BlackSeaRama
Gary Player's dramatic clifftop course on Bulgaria's northern Black Sea coast, opened in 2008 as the first Player Signature design in Eastern Europe and the country's first championship course. A par 72 laid out high above the bay near Balchik, it was named the world's best new course of 2009 and remains the headline round of a Bulgarian golf trip.
Photo: Jason L via Google.
The verdict
BlackSeaRama opened in 2008 as a Gary Player Signature design, the first from Player in Eastern Europe and the first championship signature course in Bulgaria, and it announced itself quickly: Golf Inc named it the best new course in the world for 2009. It plays as a par 72 of around 6,648 metres, set on the cliffs near Balchik where the land falls some 200 metres to the Black Sea, so the views run for miles along the coast and the wind off the water is a constant companion.
Player has used the clifftop site for everything it is worth, with holes that tumble along the edge and greens perched to catch the eye and the breeze. It is a resort course rather than a brutal tournament test, but the exposure gives it real teeth on a windy day. For the travelling golfer it is the anchor of Bulgaria's compact but high quality golf coast, an easy pairing with its sister Gary Player and Ian Woosnam courses nearby, and a genuine value alternative to the established Mediterranean destinations.
BlackSeaRama at a glance
- Opened
- 2008
- Designer
- Gary Player Signature
- Type
- Clifftop coastal
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- Around 6,648 m
- Green fee
- Seasonal; confirm
Opening year, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the resort and leading course databases; BlackSeaRama opened in 2008 as Gary Player's first Signature design in Eastern Europe, plays to a par 72 of around 6,648 metres, and was named the best new course in the world for 2009 by Golf Inc. Green fees are seasonal and most golfers play on a package or as resort guests; we do not quote a figure we cannot stand behind, so always confirm current pricing directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The round opens back from the cliff edge before working out toward the sea, and the wind is in play from the first tee, so flighting the ball and choosing the sheltered line matter as much as the yardage.
The middle holes are the postcard stretch, running along and above the cliffs with the Black Sea filling the view and several greens set hard against the drop. They are as photogenic as any in this part of Europe and demand committed, controlled iron play in the breeze.
The closing holes turn back toward the clubhouse and the villas, a fair finish that rewards a steady card over heroics. On a calm evening it is a gentle close; on a windy one it can still bite.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course open to visitors and guests; book a tee time in advance |
| Green fee | Seasonal, with the summer the peak; most play on multi course packages or as resort guests. Confirm the current rate with the resort (indicative only, 2026) |
| Booking | Reserve online, through the resort or via your trip planner; package rates usually beat the walk up fee |
| On the day | Buggy friendly clifftop terrain; carts commonly included in packages. Smart golf dress |
| Getting there | On the coast near Balchik, around 45 minutes north of Varna and its international airport |
| Best months | May to October, with the warm, settled summer the peak for the Black Sea coast |
Access and visitor practice verified June 2026; green fees are seasonal and frequently bundled into packages, and change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the resort or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The obvious base is the BlackSeaRama resort itself, with villas overlooking the course and the sea and stay and play packages that bundle the golf with the room and the neighbouring courses.
For a wider trip, the resort sits within a short drive of its sister courses, Thracian Cliffs and Lighthouse, and of the seaside towns of Balchik and Albena, while Varna offers a city base and the airport. Bulgaria's golf coast is compact, so a multi course week needs little driving.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near BlackSeaRama, Balchik and Varna.
Build a Bulgaria golf trip
We pair BlackSeaRama with the best of Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, sort the resort, the tee times and the transfers from Varna, and bundle the package so the extras never surprise you. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
BlackSeaRama questions
Who designed BlackSeaRama and when did it open?
BlackSeaRama was designed by Gary Player and opened in 2008, the first Gary Player Signature course in Eastern Europe and the first championship signature course in Bulgaria. Golf Inc named it the best new course in the world for 2009.
What is the par and length of BlackSeaRama?
It plays as a par 72 of around 6,648 metres, laid out on the cliffs above the Black Sea near Balchik where the land drops some 200 metres to the sea, so the coastal wind is a major part of the challenge.
How much does it cost to play BlackSeaRama?
Green fees are seasonal and most golfers play on a multi course package or as resort guests, which usually beats the walk up rate. Pricing changes year to year, so always confirm current rates directly with the resort or your trip planner before booking.
Where is BlackSeaRama and how do I get there?
It is on the northern Black Sea coast near Balchik, around 45 minutes north of Varna and its international airport. It sits close to its sister courses Thracian Cliffs and Lighthouse, making a compact multi course trip easy.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Opening year, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; green fees are seasonal, confirm directly. Last reviewed June 2026.