Roma Acquasanta
Founded in 1903 by golf mad British expatriates, the Circolo del Golf Roma Acquasanta is the oldest golf club in Italy, laid out along the ancient Appian Way with the arches of a Roman aqueduct framing the fairways. A par 71 of about 5,831 metres in the heart of the capital, it is a round steeped in history.
Photo: Circolo del Golf Roma Acquasanta via Google.
The verdict
Few courses anywhere can match Roma Acquasanta for sheer atmosphere. Founded in 1903 by a group of British expatriates, alongside a cricket pitch and tennis courts, it is the oldest golf club in Italy, and it sits in the most extraordinary location: along the Via Appia Nuova in the heart of Rome, with the ruined arches of a Roman aqueduct marching straight across the course. The grounds were extended to a full 18 holes in 1913.
This is not a long or modern test, and that is entirely the point. The pleasure of Acquasanta is in playing a classic parkland over rolling ground, with antiquity all around, minutes from the centre of one of the world's great cities. It is a working private club with a warm welcome to visiting golfers who carry a handicap certificate, and a round here is as much a cultural experience as a golfing one.
Roma Acquasanta at a glance
- Opened
- 1903, 18 holes from 1913
- Designer
- Vanni, Flach, Young, De Castro
- Type
- Parkland, Appian Way
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 5,831 m
- Green fee
- About €140
Founding date, history, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the Circolo del Golf Roma Acquasanta and leading course databases. Italy's oldest club was founded in 1903 and extended to 18 holes in 1913, a par 71 of about 5,831 metres, with early design credited to Marquis Vanni, Arthur Flach, R C Young and Hector De Castro. The indicative visitor green fee is around €140 and a handicap certificate is required; figures change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Acquasanta is a course of charm and subtlety rather than brute length, the holes rolling over gentle ground with the aqueduct ruins providing one of the most photographed backdrops in European golf. The fairways are tree lined and the greens, while not large, ask for a precise approach, so club selection and placement matter more than raw distance.
The aqueduct itself comes into the field of play on several holes, the ancient arches framing tee shots and approaches in a way no modern architect could invent. The bunkering is classical, the strategy honest, and the sense of history is constant, from the period clubhouse to the very ground underfoot beside the Appian Way.
It is a round to savour rather than to attack, ideally paired with a day or two in Rome itself. For travelling golfers who value heritage and setting as much as a championship card, Acquasanta is one of the most rewarding rounds in Italy.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club that welcomes visitors with a handicap certificate; book through the club, closed on Mondays |
| Green fee | Indicative around €140 for visitors in 2026; weekends are more restricted (indicative, confirm before booking) |
| Booking | Reserve ahead through the club and present a handicap certificate at reception; weekday play is easiest |
| On the day | Walkable parkland; respect the dress code and the club's traditions; caddies and trolleys can be arranged |
| Getting there | Via Appia Nuova in southeast Rome, close to the city centre and well served by road |
| Best months | April to June and September to October for the mild, dry Roman shoulder seasons |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from the Circolo del Golf Roma Acquasanta; visitor policies and rates change, so always confirm directly before booking your round.
Where to stay nearby
Rome needs no introduction as a base, and the choice of hotels runs from grand historic palaces near the Spanish Steps to boutique stays across the centro storico, all within a manageable drive of the course. A golf round at Acquasanta slots easily into a wider Rome city break.
For golfers, Acquasanta pairs naturally with Marco Simone, the 2023 Ryder Cup venue on the other side of the city, and with the historic Olgiata club for a Rome golf itinerary that balances modern championship golf with the game's Italian roots. The combination of golf and the Eternal City is hard to beat.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Roma Acquasanta.
Build a Rome golf trip
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Roma Acquasanta questions
Is Roma Acquasanta the oldest golf club in Italy?
Yes. The Circolo del Golf Roma Acquasanta was founded in 1903 by British expatriates and is the oldest golf club in Italy, extended to a full 18 holes in 1913.
What is the par and length of Roma Acquasanta?
Acquasanta is a par 71 of about 5,831 metres, a classic parkland laid out along the Appian Way with the ruins of a Roman aqueduct crossing the course.
Can visitors play Roma Acquasanta?
Yes. It is a private members club that welcomes visiting golfers with a handicap certificate, booked through the club and easiest on weekdays. The club is closed on Mondays.
How much does it cost to play Roma Acquasanta?
The indicative visitor green fee is around €140, with weekends more restricted. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly with the club before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.