Ugolino Golf Club
Cecil Blandford and Peter Gannon routed Golf dell'Ugolino in 1933 across the Chianti slopes south of Florence, threading the holes through vines, olive groves and maritime pines. A par 72 of about 5,672 meters, it is the oldest course in Tuscany and hosted the 1983 Italian Open won by Bernhard Langer.
Photo: Giacomo Cti via Google.
The verdict
Ugolino is the grand old club of Tuscan golf, laid out in 1933 by the English architect Cecil Blandford and the Irishman Peter Gannon on a parcel of rolling Chianti hillside a short drive south of Florence. It carries the heritage of golf in Florence, a game the British community brought to the city in the late 1800s, and it remains the oldest course in the region by a comfortable margin.
This is not a long or brutal test, and that is the point. At about 5,672 meters it asks for placement, touch and a clear head, with vines, olive trees and pines lining tight, tilting fairways and small greens perched on the slope. The 1983 Italian Open, won by Bernhard Langer after a playoff with Severiano Ballesteros, proved it can stretch the best players. For a traveling golfer building a Tuscany trip around Florence, the food and the wine, Ugolino is the round that ties the whole thing together.
Ugolino at a glance
- Opened
- 1933
- Designer
- Blandford and Gannon
- Type
- Hillside parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 5,672 m
- Green fee
- Visitors welcome
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Golf dell'Ugolino and leading course databases. The course was laid out by Cecil Blandford and Peter Gannon in 1933, with some holes revised by Piero Mancinelli in the 1960s, a par 72 of about 5,672 meters. Green fees are indicative for the 2026 season and change by day and time of year, so always confirm current rates and tee time availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Ugolino plays across the natural fall of the Chianti land, so the round is a constant negotiation with slope and angle rather than length. The fairways tip and turn between rows of cypress and olive, and the small greens sit at the mercy of the hillside, where the wrong section leaves a putt that simply will not stop.
The short par 4s and the cluster of well set par 3s are the heart of the course, each demanding a controlled, committed iron to a green that gives nothing to the timid. The closing stretch climbs and falls back toward the handsome clubhouse, with the Tuscan countryside opening up behind every tee, a reminder that the scenery here is part of the test and part of the reward.
Ugolino rewards the golfer who plots a route, favors position over power and putts with imagination. It is a classic, intimate parkland that has charmed visitors for nine decades, and it pairs beautifully with a long Florentine lunch afterward.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Visitors welcome with a valid handicap certificate; book tee times in advance, especially in spring and autumn |
| Green fee | Indicative weekday green fee in the region of 70 to 100 euros (2026 high season); confirm the current rate directly before booking |
| Booking | Contact the golf shop or use a Tuscany golf specialist; weekend tee times are limited by member play |
| On the day | Walking is enjoyable on the compact routing; buggies help on the hillier holes; smart golf dress expected |
| Getting there | Impruneta, about 20 to 30 minutes south of central Florence and roughly 30 minutes from Florence Airport |
| Best months | April to June and September to October for warm, settled Tuscan weather and firm turf |
Access and fee guidance verified June 2026; policies and rates change, so always confirm directly with the club or your trip planner before traveling.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base themselves in Florence itself, an easy 20 to 30 minute drive from the course and one of the great cities of the world for art, food and wine. A central Florence base puts Ugolino, the Chianti vineyards and the Renaissance city all within reach of a single trip.
For a slower, golf and wine focused stay, the hills of Chianti between Florence and Siena are dotted with restored villas and estate hotels, an ideal region to build a Tuscan tour around, pairing Ugolino with the wider golf of central Italy.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Ugolino.
Build a Tuscany golf trip
We secure tee times at Ugolino, pair them with the best of central Italy and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Ugolino questions
Who designed Ugolino Golf Club and when did it open?
Golf dell'Ugolino was designed by Cecil Blandford and Peter Gannon and opened in 1933 on the Chianti hills near Florence, with some holes later revised by Piero Mancinelli in the 1960s. It is the oldest golf course in Tuscany.
What is the par and length of Ugolino Golf Club?
Ugolino is a par 72 measuring about 5,672 meters, roughly 6,200 yards, a compact, rolling layout that rewards placement over power.
Can visitors play Ugolino Golf Club?
Yes. Ugolino welcomes visiting golfers with a handicap certificate. Green fees are indicative and change by season, so always confirm current rates and tee time availability directly before booking.
What tournaments has Ugolino hosted?
Ugolino hosted the 1983 Italian Open, won by Bernhard Langer after a playoff with Severiano Ballesteros, along with many national amateur and professional events over its long history.
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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.