Lighthouse Golf Resort
The course that opened Bulgaria's Black Sea Golf Coast, Ian Woosnam's links inspired par 71 strung along the limestone cliffs north of Balchik. Opened in 2008 with 80 bunkers and five lakes across around 6,338 metres, and a member of European Tour Properties, it pairs serious championship golf with strong value and warm late season sun, a short flight from much of Europe.
Photo: Lighthouse Golf and Spa Resort via Google.
The verdict
Lighthouse is where Bulgarian golf began in earnest. Ian Woosnam laid out this links inspired par 71 on the cliffs near Balchik and opened it in 2008, the trailblazer that drew the Gary Player courses at BlackSeaRama and Thracian Cliffs to the same stretch of coast within a few years. Today the three sit inside six kilometres of each other as Bulgaria's Black Sea Golf Coast, and Lighthouse remains the anchor, a member of European Tour Properties that hosted the European Tour Senior Classic in 2018.
Woosnam took his cue from traditional links, using the natural roll of the clifftop ground, firm turf and an exposed setting above the sea rather than tricks or tiers. With 80 bunkers and five lakes there is plenty to think about, and when the wind comes off the Black Sea the par 71 holds up against good players. Pair it with the neighbouring two courses, factor in the value and the autumn warmth, and it makes a compelling, still under the radar golf week.
Lighthouse Golf Resort at a glance
- Opened
- 2008
- Designer
- Ian Woosnam
- Type
- Clifftop links
- Par
- 71
- Length
- Around 6,338 m
- Access
- Resort, open to visitors
Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026 from the resort and leading course databases; Ian Woosnam's course opened in 2008 as a par 71 of around 6,338 metres with 80 bunkers and five lakes. Indicative green fees run from around 72 to 80 euros for eighteen holes with a buggy usually extra. Fees are indicative and we do not quote our own pricing, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The round makes the most of its perch above the Black Sea, with several holes playing toward the cliff edge and the water filling the eye on the approach. Woosnam routed it to use the gentle clifftop movement, so stances and lies vary and the firmer running turf rewards a player who flights the ball and uses the ground.
The defences are honest and visible: 80 bunkers cut into the fairways and greens, five lakes that gather the loose shot, and an exposure to the sea breeze that turns a calm par 71 into a real examination when it blows. There is width to play with off many tees, but the second shot is where the course bites, asking for the right club and the right line into well guarded greens.
The signature is the setting, the cliffs and the sea, rather than any single trick hole, and that is the right note for a links inspired course. Played in a steady coastal wind, with the neighbouring cliffs of Thracian Cliffs in the distance, it is a memorable and genuinely testing round.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course open to visiting golfers and hotel guests; book ahead in the warm season |
| Green fee | Indicative around 72 to 80 euros for eighteen holes, buggy usually extra at about 40 euros; 2026 indicative, confirm directly |
| Booking | Reserve through the resort or a Black Sea golf specialist, especially for the autumn peak |
| On the day | Buggy usually required; carts, clubs and an academy on site. Smart golf dress |
| Getting there | Near Balchik on the northern Black Sea coast, about 40 minutes from Varna airport and its international flights |
| Best months | May, June and September to October for warm, settled coastal weather |
Access and fee guidance verified June 2026; green fees move with season, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The simplest plan is to stay on site at the Lighthouse Golf and Spa hotel, steps from the first tee with the spa, pools and Black Sea beach close at hand, and the two neighbouring courses a short drive along the coast. It makes an easy three course base for a golf week.
For a wider trip, Varna and the resort town of Balchik add restaurants, the famous Balchik Palace and botanical gardens, and beach time between rounds, while the keen player can build a full Black Sea Golf Coast itinerary across Lighthouse, BlackSeaRama and Thracian Cliffs.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Balchik and the Black Sea Golf Coast.
Build a Black Sea golf trip
We pair Lighthouse with the Gary Player courses at BlackSeaRama and Thracian Cliffs, sort the clifftop resort stay, transfers from Varna and the tee times, and cost it to the head. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge handles the rest, with no obligation.
Lighthouse Golf Resort questions
Who designed Lighthouse Golf Resort and when did it open?
The course was designed by the former Masters champion and Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam and opened in 2008, the first championship course on Bulgaria's Black Sea Golf Coast near Balchik.
What is the par and length of Lighthouse Golf Course?
It is a links inspired par 71 of around 6,338 metres, laid out along the limestone cliffs above the Black Sea with 80 bunkers and five lakes in play.
Has Lighthouse hosted any professional events?
Yes. Lighthouse is a member of European Tour Properties and hosted the European Tour Senior Classic in 2018, and it anchors a coast that also includes the Gary Player courses at BlackSeaRama and Thracian Cliffs.
Can visitors play Lighthouse Golf Resort?
Yes. It is a resort course open to visiting golfers and hotel guests, with a buggy usually required. Green fees vary by season, so always confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026; access and fee guidance verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.