As creatures of habit and just like an old unchanged Italian pasta dish, for the past ten years myself and three friends have carved out the perfect recipe for a golfing holiday in Puglia (Southern Italy). We have a range of abilities and golf courses in Puglia cater for all.
To the golf…
The Best Golf Courses in Puglia
Coccaro Golf Club
Just ten minutes from the trullo we always begin our trip by playing the wonderful Coccaro Golf Club. Ok, this may well only be a short par-3 golf course with holes measuring between 90 and 160 yards but you mustn’t be fooled by this little beauty.
With the Adriatic Sea in the distance each stunning and manicured hole will require precision with your irons and all your short game magic to score well.
It’s difficult to say if I have a favourite hole as there are plenty to choose from. Hole 1 eases you into the course nicely and if you were to look closely you may well still see a perfect golf ball size hole in the cactus just to the right of the tee box, due to a slightly wayward shot from my playing partner!
With water featuring on the course at holes 2 and 8, which is always a magnet to several of our balls over the years, there’s also no room for error on the wonderful 5th and 6th!
I guess as I reflect on this little gem of a course though, hole 7 suits my eye the most. Normally a 7 or 6 iron, I just love how the hole plays slightly up hill with olive trees guarding each side of the fairway right up to the green.
As a four ball we’ve had many a fun match around this little course which you could keep going round and round again. For us though, this is a great warm game up for the more non serious Golf ahead.
Barialto Golf Club
I really feel like I’m at home when we arrive through the gates at Barialto – The staff are always welcoming, friendly and the apple cake is to die for whenever it’s on display!
Yes, it’s not the longest but who really wants that from golf courses!
The thing I love most about the course is the scenic diversity of the holes. Snaking harmoniously in between the palm and the ancient olive trees each and every hole has its own unique, fun and challenging characteristic. It really is difficult to choose a favourite, so I’ll pick just a few that you may want to look out for when you visit.
A hole I haven’t yet birdied, the tricky par five second is just a great early hole. The tee shot is extremely tight and challenging and even if you do hit your Sunday best you won’t yet see the green as only doglegs 90 degrees towards the hole at about 300 or so yards. When you’ve finally managed this, the hole then opens up with an inviting shot to a narrow but pretty green.
I know it’s the next hole but I must mention the third as it teases you with the chance to go for the green. But be warned, the hole is guarded tightly by bunkers and trees and a bogey instead of a birdie is more often the score as we all always attempt to go for the green.
The par threes are just majestic, and for someone who loves playing medium and long irons on golf courses, holes 9, 10 and 17 offer you the chance to show off your precision play.
10 especially, is a hole to look forward to, it’s right by the club house so it’s the perfect spot to stop and top up with a cold beer and that Apple cake I mentioned earlier.
Hole 11 must get a mention! yes, it’s a long hole and it doglegs from right to left but if you can find that little draw off the tee into the fairway there’s no better feeling than heading off that tee box into the back nine.
Our matches are normally a close fought battle and holes 14, a stunning straight tree lined par five, hole 15, a very pretty and s nice length shorter par three and finally hole 18, a lovely sweeping par four and probably my favourite finishing holes in golf.
This is truly a splendid Golf course.
San Domenico Golf Course
If you’re looking for a more prestigious and grander feel to your golf then look no further than the lovely San Domenico, home to the PGA Italian championship and has hosted European tour events.
Not far from the Port of Savelletri nestling itself in the Puglian countryside you know you’ve arrived somewhere special as you walk in through the gate. This hotel is on a par and is directly opposite to the world-renowned Borgo Egnazia hotel and restaurant complex.
After a friendly welcome there’s a chance to warm up before your game as they have a great range which is free, chipping area and putting green right by the clubhouse. For me I’m not a fan of jinxing my game and I prefer to head straight off to the first tee into the unknown!
The course itself certainly offers terrific views of the sea on all 18 holes.
As you step on the first tee at Sam Domenico you know this is not just going to be a great and fun course to play, but it’s also going to be a challenge due to the winds that blow in off the stunning rocky shores of the Adriatic Sea.
I’m sure there are calm days here, but we’ve never experienced one and so if there is one piece of advice, make friends with these winds as sometimes they can as easily be your Ally as well as your opponent.
If you like playing championship style golf courses, you certainly won’t be disappointed with the set up and the quality of the fairways and greens. The classic Pencross greens are always superb and a joy to putt on especially when it’s for a par or a birdie.
And so there you have it, a whistle stop tour, into my yearly golfing trip to Puglia. Roll on June!
Explore the Best of Golfing in Puglia on Holiday
If you would love to sample the delights of a wonderful golf holiday in Puglia or you are just simply after an outstanding holiday home in the sun, then look no further than Trullo Giardino.
I can’t say enough about our hosts stunning trullo. It has been beautifully restored, set on the hillside, in Puglia overlooking the town of Fasano and the Sea beyond, the Trullo offers 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The Villa has its own private swimming pool, with diving board and offers stunning views of the Adriatic Sea. The Villa is surrounded by 2 acres of Terraces planted with Olive, Fig and Almond Trees.
Trullo Giardino offers an amazing holiday experience in a setting that is truly relaxing, it’s restful, peaceful and the sweeping panoramic views make for the perfect retreat to begin and end a wonderful day’s golfing at some incredible golf courses.
James Ellis-Caird, Golf professional and author of The Uncorrupted Pleasure of An Old Bladed Putter
