Golf Club Milano

The verdict

Golf Club Milano is the grand old club of the north, a 1928 layout that won the right to play inside the Parco Reale di Monza, the walled royal park that also holds the famous Formula 1 circuit. The setting alone justifies the round: avenues of mature oaks, hornbeams and planes, the old Villa Reale in the background, and a sense of calm just half an hour from the centre of Milan. It is parkland in the truest European sense, flat and tree lined rather than dramatic, but stately and beautifully kept.

The golf rewards the straight hitter. The Red and Yellow combination that hosts the big events asks for position off the tee, with the trees tightening landing areas and well guarded greens that have tested Italian Open fields over the decades. It will not overwhelm a mid handicapper, yet it gives a good player plenty to think about. For a visiting golfer based in Milan or pairing the city with the lakes, it is the most convenient round of real pedigree in Lombardy.

The holes worth the trip

The character at Golf Club Milano is set by the park itself. Centuries old trees frame nearly every fairway, so the premium is on shaping the ball and keeping it in the short grass rather than overpowering the course. The ground is flat and walkable, the turf immaculate, and the lines off the tee matter far more than raw length, which is exactly why it has stood up as a championship test for so long.

The Red and Yellow nines carry the history. This is the combination that has staged six Italian Opens, and its tree pinched driving zones, subtle doglegs and firmly bunkered greens still reward the player who plots a way round. The Blue nine, added in 1958, is a touch more open and makes a relaxed extra loop or a gentler option for a mixed group. Throughout, the greens are true and well defended, asking for a controlled approach more than a brave one.

For the visiting golfer it is the easiest marquee round to slot into a Milan itinerary, a stately morning in the royal park before the city, the cathedral or a drive out to Lake Como and the courses around it.

Where to stay nearby

Most visitors base in Milan and make the short drive out to Monza, which puts the city's hotels, restaurants and design quarters within easy reach of the first tee. Monza itself offers quieter, well priced rooms beside the park for those who want to be on the doorstep, and the wider region opens onto Lake Como and the lakes within an hour.

For a fuller Lombardy and northern Italy trip the natural pairings are the lakeside Villa d'Este near Como, the heathland classic Biella Le Betulle in the foothills, and the Tour venue Royal Park I Roveri near Turin, all within a comfortable drive.

Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Milan and Monza.