Golf Club Villa d'Este
Villa d'Este remains one of the great signatures of Italian golf
Villa d'Este remains one of the great signatures of Italian golf: elegant, exacting and deeply tied to the refinement of Lake Como. The course is famously a par 69, yet that number tells only part of the story. Precision, control and composure are everything here, and the challenge lies in how little the layout gives away to careless golf. Surrounded by mature trees and touched by the atmosphere of one of Italy's most storied leisure destinations, the club carries a rare blend of prestige and intimacy. It is a place where beauty is never merely decorative, because every lovely view arrives with a strategic demand attached. For elite travelers, Villa d'Este is not just a famous name but a real test, one that rewards sharp iron play and disciplined decision-making. Few clubs in Italy combine such visual grace with such exacting standards of golf.
Do not let the par 69 fool you: Villa d'Este demands absolute precision and high-level iron play. Scoring here comes from discipline, not distance.
Uno dei nomi più iconici ed eleganti del golf italiano
Percorso di precisione in un contesto lacustre straordinario
Richiede un gioco molto ordinato e disciplinato
Green fee e disponibilità riflettono il suo status premium
Exclusive Experiences
Secrets found in no guidebook, curated by our concierge.
Villa Melzi — Giardini Segreti
The neoclassical gardens of Villa Melzi in Bellagio, at the tip of the lake's triangle, host a 150-year-old botanical collection that most tourists never find. The lakeside path at dusk is arguably the most beautiful walkway in Italy.
“There is a precise spot, behind the private chapel, where you can see both the Como and Lecco branches of the lake simultaneously. The gardener, Matteo, knows every plant by name. A coffee with him is worth more than any guidebook.”
Villa del Balbianello — Apertura del Mattino
Set on one of Lake Como's most cinematic promontories, Villa del Balbianello is the kind of place that turns a detour into a travel memory. Sculpted terraces, geometric gardens and the hush of the water make it the perfect cultural counterpoint to a day of high-style golf.
“Book the very first morning slot and arrive by taxi boat: before the lake fills with traffic, the villa has an almost unreal calm and every photograph feels like a private editorial commission.”
Lago di Como — Riva in Ora Blu
A short boat passage along the western branch of the lake, just as the villas begin to switch on their lights, reveals Como at its most theatrical. It is a small but finely judged experience, more elegant than a standard cruise and far more memorable after eighteen holes.
“Ask the pilot to drift slowly between Cernobbio and Moltrasio around blue hour: from the water, Villa d'Este is better seen than from any terrace on land.”