THE BEST GOLF HOTELS: ARGENTARIO & SIENA
Reviews of the best golf hotels in southern Tuscany (Maremma).

Surrounded by nothing more than hills and trees the resort is a gleaming pearl hidden away on the oyster-shaped island of Argentario.  Thoroughly modern throughout, the Argentario resort is at the cutting edge of luxury (yes, 'ambient' music everywhere!).  The central building is mainly glass, offering enticing views of the course and lagoons beyond.  Off this, stretch two wings in which the bedrooms are housed, Suites on the entrance floor descending past Junior Suites and Deluxe rooms to the Superior rooms on the lowest floor (upsidedownly, you enter the hotel on the top floor).

All bedrooms have private balconies and all have baths and showers.  Superior rooms will be perfectly acceptable for most golfers as they are spacious and comfortable: Junior Suites are delightful, Suites are enormous!  Argentario has a very smart, purpose-built spa on the lower floor with indoor and outdoor pools, whirlpools and assorted treatments available.

The restaurant at Argentario stretches out across the wooden decking above the pool and serves classic dishes at lunchtime but in the evening becomes more 'nuova cucina' with some rather adventurous combinations.  For a traditional Italian dinner Porto Ercole is only 5kms away with a cluster of unassuming trattorias around its little harbour.

Only seven kilometres from Siena, tucked away in some classic Tuscan scenery, is the rather comfortable golf resort of La Bagnaia.  Once-upon-a-time it was a tiny Tuscan village, just a couple of ramshackle farms: nowadays it's a quiet, small hotel and 18-holes of golf that cascade over the hillsides around.  Close enough to enjoy the culture, cuisine and buzz of Siena, yet sleep under the stillness of the Tuscan stars.

There are a variety of bedroom types at La Bagnaia, to be honest, the only real difference is the size as all are styled in a traditional Tuscan fashion, with plenty of the original woodwork in evidence and terracotta flagstones across the floors.  Bathrooms are befitting of a five-star hotel with all the creature-comforts that you would expect.

The restaurant at La Bagnaia is excellent, dining on the terazza on a warm Tuscan evening is a real treat and your stay can include dinner every night: although there are quite a few restaurants in Siena to lure you off-resort...

La Bagnaia has a secluded pool above the bedroom buildings where you can cool off after a round in the Tuscan heat and enjoy the sweeping views of Robert Trent Jones' etchings on the Cypress-clad hillsides around.
The golf Clubhouse sits atop the hill opposite, so you will need to drive over to play; a slight irritation but not too irksome that you can't play out from the hotel itself: it also means that the hotel keeps its silence - even on busy golf days!

In the heart of Siena, beside the mammoth Basilica San Domenico, the Chiusarella Hotel is a very welcoming three-star establishment; perfectly positioned for all the sights of Siena and playing some golf too.  In truth, the Chiusarella would easily be a four-star hotel - if only they could find an acceptable place in this listed building to install a lift!

You are sure to be impressed by the warmth of your welcome to the Chiusarella by its long-standing and Sienese staff: all are experts on their hometown so you will not be short of sightseeing and dining recommendations.
Car-parking is taken care of in the nearby public car-parks: two are located within 100m of the hotel or there are secured underground ones a little further afield.

Bedrooms and bathrooms are all of a very good standard, distributed over the three buildings that make-up the Chiusarella hotel.  This leads to a few intricate routes and stairways to get to your room: a chance to admire the beautifully hand-painted hallways along the way.

The hotel's restaurant 'Gli Orti di San Domenico' has been running since 1870 - quite a record! Over all this time, it has remained faithful to its culinary traditions, honouring the rich heritage of Tuscan cuisine - buon appetito!  Needless to add, there are quite a few other trattorie and osterie within a short stroll.