Golfing Holidays in the Med
- By Simpson Travel
- 21 May 2025
- What to do
Once considered (whisper it) a touch ‘stuffy’, golf is having a bit of a moment. A recent PGA report showed that participation has surged since the pandemic, with many younger players picking up clubs for the first time in the last two or three years. Not so surprising perhaps when you consider that it’s a great way to get together with friends, take a bit of exercise and test your skill at the same time. Golf is also the ideal sport to span the generations, as youth is often no match for experience and there’s nothing like a shared interest to get even the most monosyllabic youngsters chatting as you walk the course or enjoy a cool drink at the 19th hole. And if you can do all of this under clear blue Mediterranean skies, even better!
There are golf courses in many Simpson Travel destinations. Some, like Mallorca and the Aquitaine coast of France, are well-known around the world. Then there are relative newcomers such as Crete and the prestigious Costa Navarino courses in Messinia on the Greek mainland. Whilst we don’t sell typical golf packages, we do have some wonderful villas and hotels that make a perfect base to play from. This relaxed approach to golf on holiday means that rather than being excluded from the trip, non-golfing partners, friends and family can be happily occupied indulging in the luxury of a very comfortable hotel or a villa with private pool, so no-one will begrudge you your leisurely 18 holes: win-win!
Golf in Mallorca
Astonishingly for a relatively small and mountainous island, Mallorca has 19 18-hole courses open to the public, plus a couple of 9 hole options if you want a shorter game before the day heats up. There’s plenty of variety here to challenge even the most experienced players, with gorgeous views guaranteed.
WHERE TO PLAY:
Golf de Pollensa
A 9-hole course close to our favourite Pollensa Town, offering magnificent views of the Sierra de Tramuntana, the Bay of Pollensa, and Alcúdia. The course is gently undulating, with two of the longest holes on the island to keep things interesting.
Alcanada Golf Course
In a fabulous coastal position near Alcudia, this 18-hole course is regarded by many as the most scenic on the island. It’s far enough away from the capital Palma to make it quieter than many of the top courses, but of equally high quality.
Son Quint Pitch + Putt
Aimed at new golfers, this relaxed course is the only pitch and putt on Mallorca, and perfect for beginners as there is no strict dress code, and no golf licence or handicap required.
WHERE TO STAY:
Almost all our villas are within a 30 minute drive of at least one of the above courses. Particularly recommended are:
Villa Morell
Sleeps 8
Large renovated finca between the golf course and the sea.
Finca Can Llamas
Sleeps 6
Family friendly, very private, near Pollensa and Alcúdia.
Cala Dala
Sleeps 12
Ideal for a group, walking distance to Puerto Pollensa.
Golf in the Peloponnese
As elsewhere in Greece, golf is relatively new in the Peloponnese, but whilst the courses might not have the heritage of say St Andrews or Royal Birkdale, their connection to the prestigious 5-star resorts on the Costa Navarino guarantees an all-round luxury experience for the holiday golfer. There are four signature golf courses to enjoy within a maximum distance of 13km from each other.
WHERE TO PLAY:
The Dunes at Costa Navarino is a championship course designed by Bernhard Langer. It opened in 2010, and is characterized by generous fairways, large greens and multiple tee sets at each hole, so players can choose the course length that best suits their game.
The Bay course at Costa Navarino benefits from the spectacular backdrop of the Bay of Navarino. For maximum variety, players are challenged through three distinct sections known as the Seaside, Canyon and Grove holes, taking in coastal panoramas and groves of olive trees – some over 500 years old – that were carefully replanted during the construction of the course.
The Hills was designed by Ryder Cup legend José Maria Olazábal. It’s another 18 hole beauty, playing to par 72 and winner of the ‘World’s Best New Golf Development’ in 2020, alongside the neighbouring International Olympic Academy Golf Course.
WHERE TO STAY:
Messinian Nest Villas
Sleep 8
Understated luxury, sublime views, reduced green fees.
Elegant boutique hotel, peaceful location, stunning views.
Golf in Crete
Golf is a relatively new sport on Crete, with currently just one 18-hole course on the entire island. In this case it’s fair to say that quality definitely trumps quantity however, and the championship course near Hersonissos comes complete with ultra-modern facilities to complement the glorious sea and mountain views.
WHERE TO PLAY:
The Crete golf club
Built to international standards, the course has been carefully constructed to maximise player enjoyment and minimise environmental impact; you’ll enjoy sea and mountain panoramas all the way around the beautifully varied 18 holes, which are designed to blend unobtrusively into the existing landscape. Behind the scenes, modern water management systems and large tracts of untouched land keep the course as green as possible in every sense, and the mountain breeze from the Lassithi plateau means the course is pleasant to play, even in the summer months. And if you do start to feel the heat, you can order cool drinks to be brought to you directly on the course, so no need to wait for the 19th hole for that ice-cold beer.
WHERE TO STAY:
Stylish new hotel, with preferential green fees for guests.
Golf in France
The south west of France is synonymous with golf, so much so that the Nouvelle Aquitaine tourist office has described the region as ‘one big golf course’! The Aquitaine boasts a temperate climate that enjoys plenty of sunshine tempered by coastal breezes, making play possible right through the summer season. The courses are designed in harmony with the landscape, which some claim could have been created entirely with the game in mind, so you can play across coastal links, open parkland and through sheltered pine forests.
WHERE TO PLAY:
Seignosse is one of the region’s standout courses, reputed to be a favourite of Spain’s José Maria Olazábal. No surprise then that this is a demanding 18 holes, winding though forests of cork oaks and pines with water hazards and famously narrow fairways to add to the challenge.
Designed by Englishman John Morrison, the course at Hossegor is almost 100 years old. It has been extensively remodelled and improved over the years to keep up with the contemporary style of play, but still offers a classic experience in a beautiful setting just moments from bustling Hossegor and the beach.
The Golf de Moliets is another challenging course. Used by the French Golf Federation as a winter training venue, it’s a Robert Trent Jones classic that plays mainly through the typical Landes pine forest, with the last few holes opening up for a coastal finale.
WHERE TO STAY:
The three courses above are all within a 30 kms radius of one another, so you could easily play all of them in a week. For convenience, we recommend:
Casa Duna
Sleeps 6
Stunning villa, heated pool, close to Hossegor and beaches.
Villa Alienor
Sleeps 6
Ideal family villa in the Royal Club Aquitaine estate.
Villa de la Biche
Sleeps 8
10min walk to beach, 13m pool, excellent family villa.
