Acaya
The American architects Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry laid out Acaya in 2000 on the flat Salento plain near Lecce, the only championship golf course in Puglia and a regular host of Challenge Tour golf. A par 71 of about 6,192 meters, it weaves through olive groves, lakes and Mediterranean scrub in the heel of Italy.
Photo: Acaya Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Acaya Golf Club opened in 2000 to a design by the respected American firm of Hurdzan and Fry, and it remains the standout championship course in Puglia, the sun baked region in the heel of Italy. Set on the Salento plain a few miles from the baroque city of Lecce and the Adriatic coast, it was revamped in 2007 and has hosted Challenge Tour events including the Open di Puglia e Basilicata.
The layout runs across gently rolling ground dotted with olive trees, lakes and native Mediterranean scrub, a links influenced parkland that asks for placement and patience in the southern Italian heat. A par 71 of about 6,192 meters, Acaya anchors the attached resort and spa and makes Puglia a genuine golf destination, paired with the food, wine and beaches of the Salento.
Acaya at a glance
- Opened
- 2000
- Designer
- Hurdzan and Fry
- Type
- Mediterranean parkland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 6,192 m
- Green fee
- Visitor and resort rates
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Acaya Golf Club and leading course databases. The course was designed by the American firm Hurdzan and Fry, opened in 2000 and revamped in 2007, a par 71 of about 6,192 meters. It is the only championship course in Puglia and part of the Acaya Golf Resort and Spa. Green fees and resort packages vary by season, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Acaya is built on the open Salento plain, and the design by Hurdzan and Fry uses water, sand and native scrub to shape a strategic test on largely flat ground. The fairways are generous but the trouble is well placed, asking the player to think from the tee rather than simply attack.
Lakes come into play on several holes and the greens are firm and well contoured, rewarding a controlled approach in the southern Italian heat. The wind off the nearby Adriatic can lift through the afternoon, giving this inland parkland a links like quality that sets it apart from the resort courses further north.
As the only championship venue in Puglia and a host of Challenge Tour golf, Acaya carries the region's competitive golf on its shoulders, and it does so with style. Combined with the resort and spa and the beauty of Lecce and the Salento coast, it makes the heel of Italy a rewarding and uncrowded golf escape.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort and visitor course; tee times open to the public and to guests of the Acaya Golf Resort and Spa, booked through the resort or a Puglia golf operator |
| Green fee | Visitor and resort guest rates apply and vary by season; stay and play packages are available (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Reserve ahead in spring and autumn, the prime golf seasons in the south; midsummer is hot and quieter on the course |
| On the day | Flat and walkable, though buggies are popular in the summer heat; sun protection and water are essential |
| Getting there | Acaya near Vernole, about 20 minutes from Lecce and 40 minutes from Brindisi Airport in the Salento |
| Best months | March to June and September to November for warm, settled golf; high summer is very hot on the open plain |
Access arrangements and indicative rates verified June 2026; resort pricing and packages change by season, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is the Acaya Golf Resort and Spa beside the course, set near the restored medieval village of Acaya, which puts the first tee and the spa on the doorstep. It is built for a golf focused stay in the Salento.
For more to see off the course, the baroque city of Lecce a short drive away offers boutique hotels, restaurants and history, while the beaches of the Adriatic and Ionian coasts are within easy reach. Puglia suits a relaxed golf, food and culture week built around Acaya.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Acaya.
Build a Puglia golf trip
We book the Acaya tee times, pair them with the resort and the best of the Salento and arrange the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Acaya questions
Who designed Acaya and when did it open?
Acaya Golf Club was designed by the American firm Hurdzan and Fry and opened in 2000, with a revamp in 2007. It is the only championship golf course in Puglia.
What is the par and length of Acaya?
Acaya is a par 71 of about 6,192 meters, a strategic Mediterranean parkland routed across the Salento plain near Lecce in the heel of Italy.
Can visitors play Acaya?
Yes. Acaya is a resort and visitor course open to the public and to guests of the Acaya Golf Resort and Spa. Tee times are booked through the resort or a Puglia golf operator.
What tournaments has Acaya hosted?
Acaya has hosted Challenge Tour golf, including the Open di Puglia e Basilicata, making it the home of competitive professional golf in the region.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; access and indicative rates verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.