Greece Golf Course Renovations to Watch in 2026
Greek golf has been transformed in a single place. Costa Navarino in the Peloponnese, named World's Best Golf Venue at the 2025 World Golf Awards, now fields four signature courses, turning a country once short of golf into a genuine destination. Here is what is changing and what it means for visiting golfers.
The headline: Costa Navarino, now four courses
The story of Greek golf is the story of Costa Navarino, the Messinia resort that has built itself into the leading golf destination in the eastern Mediterranean. It began with The Dunes Course, the first signature layout in Greece, designed by former Masters champion Bernhard Langer with European Golf Design. It now offers four signature courses across two coastal sites, a remarkable concentration of golf for a country that had almost none a generation ago, and the reason it was crowned World's Best Golf Venue in 2025.
The newer additions are what make 2026 a milestone year to visit. The Bay Course, a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design with two holes along the historic Bay of Navarino, joined the original Dunes, and two further courses, The Hills and the International Olympic Academy course, both shaped by two time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal, complete the quartet. This is expansion rather than renovation, but the effect on the traveller is the same: a multi day golf trip is now possible in Greece without leaving one resort.
The wider picture
Beyond the Peloponnese, Greek golf is thin but improving. On Crete, The Crete Golf Club at Hersonissos is an eighteen hole desert style layout built to a high standard and capable of hosting international events, the best option for golfers basing a holiday on the island. Around Athens the historic Glyfada course offers a convenient round near the capital, and the Porto Carras resort in Halkidiki adds golf to a beach holiday in the north.
The honest picture is that Greece remains a one resort golf country for now, with Costa Navarino doing the heavy lifting and a scatter of standalone courses elsewhere. That concentration is actually a strength for trip planning: the quality and the variety are gathered in one place, with reliable supporting golf on Crete and near Athens for travellers building golf around a wider Greek holiday.
What it means for your trip
For a 2026 Greek golf trip the plan almost writes itself: base at Costa Navarino in the Peloponnese, where four signature courses give you several days of varied golf, sea views and resort comfort without moving hotels. Reach it by flying to Kalamata, a short drive away, or via Athens for a longer road trip taking in the ancient sites of the southern mainland.
If you want island golf, build a separate Crete trip around The Crete Golf Club, pairing a round or two with the beaches and ruins of the north coast. The Greek golf season is long, comfortably April to November, with spring and autumn the most pleasant for play before and after the summer heat. As ever, confirm tee times, green fees and any package details directly before booking.
Our take
Costa Navarino is one of the great modern golf success stories, proof that a single committed owner can put a whole country on the golf map. Four signature courses from Langer, Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Olazabal, gathered on a beautiful stretch of the Peloponnese and crowned the world's best venue in 2025, make Greece a destination worth a dedicated trip rather than an afterthought. Base yourself there, add Crete if you want island variety, and confirm your tee times for the dates you want.
Plan your Greek golf trip
From the four signature courses of Costa Navarino in the Peloponnese to island golf on Crete, tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge builds and costs the trip, with no obligation.
Questions
How many golf courses are at Costa Navarino?
Four signature courses: The Dunes by Bernhard Langer, The Bay by Robert Trent Jones Jr., and The Hills and the International Olympic Academy course, both shaped by Jose Maria Olazabal. The resort was named World's Best Golf Venue at the 2025 World Golf Awards.
Where else can you play golf in Greece?
The Crete Golf Club at Hersonissos is the best option on the islands, an eighteen hole layout built to a high standard. Glyfada near Athens and Porto Carras in Halkidiki offer additional rounds, though Costa Navarino remains the country's golf centre.
When is the best time to play golf in Greece?
The season runs roughly April to November, with spring and autumn the most comfortable for play before and after the summer heat. Confirm tee times and green fees directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course details verified June 2026 from resort and industry sources; conditions and schedules change, so always confirm directly. Last reviewed June 2026.