Costa Navarino: The Dunes Course
Greece's first signature designed course opened in May 2010 and announced the country as a golf destination. Bernhard Langer, working with European Golf Design, laid out a par 71 of 6,581 yards through seaside dunes, olive groves and citrus trees on the Ionian coast of the Peloponnese, with green fees around EUR 204 in 2026.
Photo: The Dunes Course, Costa Navarino via Google.
The verdict
The Dunes is the course that built Greek golf travel. When it opened in May 2010 it was the first signature designed course in the country, and it remains the flagship of Costa Navarino, the vast resort development on the unspoiled southwest coast of the Peloponnese. Langer and European Golf Design used two distinct landscapes: holes near the sea run through low dunes with the Ionian glittering beyond, while the inland stretch winds among centuries old olive trees and citrus groves with the Messinian hills behind.
It is resort golf of real quality rather than an examination paper. Fairways are generous, the greens are large, and the design asks for placement rather than brute carry, which makes it a joy in the sea breeze that builds most afternoons. Paired with the Bay Course down the coast and the two newer courses at Navarino Hills, it anchors what has become the most complete golf destination in the eastern Mediterranean.
The Dunes Course at a glance
- Opened
- May 2010
- Designer
- Bernhard Langer
- Type
- Seaside dunes and groves
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- 6,581 yd back tees
- Green fee
- About EUR 204
Designer, opening date, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the resort and leading course databases. The course was designed by Bernhard Langer in association with European Golf Design. The indicative 2026 green fee is about EUR 204 with shared buggy and range balls included, around EUR 245 for walk in play; rates change by season, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes that stay with you
The seaside holes are the postcard: the stretch along the dunes plays toward and beside the Ionian, where the wind freshens through the afternoon and the rugged contours of the fairways are shaped to echo the mountain outlines across the bay. These are the holes that fill Greek golf brochures, and they earn it.
Inland the course changes character completely. Holes thread between ancient olive trees that were transplanted and preserved during construction, and the citrus scent in spring is something no northern European course can offer. The large, subtly contoured greens are the main defense throughout, and Langer's routing keeps the walk gentle enough that the buggy included in the fee feels optional on a cool day.
Played alongside its sibling, the American style Bay Course twenty minutes south above Navarino Bay, the Dunes gives a two round visit genuine variety, and the 36 holes at Navarino Hills have since stretched a stay to four rounds without repetition.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course, open to the public; resort guests get preferred rates and booking windows |
| Green fee | About EUR 204 per round with shared buggy and range balls included; around EUR 245 walk in (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book through the Costa Navarino golf office or online; high season mornings go first and a midsummer maintenance closure is usual, so check dates |
| On the day | Standard resort dress code; the practice campus and golf academy are excellent for a warm up |
| Getting there | Kalamata airport is about 45 minutes by car with seasonal European connections; Athens is roughly a 3 hour drive |
| Best months | April to June and September to November; July and August are hot, while winter golf is mild and quiet |
Fees and access verified June 2026; rates and policies change by season, so always confirm directly before booking. Check live availability with our tee time partner.
Where to stay nearby
The Dunes sits within Navarino Dunes, the original heart of Costa Navarino, where The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort and the W Costa Navarino put you a buggy ride from the first tee. Both are genuine five star properties with the beach, spa and restaurant depth to keep non golfers happy for a week.
Beyond the resort, the harbor town of Pylos and the long sands of Voidokilia Bay are the local excursions, and the wider region rewards a hire car: ancient Messene and the Mani peninsula are both within day trip range. For the full destination picture, see our guide to golf in Greece.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts at Costa Navarino.
Build a Greece golf trip
We book Dunes and Bay tee times, pair them with the right Costa Navarino hotel and add an Athens or island leg if the trip runs longer. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Dunes Course questions
Who designed the Dunes Course at Costa Navarino?
The Dunes Course was designed by two time Masters champion Bernhard Langer in association with European Golf Design and opened in May 2010 as the first signature designed golf course in Greece.
What are the par and yardage of the Dunes Course?
The Dunes Course plays to par 71 and measures 6,581 yards from the back tees, with generous fairways and large greens working through dunes, olive groves and citrus trees.
How much is the green fee on the Dunes Course?
The indicative 2026 green fee is about EUR 204 with a shared buggy and warm up range balls included, rising to around EUR 245 for walk in play. Rates change by season, so always confirm directly before booking.
How do you get to Costa Navarino?
Costa Navarino sits on the Ionian coast of Messinia in the southwest Peloponnese. Kalamata airport is about 45 minutes away with seasonal European connections, and Athens is roughly a three hour drive.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening date, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.