By the GolfForKings editorial desk · Last reviewed June 2026
Who this trip suits
A buddies golf trip to Greece works because of one remarkable place. Costa Navarino, on the Messinia coast in the southwest Peloponnese, has built four golf courses within a short drive of each other, more championship golf in one resort than anywhere else in the country. That lets a group play a different course every day from a single base, then swap the fairways for the beach, a long taverna lunch and the ancient sites of the Peloponnese. It is sunshine golf with a genuine sense of discovery, far quieter and fresher than the well worn group destinations of Spain and Portugal.
This page is written for a group organising the trip together. It covers the Costa Navarino courses to rotate through, the wider Greek options, a sample structure, indicative costs per head, the best time to travel and how to get the golf, the rooms and the logistics handled in one place.
- Groups of four to a dozen who want a fresh Mediterranean alternative to Spain and Portugal.
- Buddies who like the idea of four courses played from one resort base with no daily packing.
- Players who want their golf wrapped in beaches, great food and the history of the Peloponnese.
- Groups who rate the evenings, the tavernas and the long lunches as much as the rounds.
- Organisers who would rather a concierge handled the tee times, transfers and the bill.
For the wider picture, see our guide to golf at Costa Navarino and golf in Greece.
The courses to rotate through
Costa Navarino's four courses sit within a short drive of each other, which is what makes a group stay so efficient, with Athens and the islands offering options for a longer trip. Green fees below are indicative for the 2026 season; always confirm directly before booking.
The Dunes Course
The first course at the resort, designed by Bernhard Langer with European Golf Design and opened in 2010, running between olive groves, the Ionian dunes and the banks of the Selas river. The signature round and a fine, varied test for the group.
The Bay Course
A Robert Trent Jones Junior design opened in 2011 a few kilometres south at Navarino Bay, with dramatic elevation changes, olive groves and sea views over the historic bay. The most scenic of the four and a group favourite.
The Hills Course
One of the newer courses at the resort, climbing into the hills above the coast with mountain and sea panoramas and a different feel from the seaside layouts. Adds variety to a multi day rotation.
International Olympic Academy Course
The most recent of the resort's courses, completing a four course cluster unique in Greece, and the reason a group can stay put and still play fresh golf every single day of the trip.
Glyfada, Athens
The capital's mature parkland course near the old airport, a Donald Harradine design from 1966, handy for a city start or finish with a round before or after the flights and a night out in Athens.
The beaches and tavernas
Between rounds, the Peloponnese delivers long sandy beaches, seaside tavernas, the old town of Pylos, the castle at Methoni and ancient Olympia within reach, the off course half that makes it a trip rather than a golf break.
A sample structure: 5 nights for a group
The structure below keeps the group on one Costa Navarino base, plays a different course most days and leaves room for the beach and the tavernas. Every element can be tuned to the size of the group and the budget.
Arrive Kalamata, around 45 minutes from the resort, or Athens with a transfer west. Settle the group in, an evening by the pool and a first taverna dinner.
The signature round on the Dunes Course, then an afternoon on the beach and a relaxed group dinner at the resort or in Pylos.
Golf on the Bay Course above Navarino Bay, the most scenic of the four, with a long lunch and a free evening for the group to find its own night out.
A rest or culture day: the castle at Methoni, the old town of Pylos and the bay, or a longer run to ancient Olympia, with the option of a twilight nine for the keen.
A final round on the Hills or the International Olympic Academy course, a farewell dinner and the last night together at the resort.
A last morning on the beach or a final nine, then depart via Kalamata or Athens. Late checkout arranged where the flight allows.
Athens variation: bolt a night or two in Athens onto the start or finish, with a round at Glyfada and the Acropolis, the museums and the nightlife of the capital for the group.
Indicative costs
The figures below are indicative for the 2026 season, drawn from third-party booking platforms and resort published rates at the time of writing. We are a guide and trip planner, never the operator; always confirm directly before booking.
| Course or package item | Indicative cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Costa Navarino green fee | around €90 to €170 per round | Dunes, Bay, Hills and Olympic Academy; resort guest rates lower |
| Glyfada, Athens | around €60 to €90 per round | If added for a city start or finish |
| Resort hotel, per night | from about €180 to €500 | The Westin, Romanos, W and Mandarin Oriental properties; season dependent |
| Buddies week with golf | from about €1,800 to €3,500 per person | Resort base, several rounds, transfers and evenings; flights excluded |
| Transfers from Kalamata or Athens | shared across the group | Kalamata is closest; Athens is a longer transfer; always confirm directly |
All figures are indicative for the 2026 season and vary by hotel grade, course choice, season, group size and operator. Resort stay and play packages are usually better value than booking each round and room alone. Prices move with demand; always confirm directly before booking.
Best time to go and to book
Greece is a shoulder season golf destination, and the timing makes a real difference to a group trip.
Spring (April to June) is the prime window, with warm, settled weather, wildflowers across the Peloponnese and firm courses, comfortable for walking and 36 holes a day for the keen.
Autumn (September to October) is the equal of spring, with the summer heat fading, the sea still warm for the beach days and quieter courses, often the best value of the year.
High summer (July and August) is hot, often in the mid 30s Celsius, so the group plays early and spends the afternoons at the beach. It is the busiest and priciest time, with the resort full of families.
When to book: for a spring or autumn group, request the resort and tee times three to four months ahead, as Costa Navarino's best dates and room blocks for a group fill early. A concierge can hold the golf and the rooms together for the group.
Enquire about your Greece buddies trip
Send the brief below and a concierge will build a costed group itinerary with tee times, a resort base, transfers and the evenings, usually within one working day. No fee, no obligation.
Greece buddies golf trips, answered
Is Greece good for a buddies golf trip?
Greece is a rising buddies golf destination thanks almost entirely to Costa Navarino in the Peloponnese, which has built four courses within a short drive of each other, more championship golf in one place than anywhere else in the country. A group can play a different course every day from a single resort base, then trade the fairways for beaches, tavernas and ancient sites. Add the sunshine, the food and the value compared with the marquee European destinations and it makes a memorable group trip.
Which golf courses can a group play in Greece?
Costa Navarino in Messinia is the hub, with four courses: the Dunes Course, designed by Bernhard Langer with European Golf Design and opened in 2010, the Robert Trent Jones II designed Bay Course from 2011, the Hills Course and the International Olympic Academy Golf Course. Elsewhere, Glyfada near Athens is a parkland course handy for a city start or finish, Crete has an 18 hole course at Hersonissos, and Corfu and Porto Carras add options for an island or northern leg.
When is the best time for a Greece golf trip?
Spring, from April to June, and autumn, from September to October, are the prime windows for a golf trip to Greece, with warm, settled weather, firm courses and comfortable conditions for walking. High summer, in July and August, is hot, often in the mid 30s Celsius, so early tee times are essential and the group spends the afternoons at the beach. The Peloponnese has mild winters and Costa Navarino plays year round, but spring and autumn are ideal for a group.
How much does a buddies golf trip to Greece cost?
Indicative 2026 green fees at Costa Navarino run from around €90 to €170 per round, with resort guest rates and packages reducing the cost, and the resort hotels span four and five star. A typical buddies week at Costa Navarino with several rounds, a resort base, transfers and evenings out lands from around €1,800 to €3,500 per person excluding flights, with the hotel grade the main variable. All figures are indicative and third party; always confirm directly before booking.