3 B&B at Foresteria Villa d Este and 1 GF GC Villa d Este

There are places that remain untouched by time, enveloped in a special aura evoking elegance, tradition and good taste. The Circolo Golf Villa d'Este, protected by the woods of Montorfono and lying 20 minutes south of the Como city shores of the lake is one of these. This is true now more than ever, 90 years after those days in 1926 when English and American tourists – who had already chosen the Larian shores and their microclimate as their preferred holiday destination – began to tread the greens of the 18 holes that the shareholders of Grand Hotel Villa d’Este of Cernobbio decided to build, prompted by the requests of their well-heeled customers.

The walls of the clubhouse designed by architect Giuseppe Bergomi – partly destroyed by fire in 1990 but faithfully reconstructed to the original, with hardwood floors fragrant of beeswax, the wood paneling of the bar and the incomparable terrace looking onto the course and the hills – narrate the most wonderful chapters in the history of Italian competitive golf: 12 Italian Opens were played here between 1928 and 1972, 57 editions of the Men’s International Championship and 39 editions of the Ladies’, to name a few.

To understand the prestige of this club, we need only glance at the club's record book to see the names that proudly appear there: for example, the Spaniard José Maria Olazábal, who before becoming the hero of many Ryder Cups in tandem with Seve Ballesteros, as well as captain of the victorious European team in 2012, the first of his two Masters' green jackets, won the Italian Open twice in 1983 and 1985 on this narrow and undulating course designed by Major Peter Gannon

Technical Details

Course: 18 holes, Par 69, 5789 meters

Architece: Peter Gannon

Topography: Tee-off should be exact and straight. You’d better bring along with you a few more balls. Hillside locations make the game difficult.

Distinctive features: From the peak of its 440 metres above sea level, this terrain offers good playing conditions also in summer. Pine trees, birches, chestnut trees characterize this course. A charming setting including a par 69 that ranks among the toughest ones in Europe: a true challenge also for the most experienced golfer! 

Pro’s comments

An intriguing yet very complicated course to face if you don't have experience or the right attitude. Its very deep bunkers and greens with very accentuated differences in level will greatly challenge inexperienced golfers. However, the Villa d'Este's 18-hole course is a must on the curriculum vitae of any golfer visiting the Lombardy region. A few well-played holes are a guarantee of satisfaction: the enjoyment lies, for once, in overcoming the course's difficulties.