Italy Golf: 2026 Season Outlook
Italy has quietly become one of Europe's most rounded golf destinations, anchored by the Marco Simone course that hosted the 2023 Ryder Cup and the Rocco Forte links at Verdura in Sicily. Here is how the 2026 season shapes up, when to go and what it costs.
The headline: a Ryder Cup legacy and a deeper national list
The 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, just northeast of Rome, was the moment Italian golf arrived on the world stage, and its legacy carries straight into 2026. The course, redesigned by Tom Fazio II and European Golf Design for the match, threads through Roman countryside past the eleventh century Castle of Marco Simone with glimpses of the dome of St Peter's, and it remains the headline round on any Italian golf trip.
Beyond Rome, the choice is genuinely strong. In Sicily, the Rocco Forte resort at Verdura offers two full length courses and a short course laid out along the coast, with the layouts upgraded under architect Kyle Phillips and regularly rated the best in the country. Add the classic heathland of Biella Le Betulle in Piedmont, the lakeside elegance of Circolo Golf Villa d'Este near Como, Royal Park I Roveri in Turin, Pevero on the Costa Smeralda and Is Molas in Sardinia, and Italy supports a full week without repeating itself.
When to play in 2026
Italy is a long, thin country that spans several golfing climates, so the calendar depends on where you go. For the north and the lakes, the Tuscan hills and Rome, spring and autumn are the prime windows: April to June and September to October bring warm, settled days, courses in good order and the country at its most pleasant for touring between rounds.
The south and the islands stretch the season at both ends. Sicily and Sardinia stay mild enough for comfortable golf through much of the winter, making Verdura a genuine off season option when the north has cooled, while high summer across the mainland is hot and better suited to early tee times and afternoons by the coast or the pool. For a 2026 trip we would target May or late September in the centre and north, and the winter shoulder for Sicily.
What it costs and how to play it
Italian green fees cover a wide range. Many regional clubs are comfortably under a hundred euro, while the marquee venues sit at the top end, with indicative 2026 fees for the headline resort and championship courses commonly in the region of one hundred fifty to two hundred fifty euro, and Marco Simone and Verdura among the most expensive rounds in the country. These are indicative figures that move with the season, so always confirm directly before booking.
The smart way to play Italy is to pick a region and build around it rather than crisscrossing the country. A Rome trip can pair Marco Simone with the city and the Tuscan courses to the north; a Sicily trip is essentially Verdura plus the island's food, history and coast; and a lakes itinerary links Villa d'Este, Biella and the alpine scenery of the north. In every case the golf is only half the appeal, and the food, wine and sightseeing carry the rest.
What it means for your trip, and our take
For a 2026 Italy trip, choose a base, match it to the season, and let the golf share the week with the rest of what the country does so well. Rome and the centre work best in spring and autumn, Sicily extends into winter at Verdura, and the lakes are a summer pleasure when the heat further south is fierce. Most regions are an easy flight and a short transfer from a major airport.
Our take is that Italy now belongs in the conversation with the established European golf destinations, not as a links alternative but as something different: very good courses set among some of the best food, wine and scenery in the world. The Ryder Cup put Marco Simone on the map, and the country behind it is more than able to fill a week. Tell us your dates, your region and your group and we will build and cost it.
Plan your Italy golf trip
From the Ryder Cup course at Marco Simone to the Verdura links in Sicily, tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge builds and costs the trip, with no obligation.
Questions
How much does golf cost in Italy in 2026?
Italian green fees span a wide range. Many regional clubs sit comfortably under a hundred euro, while marquee venues are dearer, with indicative 2026 fees at the headline resort and championship courses commonly in the region of one hundred fifty to two hundred fifty euro. Marco Simone and Verdura are among the most expensive rounds, and figures move with the season, so always confirm directly before booking.
When is the best time to play golf in Italy?
It depends on the region. The north, the lakes, Tuscany and Rome are best in spring and autumn, April to June and September to October. Sicily and Sardinia stay mild enough for golf through much of the winter, while high summer on the mainland is hot and suits early tee times.
Where is the best golf in Italy?
Marco Simone near Rome, host of the 2023 Ryder Cup, is the headline course, while the Rocco Forte resort at Verdura in Sicily is regularly rated the best in the country. Biella Le Betulle, Villa d'Este, Royal Park I Roveri, Pevero and Is Molas round out a deep national list.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts, green fees and season windows verified June 2026 from resort and travel sources; prices and programs change with the season, so always confirm directly before booking. Last reviewed June 2026.