Costa Navarino
Messinia, Greece
When the architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. thinks of Greece’s Costa Navarino, similarly sprawling and golf-rich resorts like Pebble, Pinehurst and Bandon spring to mind. What springs to mind for the Greeks? Perhaps … “Golf?” Remarkably, there are less than a dozen 18-hole courses in the entire country — that’s how little footing the sport has gained on Greece’s famously rocky terrain. So it’s beyond unexpected that Costa Navarino has, in the past few years, rocketed to the top of the list of Continental Europe’s finest golf resorts. Set in the Peloponnese region of the country, three hours west of Athens by car, the seaside resort is nirvana for both golfers and hedonists. Four world-class courses are routed around, above and alongside four first-class hotels: the family-friendly Westin; the hipster, adults-preferred W; the romantically posh Romanos; and the even more posh (and pricey) Mandarin Oriental. The Greeks may not know much about golf, but they’re scratch players at hospitality. Among the things at Costa Navarino that are abundant: outdoor dining of every imaginable variety; atmosphere; sun-worshipping Europeans; infused gin and tonics; vistas; warm breezes; trance-y Euro beats—and all the golf you can handle. [LEARN MORE HERE]
Finca Cortesin
Casares, Spain
A five-star resort tucked just outside the dreamy Spanish coast city of Malaga, you’d be forgiven if you “forgot” to make a tee time at Finca Cortesin and instead spent your time hanging out at the property’s immaculate hotel, which routinely ranks as one of the 50 best in the world. But you should make a tee time at Cabell B. Robinson’s rugged design, a visually stunning and essentially Spanish track that runs from the hills out to the ocean. The Solheim Cup’s visit here in 2023 is just the latest pro golf excursion to Malaga, which has also hosted the DP World Tour’s Match Play Championship on a handful of occasions. After your round is done, hang out at the delicately maintained gardens, or spend some time overlooking stunning blue water at the property’s own private beach club (or four separate swimming pools). It’s all stunning at Finca Cortesin, which is sorta the point. It’s simply one of the most luxurious golf destinations on earth … hopefully the folks at The White Lotus don’t get any ideas. [LEARN MORE HERE]
Golf du Médoc
Bordeaux, France
Golf paradise in the heart of wine country? Would you mind if we ordered seconds? At Golf du Medoc, the answer is always no. Be it from any of the 79 rooms attached to the resort hotel to either of the property’s two championship golf courses … or anywhere beyond. With a host of alternate activities (wine-tasting chief among them) and a series of golf packages, Golf du Medoc does a little bit of everything well. For the golfer seeking their own chunk of adventure in the south of France, there may be no destination better — or more fulfilling. Just don’t forget to leave room for dinner at the on-property restaurant, where a traditional French meal prepared by head chef Benoit Gourgues may have a claim to the best “clubhouse menu” in golf. [LEARN MORE HERE]
Lofoten Links
Gimsøysand, Norway
It is not often a place can lay a genuine claim to being both the world’s most far-out golf destination and its prettiest.Then again, Lofoten Links isn’t a very typical golf destination. There are few places in the world that can match Lofoten’s combination of proper links golf, stunning ocean views and distant mountain vistas. There are no other places in the world that can claim those things AND a regular view of the Northern Lights. Lofoten’s charm is deeply Scandinavian — with on-site “cabins” for rent as opposed to traditional hotel rooms, and an on-site horse farm that doubles as a campsite for more rugged attendees. But it is fully one of one in the world of golf, and for that alone, it’s worth pinning high aboard your bucket list. [LEARN MORE HERE]
Monte Rei G&CC
Tavira, Portugal
Completed in 2007, the Jack Nicklaus Signature Design North Course at Monte Rei Golf & C.C. is considered by many to be Portugal’s best track. Set between the Serra do Caldeirão mountains and the Atlantic Ocean in the eastern portion of the country’s renowned Algarve district, Monte Rei is a stone’s throw from the southeast Portuguese/Spanish border. Day trips to Lisbon, Faro or Seville, Spain, are there for the taking, but why leave? Monte Rei is full-service, top-tier resort luxury, offering best-in-class on- and off-course escapes, prioritizing experiences that emphasize the destination’s rustic setting. Apartment-style residences are chic and comfy, with easy access to pools, bars, restaurants and the golf (including a PGA-staffed learning academy). A hideaway with every creature comfort imaginable? Not bad for one of Europe’s fastest-growing destinations. [LEARN MORE HERE]
Oitavos Dunes
Lisbon, Portugal
As far as destinations go in this region, Cascais, home to Oitavos Dunes, has done more to cement Portugal’s reputation as a must-see golf destination than any other. The Arthur Hills design Oitavos Dunes, opened in 2021, took the old guard resorts in the country’s Algarve and opened a new world of opportunity for travelers looking for something new. Europe came first. Now, the world. If panoramic views (the Atlantic, in particular) is your sort of thing, Oitavos is it. Once the new kid on the Euro tour block, Oitavos is now two-decades in as a must-visit, and a key piece to Portugal’s status as a world-class golf destination. It’s beach-heavy, yet Lisbon close, and the layout is Arthur Hills at his best. [LEARN MORE HERE]
PGA National Sweden
Bara, Sweden
In 2023, much of the talk surrounding golf visits to Scandinavia focuses on Norway’s Lofoten Links, but don’t sleep on PGA National. It’s here that the area firmly established itself as a golf gateway to northern Europe, which has given the European Ryder and Solheim Cup teams more players than ever before. Some of Kyle Phillips’ best work outside Kingsbarns can be found here, in a “have-it-your-way” resort experience that’s probably best accessed by flying into Copenhagen. [LEARN MORE HERE]
