Rhodes vs Crete for Golf
Two of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean, each with exactly one golf course. Rhodes offers the gentle, mature Afandou by the sea, Crete the dramatic, desert style Crete Golf Club above Hersonissos. Neither is a dedicated golf destination, so the real question is which island makes the better holiday around the round. Here is the honest head to head, with our verdict up front.
Photograph: Afandou Golf Course, Rhodes, via Google
The verdict
Be clear on one thing first: both islands have a single golf course, so neither is a golf destination in the way the Algarve or Belek is. Greece is light on golf, and a trip to either is best planned as a beach and culture holiday with a round or two folded in rather than a week of fortyeight holes. With that framing, Crete just edges it for the keen golfer. The Crete Golf Club above Hersonissos, a Bob Hunt design from 2003, is the more dramatic and more highly regarded of the two, a par 71 laid out in an arid amphitheatre of hills with desert style framing, bold elevation and real character. Crete is also the larger, richer island, with Knossos, Chania, the gorges and some of the best food in Greece.
Rhodes is the gentler golf and arguably the more charming island for a first visit. Afandou, a Donald Harradine course that opened in 1973 on the east coast near its namesake beach, is a mature, flattish, seaside round, easy walking and welcoming rather than challenging, with a newer nine hole extension alongside. The island itself is a jewel, crowned by the medieval old town of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage walled city, with long beaches and the hillside village of Lindos. Pick Crete for the better single course and the bigger, more varied island, Rhodes for the medieval old town and an easygoing round by the sea.
Head to head
| Rhodes | Crete | |
|---|---|---|
| The course | Afandou Golf Course, 18 holes by the sea, plus a newer nine hole extension | The Crete Golf Club, 18 holes, par 71, above Hersonissos |
| Designer and year | Donald Harradine, opened 1973 | Bob Hunt, built 2003 |
| Style | Mature, flattish seaside course, easy walking and welcoming | Dramatic desert style layout in an amphitheatre of arid hills, bold elevation |
| How much golf | One full course; not a multi course destination | One full course; not a multi course destination |
| The island | Medieval old town of Rhodes, Lindos and long east coast beaches | Larger and more varied: Knossos, Chania, the gorges and superb food |
| Best season | Spring and autumn, roughly April to June and September to October | Spring and autumn, roughly April to June and September to October |
| Who it suits | Couples and families wanting an easygoing round and a beautiful, historic island | Keen golfers wanting the better, more dramatic course and a bigger island to explore |
Course facts and designers verified June 2026; fees and tee sheets move with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick Rhodes if
You want a beautiful, historic island and an easy, enjoyable round rather than a stiff golf test. Afandou is a gentle, mature seaside course that suits couples, families and mixed ability groups who want a relaxed game between days on the beach, and the island gives you the spectacular medieval old town of Rhodes, the village of Lindos and miles of coastline. For a holiday where golf is a pleasant extra rather than the focus, and where the setting and history matter as much as the course, Rhodes is the more charming choice.
Pick Crete if
You want the better single course and the bigger, more varied island. The Crete Golf Club is the more dramatic and more highly regarded round, a desert style layout with real elevation and character that keen golfers will enjoy far more, and Crete itself offers more to fill the non golf days, from Minoan Knossos and Venetian Chania to the Samaria Gorge and outstanding food and wine. For a golfer who wants the round to be a highlight rather than an afterthought, on an island with depth, Crete wins.
Plan your Greek island golf trip
Rhodes, Crete or a wider Greek golf and island holiday. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge builds the tee times, the lodging and the routing around the beaches and the history, and costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Rhodes vs Crete questions
Is Rhodes or Crete better for golf?
Both islands have just one golf course, so neither is a dedicated golf destination, and the choice is really about the holiday around the round. For the single course, Crete edges it: the Crete Golf Club at Hersonissos, a Bob Hunt design from 2003, is a dramatic, desert style layout in an amphitheatre of arid hills and the more highly regarded of the two. Rhodes offers the older, gentler Afandou course by the sea. Pick Crete for the better course and the bigger island, Rhodes for the medieval old town and an easygoing seaside round.
How many golf courses are on Rhodes and Crete?
One full eighteen hole course each. Rhodes has Afandou Golf Course on the east coast, with a newer nine hole extension alongside it, and Crete has the Crete Golf Club above Hersonissos. Greece as a whole is light on golf, so a trip to either island is best planned as a beach and culture holiday with golf as a welcome complement rather than the main event.
Who designed the golf courses on Rhodes and Crete?
Afandou on Rhodes was designed by the British architect Donald Harradine and first opened in 1973, a mature seaside course near Afandou beach. The Crete Golf Club at Hersonissos was designed by Bob Hunt and built in 2003, a par 71 desert style course set among dramatic hills inland from the coast. Always confirm tee times and fees directly before booking.
When is the best time to play golf on Rhodes or Crete?
Spring and autumn, roughly April to June and September to October, are ideal, warm and dry without the fierce heat of high summer, when both islands can be very hot for golf. The mild Mediterranean climate means both courses play year round, and winters are gentle, so a shoulder season golf and beach trip works well on either island. Always confirm conditions and fees directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and designers verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.