The Crete Golf Club
Bob Hunt cut a desert style course out of the rolling, rocky hills above Hersonissos in 2003, and it is still the only 18 hole layout on Crete. A par 72 of around 5,500 metres framed by gorges, olive groves and views to the Aegean, it is the unmissable round on Greece's largest island.
Photo: The Crete Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Crete is not a golf island in the way the Algarve or Belek are, and that is exactly why The Crete Golf Club is such a pleasant surprise. Set high above the resort strip of Hersonissos, it is a genuine desert style course, its emerald fairways threaded through a parched, rocky landscape of ravines and scrub, with the mountains rising behind and the Aegean glinting in the distance. The contrast of green turf against bare Cretan rock gives every hole a striking, slightly otherworldly look.
It plays as good as it looks. Bob Hunt routed the course to use the natural fall of the land, so blind shots, elevated tees and two tiered greens keep you thinking even though the card is not especially long. As the only 18 hole course on the island it carries the weight of Cretan golf on its own, and it wears it well. For a couple who want a memorable round folded into a beach and culture holiday, or a small group adding a different island to a wider Greek trip, it is well worth the drive up from the coast.
The Crete Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 2003
- Designer
- Bob Hunt
- Type
- Desert style
- Par
- 72
- Length
- About 5,500 m
- Green fee
- From around €90
Designer, opening year and par verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. The Crete Golf Club was designed by Bob Hunt and opened in 2003, a par 72 of around 5,500 metres, roughly 6,000 yards, from the regular tees. Indicative 2026 green fees run from around €90 in peak season, with lower shoulder and winter rates and buggy hire on top; fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The signature hole is the par 3 sixth, a shot of around 198 yards that has to carry a deep gorge to find a two tiered green set into the base of the hillside. Misjudge the club or the wind and the ball is gone, but flush it and you have one of the most satisfying tee shots on the island. It is the hole everyone photographs and the one most people remember.
Around it, the routing makes the most of the elevation. Several tees are perched above their fairways with the Aegean filling the horizon, and the greens are quick and cleverly contoured, so distance control on the approach matters as much as length off the tee. The rocky scrub that frames the holes is beautiful but unforgiving, rewarding a steady, positional game over brute power.
What stays with you is the setting. There is nothing else quite like it in Greek golf: a true desert aesthetic on a Mediterranean island, with mountain and sea views on almost every hole. It is not a championship marathon, but as a one of a kind round on Crete it punches well above its length.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Pay and play resort course, open to visitors; no membership required |
| Green fee | From around €90 in peak season, with cheaper shoulder and winter rates (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book ahead in the busy summer months; clubs, buggies and trolleys available to hire |
| On the day | Smart casual golf attire; soft spikes; allow extra time for the hilly, exposed walk if not taking a buggy |
| Getting there | In the hills above Hersonissos, about 25 minutes from the resort coast and around 40 minutes from Heraklion airport |
| Best months | April to June and September to November for comfortable temperatures; mild winters keep it playable year round |
Access arrangements and fees verified June 2026 via the club and leading databases; policies and rates change, so always confirm directly before booking with the course or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is the Hersonissos and Stalis resort strip directly below the course, where a long line of beach hotels and family resorts puts you minutes from the first tee. For something quieter and more design led, the boutique hotels around Agios Nikolaos and the Elounda peninsula to the east are among the finest in Greece, an easy day trip distance from the golf.
Most visitors fold a round here into a wider Crete holiday built around the beaches, the Minoan ruins at Knossos and the island's celebrated food and wine, rather than a pure golf trip. That mix of one excellent course and a world class island to explore is precisely the appeal, and it makes Crete an easy sell for couples and families where not everyone plays.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near The Crete Golf Club.
Plan a Crete golf trip
We pair a round at The Crete Golf Club with the best of the island, the beaches, Elounda and the Minoan sites, and book it all around your dates. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Crete Golf Club questions
Who designed The Crete Golf Club and when did it open?
The Crete Golf Club was designed by the British golf architect Bob Hunt and opened in 2003. It is a desert style layout cut into rolling, rocky hillside above Hersonissos, and remains the only 18 hole golf course on Crete.
What is the par and length of The Crete Golf Club?
The Crete Golf Club is a par 72 measuring around 5,500 metres, roughly 6,000 yards, from the regular tees. Its challenge comes less from raw length than from elevation changes, gorges and fast, well defended greens.
Can visitors play The Crete Golf Club?
Yes. The Crete Golf Club is a pay and play resort course open to visitors, with green fees that vary by season. Buggies and clubs are available to hire, and booking ahead is wise in the busy summer months.
When is the best time to play golf on Crete?
Spring and autumn are ideal, with warm but comfortable temperatures for walking or riding. High summer is playable but can be very hot, so early tee times are best, while the mild winters mean golf is possible almost year round.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year and par verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.