Costa Navarino: The Dunes Course
Opened in 2010 in the southwest Peloponnese, The Dunes Course was the first signature golf course built in Greece, designed by two time Masters champion Bernhard Langer with European Golf Design. A par 71 set among olive groves, seaside dunes and the Ionian Sea, it is the centrepiece of the Costa Navarino resort and the course that brought serious golf to Greece.
Photo: The Dunes Course, Costa Navarino via Google.
The verdict
When Costa Navarino opened The Dunes Course in 2010, it gave Greece its first true resort golf destination, and the course remains the heart of the experience. Bernhard Langer and European Golf Design routed it in two contrasting halves, an inland stretch that climbs through olive groves and the Messinian hills, and a coastal stretch that runs by the mouth of the river Selas toward the Ionian Sea, where the wind and the dunes bring a links flavour.
It is a thoughtful, varied design that frames the landscape rather than fighting it, preserving thousands of mature olive trees and the natural contours of the land. Playable for the resort guest yet interesting for the better player, it pairs with the resort's other courses to make Costa Navarino the standout golf base in the eastern Mediterranean and a genuine reason to bring the clubs to Greece.
The Dunes Course at a glance
- Opened
- 2010
- Designer
- Bernhard Langer
- Type
- Coastal and parkland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 6,018 m
- Green fee
- EUR 200 to 240
Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026 from Costa Navarino and leading course databases. The Dunes Course was designed by Bernhard Langer with European Golf Design and opened in 2010, a par 71 of about 6,018 metres, roughly 6,580 yards. Indicative green fees are around 204 euros, with visitors typically paying close to 240 euros and resort guests a little less; figures change by season, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Dunes Course plays in two distinct movements. The opening holes climb away from the resort through groves of ancient olive trees and across rolling, scrubby hillside, parkland in feel and framed by the Messinian landscape. Placement matters here, with the slopes and the trees rewarding the player who shapes the ball to the right side of the fairway.
The closing stretch is the signature, dropping toward the coast where the holes run beside the dunes and the river mouth within sight and sound of the Ionian Sea. The breeze off the water turns these holes into a links style test, and the wind, the firm turf and the bunkering ask for lower, controlled shots and careful course management.
Langer's greens are fair but subtle, and the variety between the high inland holes and the coastal run keeps the round absorbing throughout. It is a course that suits a wide range of players and showcases its setting beautifully, the obvious first round of any Costa Navarino golf trip.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course open to guests and visitors with a tee time booking, the main golf venue at Costa Navarino |
| Green fee | Indicative around 204 euros, with visitors close to 240 euros and resort guests a little less; twilight rates apply |
| Booking | Reserve ahead through the resort or a trip planner, particularly in the spring and autumn peaks |
| On the day | Walkable with buggies available; smart golf attire expected; caddies and academy on site |
| Getting there | In Messinia in the southwest Peloponnese, about 45 minutes from Kalamata Airport |
| Best months | April to June and September to October for warm, settled weather and firm coastal turf |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from Costa Navarino and operator listings; seasonal pricing changes, so always confirm current rates and tee times directly before booking through the resort or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Costa Navarino is a destination resort, with several hotels set among the olive groves and along the coast, putting The Dunes Course and the resort's other layouts within easy reach. Staying on site is the simplest way to combine golf with the beaches, spas and dining of the resort.
The wider Messinia region offers history and coastline to explore between rounds, from the bay of Navarino to the old town of Pylos, and the resort's courses together make a full golf week in one of the Mediterranean's most appealing settings.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts at Costa Navarino and around Messinia.
Build a Costa Navarino golf trip
We secure the Dunes Course tee times, pair them with the other Costa Navarino courses and book the resort lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Dunes Course questions
Who designed The Dunes Course at Costa Navarino?
The Dunes Course was designed by two time Masters champion Bernhard Langer in collaboration with European Golf Design and opened in 2010. It was the first signature golf course built in Greece.
What is the par and length of The Dunes Course?
The Dunes Course is a par 71 of about 6,018 metres, roughly 6,580 yards, from the back tees, with an inland half through olive groves and hills and a coastal half by the Ionian Sea.
How much does it cost to play The Dunes Course in 2026?
Indicative green fees are around 204 euros, with visitors typically paying close to 240 euros and resort guests a little less. Figures change by season, so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
Can visitors play The Dunes Course?
Yes. The Dunes Course is a resort course open to guests and visitors with a tee time booking. Reserve ahead in the busy spring and autumn seasons and confirm current rates and tee times directly before traveling.
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 year, par and length verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.