Golf Courses in Greece
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Greece offers the ideal conditions for golf holidays, as its good weather and a good amount of hours of sunshine along the year, are more than enough to play golf. The Greeks love tradition and they are blessed with a rich and colorful history, their love of the gods, mythology and dreams of Atlantis, which are all very much alive today. Greece is regarded as the birthplace of democracy, literature, philosophy and naturally the Olympic Games. In fact, Greece has a little something for everyone, from relaxing beaches to buzzing cities but unfortunately, there is precious little in Greece to please the travelling golfer. However, the Bernhard Langer designed Dunes course and Robert Trent Jones Jnr’s Bay course at Costa Navarino have raised the Greek golfing bar and the expectations for the future...
There are only seven 18-hole and one 9-hole golf courses in Greece and below you can find a small briefing for each of those.
Costa Navarino
Dunes Course
Former Ryder Cup Captain and US Masters Champion Bernhard Langer, in association with European Golf Design, is the architect of the first 18-hole signature designed golf course in Greece. The Dunes Course, inspired by the character of the natural landscape, opened in 2010.
Costa Navarino
Bay Course
Just a few minutes from Navarino Dunes, the Bay Course - opened in 2012, offers an alternative set of challenges and choices in a quite different setting. Designed by leading American architect Robert Trent Jones Jr., it plays a little shorter than the Dunes Course at 5,760 meters from the back tees. The par 71 course places a slightly greater emphasis on strategic play and positional golf.
Porto Carras
Olive Grove
The land of 1,763 hectares on which Porto Carras resort is built, came into the possession of Giannis Carras at the end of the 1960s. The course was initially designed by Geoffrey S. Cornish and William G. Robinson, two of America’s most renowned course architects in 1974, rating Porto Carras Golf & Country Club as one of their finest creations. It was renovated in 2003 by Roy Mc Ray. The only golf course in Northern Greece known as “Olive Grove”, hosts top level International championships and has a lot of repeater golfers every year. The location of Porto Carras Grand Resort is ideal, just in front of a wonderful beach and in the feet of Mount Meliton.
The Crete Golf Club
The Crete Golf Club, designed by Bob Hunt from PGA Design Consulting, opened in 2003. Crete is the largest greek island which keeps intact its unique character. The first 18-hole golf course has a mountain-style layout, it has been constructed in harmony with the surrounding landscape, providing panoramic views of both the mountains of Crete and the Aegean Sea in the distance.
As of 2012 The Crete Golf Club is an official venue of the Ladies European Tour Access Series. It has also hosted the EGA Mens’ Challenge Trophy with great success in July 2008, while for 3 consecutive years it hosted the Aegean Airlines Pro-Am.
Corfu Golf Course
When Charalambos Tsaousoglou bought the Xenia hotel in Corfu in 1965, his cousin Cleon Kedros of Trieste, a keen golfer, and his good friend Mr. Constantine Karamanlis, ex president of the Greek democracy, advised him that Corfu needed a golf course if it was to become a high quality tourist resort.
A large area of the island in Ropa Valley was purchased, and in 1967 Donald Harradine, the Swiss based golf course architect, was commissioned to build the course, which he completed in 1971. The Clubhouse was designed by the well-known Greek architect Mr. Hatzimichalis and constructed out of local stone.
Glyfada Golf Course
The history of the Glyfada Golf Course begins in 1960, when the Municipality of Glyfada leased an area of 530 acres to the EOT ( the Hellenic National Organisation of Tourism) for the construction of a golf course in the coastal area.The renowned golf architect Donald Harradine built an 18-hole golf course in 1962, which still exists. Harradine had many new trees planted along the fairways, mainly the pine trees native to the region.
In 1979, 45 countries sent golfers to the 27th World Cup Series at Glyfada - Bernhard Langer represented Germany.
It is the only Golf Course in the Capital of Greece, Athens!
Afandou, Rhodes Golf Course
Designed by the Britain’s famous architect Donald Harradine, first opened in 1973. The Clubhouse is very simple with all facilities (changing rooms, lockers, showers, pro shop, snack bar) all offered with the friendly and helpful service. Located in Afandou Bay, 18 km from Rhodes town, on the road to Lindos. Opened in 1973. The course is suitable for players of all Handicaps. A very active Golf Club with tradition on players establishing the national teams. Eleven of those (just like a football team), who started their first golf steps in Rhodes are today PGA Professionals!
Porto Elounda Golf & Spa Resort
A 9-hole, par 3 course, with 2 playing options for every hole. It is a part of the Porto Elounda Golf & Spa Resort, started and opened in 1991, one of the most prestigious places in Greece, located in east Crete, 4 km north of Agios Nikolaos. Every year in October the Greek PGA organises the Elounda ProAm, played over the 18-holes championship course of Crete Golf Club, 30 minutes away.
