Costa Navarino: Dunes vs Bay
The two original courses at Greece's premier golf resort sit a short drive apart in the Messinian Peloponnese, both par 71, both stunning, but designed by different hands for different effect. The Dunes is Bernhard Langer's championship test, the Bay is Robert Trent Jones Jr's scenic clifftop ride. Here is the honest head to head, with our verdict up front.
Photograph: The Bay Course, Costa Navarino, via Google
The verdict
For the better golf course, the Dunes wins. Bernhard Langer's 2010 design, the first signature golf course in Greece, opens with true links character along the dunes near the Ionian shore, then turns inland through fairways framed by olive and citrus groves and a river bed that comes into play. It is the more complete and strategic test of the two, well bunkered and beautifully conditioned, with enough variety to stay fresh over several rounds, and it sits right beside the main Navarino Dunes hotels, which makes it the easy everyday round of the resort.
For the more memorable round, the Bay Course is hard to beat. Robert Trent Jones Jr routed it above Navarino Bay near Pylos, climbing through olive terraces to a run of hillside holes with vast views over the bay and the historic sweep of coastline, before falling back toward the sea. It plays a touch shorter and more dramatically than the Dunes, with more elevation change and more theatre. Pick the Dunes for the stronger, more convenient golf, the Bay for the views and the sense of occasion. On a longer stay, play both.
Head to head
| Dunes Course | Bay Course | |
|---|---|---|
| Designer | Bernhard Langer with European Golf Design | Robert Trent Jones Jr |
| Opened | 2010, Greece's first signature course | October 2011 |
| Par and style | Par 71; links style coastal holes plus parkland framed by olive and citrus groves | Par 71; hillside seaside course climbing through groves above the bay |
| Character | The stronger, more strategic championship test; varied and well bunkered | The more scenic and dramatic round, with big elevation change and views |
| Location | Beside the main Navarino Dunes resort hotels | A short drive away above Navarino Bay, near Pylos |
| Best for | The serious golfer wanting the better course and the easy resort round | The golfer who values views, drama and a standout setting |
| Who it suits | Those who would replay the same course and want the toughest test | Those who want variety and the most photogenic round of the trip |
Course facts verified June 2026; green fees move with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick the Dunes if
You want the better, more testing golf course and the convenience of teeing off beside your hotel. Bernhard Langer's design is the more complete and strategic of the two, with genuine links character near the shore, clever bunkering and the variety to reward repeat play. It is the natural choice for the keen golfer who would happily play the same course twice and wants the standout championship test at Costa Navarino.
Pick the Bay if
You want the most scenic and memorable round of the trip. Robert Trent Jones Jr's Bay Course climbs through olive groves to hillside holes with sweeping views over Navarino Bay, with more elevation change and more drama than the Dunes. It is a touch shorter and a touch more forgiving, which suits a mixed group, and it delivers the photographs and the sense of occasion that stay with you long after the round.
Plan your Costa Navarino golf trip
Play the Dunes, the Bay or both, with the resort's newer courses to fill a longer stay. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge builds the tee times, the right hotel and the costing to the head, with no obligation.
Costa Navarino Dunes vs Bay questions
Is the Dunes or the Bay Course better at Costa Navarino?
It depends on what you want. The Dunes Course, Bernhard Langer's 2010 design and Greece's first signature course, is the bigger championship test, mixing links style holes near the sea with sheltered fairways framed by olive and citrus groves. The Bay Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr and opened in 2011, is the more dramatic and scenic round, climbing through hillside groves to spectacular views over Navarino Bay. Most golfers rate the Dunes as the stronger golf course and the Bay as the more memorable view.
Who designed the Costa Navarino courses?
The Dunes Course was designed by two time Masters champion Bernhard Langer with European Golf Design and opened in 2010 as the first signature golf course in Greece. The Bay Course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr and opened in October 2011. Both are par 71 layouts in the Messinia region of the Peloponnese, part of the Costa Navarino resort.
Can you play both Costa Navarino courses on one trip?
Yes, and most golfers do. The Dunes Course sits beside the main Navarino Dunes resort hotels, while the Bay Course is a short drive away above Navarino Bay near Pylos. A stay of four nights or more comfortably covers both, and the resort now has further courses, the Hills Course and the International Olympic Academy Golf Course, for a longer golf trip.
When is the best time to play golf at Costa Navarino?
Spring and autumn are ideal, roughly April to June and September to October, with warm, settled weather and good turf. High summer is hot, so play early in the day, and winters are mild and quiet. Always confirm seasonal conditions and tee times before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts verified June 2026 from the resort and leading course databases. Last reviewed June 2026.