From Athens, a three-and-a-half-hour drive leads to Costa Navarino, a sprawling 2,471-acre development perched on Greece’s southwestern tip. What was once a landscape filled with endless olive groves has now transformed into a golfer’s paradise with four impressive courses, soon to be joined by a fifth. This transformation has earned Costa Navarino a spot among the world’s premier golf destinations, a recognition welcomed by industry experts who cite its quality golf, luxury accommodations, Mediterranean climate, and cultural charm as key draws.
Among the highlights is the Bay Course, an 18-hole, par-71 marvel designed by Robert Trent Jones II, which has been attracting golf enthusiasts since its opening in 2011. The course recently received a boost from the addition of the Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino, a stunning 99-room resort seamlessly integrated into the landscape with olive grove-inspired architecture. Opening for its first full season, this luxury resort is the latest in a lineup that includes other high-profile names like the Westin and W Hotels, cementing the area’s reputation as a high-end destination.
Greece’s budding golf tourism industry speaks to a broader strategy of diversifying the nation’s tourism offerings beyond its famous beaches and ancient sites. Golf tourism, in particular, is expected to surge by more than $1 billion by 2026, as nations across the globe recognize the high-value impact of these visitors. Countries like South Africa, with its Kruger National Park, and Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast, once unfamiliar with the sport, are now actively investing in golf infrastructure to tap into this market. Golfers tend to stay longer and spend more on average, making them highly desirable guests.
Meanwhile, established European golf spots are looking to attract more affluent international visitors, particularly from the United States. Portugal, where golf has been played since the 1970s, has seen a push to enhance course quality to appeal to wealthier American players. New high-end developments such as the David McLay Kidd-designed Terras da Comporta and Tom Fazio’s CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club are now part of this strategy, elevating Portugal’s appeal within luxury golf circles.
Sicily and Mallorca are also making names for themselves in the golf world. Sicily recently took home the title of 2023’s World’s Best Emerging Golf Destination, thanks to its impressive Verdura East and West courses. Mallorca, a Spanish island boasting 23 golf courses, has long been a favorite in the European market and is now catching the eye of U.S. players. The island’s top-rated courses like Alcanada and Golf Son Gual, set against a stunning Mediterranean backdrop, offer ideal conditions for golf and have contributed to its rising popularity stateside.
Other international destinations are also entering the scene with notable new courses. In South Africa’s Kruger National Park, the Skukuza Golf Course has been reintroduced to the public following an extensive revamp in 2023. Vietnam, too, is expanding its golf offering, with new courses like Hoiana Shores and Nicklaus-designed layouts at BRG Danang Golf Resort joining the existing golf resorts that date back to the mid-2000s. Turkey’s Antalya region is another growing golf hub, home to 16 courses that contributed over $150 million to the local economy by 2019. Here, top courses like Carya Golf Club and Montgomerie Maxx Royal, established over the past decade, draw players from around the world.
With these destinations continuously enhancing their golf infrastructure and hospitality offerings, it’s clear that the sport’s appeal spans continents, from Greece’s scenic coastlines to South Africa’s wildlife reserves. For the growing number of travelers who want to combine their love of the game with exotic travel experiences, golf has become much more than a pastime—it’s a passport to seeing the world’s most beautiful landscapes in style.
