreshing intermission (holiday with golf). Or stay outside the city, closer to the Golf Clubs and dip into Rome (on the train) for a day or two of sightseeing (golf holiday with history). What you don't want to do is stay in the (grotty) suburbs halfway between the two as you will spend most of your holiday in the intense Roman traffic!
For a golf holiday around Rome, there are two areas to stay: Castelgandolfo to the Southeast or the Bracciano Martignano National Park to the Northwest of Rome. Both of these areas have a variety of very good courses to play; if the Ryder Cup course at Marco Simone is your target then Castelgandolfo is the better location of the two (there is nowhere to stay close to the Marco Simone Golf Club).
For a holiday-with-golf in Rome we have a variety of central hotels that we can recommend to suit your budget - just let us know how much luxury you would like!?!
Golf courses in Rome
The best Roman golf courses are to be found either southeast of the city around the Pope's Summer residence at Castelgandolfo or northwest close to the National Park of Bracciano Martignano: interestingly, both of which are extinct volcanoes!
Castelgandolfo has three courses to play: the eponymous Castelgandolfo which actually sits inside the volcanic caldera, a totally unique setting for a golf course we think you'll agree! Close by is Rome's 'Old Course' at Acquasanta - an absolute delight of a course and Club. Plus a little further into the countryside is the rural Fioranello Golf Club in its bucolic setting. Should you wish to relive a few Ryder Cup memories at Marco Simone, then Castelgandolfo is a good place to stay as the course is only half-an-hour away around the GRA (Rome's ring road).
Two of Rome's premier Golf Clubs are to be found to the Northwest of the city: Olgiata and Le Querce. Both of thees are fabulous woodland layouts and well worth playing more than once. In addition, it's not too far from here to play Parco di Roma, designed by the highly-imaginative Pete Dye, it's also the closest course to the Colosseum in a park on Rome's northern outskirts: so the handiest golf course if you are staying in the centre of Rome. There is also a new course at Terre dei Consoli that is being constructed as a residential project that we shall be keeping an eye on as it settles-in.
Rome Golf holidays - where to stay
Castelgandolfo is perfectly placed and perfectly sized for a Roman golf holiday: so nice in fact that the Pope spends his Summers here to escape the Vatican heat (in a rather splendid Papal Palazzo on the main piazza). Furthermore, Castelgandolfo, besides being the Pope's Summer residence (or maybe due to), has plenty to offer the passing tourist in the way of hostelries along its short high street and around its small piazza. Spectacularly, the town of Castelgandolfo sits on the rim of an extinct volcano, the caldera now filled with the waters that form Lago Albano. Around this lake are beaches and bars where you can take a breath of fresh air away from the crowds; there are lots of little places to dine out too - a green and blue haven of peace close to the throbbing heart of Rome.
In Castelgandolfo there are two very good family-run hotels: the Castelvecchio which is just outside the town and benefits from some rather fine views from its rooftop pool or the Castelgandolfo Hotel, which is right in the centre of town. Either makes an excellent base for a golf holiday around Rome.
To the Northwest of Rome one of the best places to stay for golfers is the very impressive Foresteria (dormy house) at the Golf Nazionale (aka Le Querce). This is much more of a full-blown three-star hotel than a traditional UK dormy house (which can be rather basic!); plus you will be able to dine in the splendour of the Clubhouse each evening.
Should you wish to stay away from the golf courses on the Bracciano Martignano lake, let us know as there are some lovely hotels around the lakeshore that we can recommend as well.
Getting to Rome
Not surprisingly Italy's capital has plenty of flights everyday to its two airports - Fiumicino and Ciampino.
For golf at Castelgandolfo, Ciampino is by far the closest airport being only half an hour away. However Fiumicino is not too much further thanks to the ring-road that circumvents the astonishing Roman traffic.
Once on the ground, we can arrange rental cars for you to get around during your holiday or transfers if you prefer (quite sensibly, most opt for the latter!).
