Golf Club Varese
One of the understated classics of northern Italian golf
Golf Club Varese is one of the understated classics of northern Italian golf, a course that rewards the traveler who values sporting credibility over noise. Founded in 1934, it unfolds through Lombard parkland with a distinctly hilly rhythm, asking for balance, stamina and precision more than brute power. The atmosphere is traditional without stiffness, and the club retains the kind of grounded identity that serious golfers often appreciate more than overt spectacle. What makes Varese so compelling is its consistency: the routing feels mature, the terrain creates natural variety, and the overall experience remains focused on the game itself. For travelers moving between Milan and the lakes, it offers a refined detour into a more authentic golf culture, away from the most obvious headlines. It is not the loudest name in the region, but it is very often one of the most satisfying to play well.
Varese rewards patience and good footing: the slopes are part of the examination, and they make the round more serious than the card first suggests.
Storico club lombardo con grande credibilità sportiva
Percorso collinare maturo e molto interessante
Fisicamente più impegnativo di quanto sembri
Meno iconico mediaticamente dei club lacustri più celebri
Exclusive Experiences
Secrets found in no guidebook, curated by our concierge.
Campo dei Fiori — Sentiero dell'Alba
The Campo dei Fiori natural park above Varese holds a 3km trail climbing to the summit at 1,227m, with views of the Alps, Apennines, and on clear days even the Monviso. At summer dawn, when the Po Plain is still cloaked in mist, you walk literally above the clouds.
“The Locanda del Sass, halfway up the trail, serves breakfast from 6am for early morning walkers only. Their rye bread with local chestnut honey is on no menu — they prepare it for those who arrive before 7.”
Sacro Monte — Passeggiata delle Cappelle
The Sacro Monte of Varese, a UNESCO site, is a theatrical sequence of Baroque chapels climbing through the woods with unmistakable Lombard grace. In late afternoon, when the pink stone warms and the distant lake begins to glow, the walk takes on an almost cinematic mood.
“Start from the First Chapel around 6pm and pause at the Moses terrace: on clear days you see lakes, plain and Alpine skyline in a single glance. It is the moment locals choose when they want to remember why they stay in Varese.”
Cantina Angiuli — Degustazione Privata
Just minutes from the club's fairways, a small family-run cellar offers tailored tastings with labels from Italy's northwest and artisanal bottles rarely seen in tourist circuits. It is a discreet address, designed more for long conversations than quick stopovers.
“Ask for a vertical tasting of pre-Alpine reds paired with local mountain cheeses: it is not listed anywhere, but once they hear you are arriving from the club, the bottles become far more interesting.”