Tuscany is not the first region golfers think of when planning an Italian golf trip. That is a mistake — and one that keeps the region refreshingly uncrowded. The courses here are exceptional: two of them rank among the finest in continental Europe, the scenery is unmatched on the continent, and the logistical ease of combining golf with wine estates, Renaissance cities, and coastal Maremma makes it one of the most satisfying multi-interest trips in the DGE portfolio.
I have been booking Tuscany golf trips since 2009. The region has a core group of six serious courses, with a handful of nine-hole or executive layouts that work as warm-up rounds or filler days. Below I have ranked the six main courses honestly: green fees are 2026 rack rates, which drop 20–30% from October through March and again in May before the summer peak. All six are playable by visitors with a recognised handicap certificate, though Castiglion del Bosco has limited external availability by design.
Tuscany divides into three geographic zones that affect how you structure a trip. Northern Tuscany, centred on Florence, covers Ugolino (Chianti), Poggio dei Medici (Mugello valley), and Montecatini. Central Tuscany — the Chianti Classico and Crete Senesi corridor between Siena and Florence — gives you Castelfalfi and the drive south to Castiglion del Bosco near Montalcino. Southern Tuscany (Maremma) stands alone with Punta Ala on the coast. A well-structured seven-day trip plays four rounds: one in the north, two in the centre, one on the coast, with two days off-course for wine estates and cities.
Toscana Resort Castelfalfi — Il Castelfalfi Course
The headline course of Tuscany's most complete golf resort. Castelfalfi was a derelict medieval borgo purchased and rebuilt by TUI, and the golf course was given the same treatment — redesigned from scratch across rolling Chianti Classico countryside with views to the village tower on the skyline. Par 71 is deceptive: the layout plays long, with several long par-4s that punish short hitters off the tee. The greens are among the fastest in Italy. There is a nine-hole Pegaso course on-site for warm-up rounds, a proper short game area, and one of the better pro shops in central Italy. Stay on-site and tee times are guaranteed; external visitors book through the resort directly or via a golf travel specialist. Green fees drop meaningfully from October onward.
Best for: Golfers looking for a full resort experience. Best paired with two nights at the borgo hotel.
Castiglion del Bosco
One of the most exclusive golf courses in Italy and the only Tom Weiskopf design in the country. Castiglion del Bosco sits inside a 4,200-acre private wine estate in Montalcino — home to Brunello di Montalcino, one of Italy's greatest reds. The course rolls through ancient oak forests and open Crete Senesi terrain, with turf quality and conditioning that rivals anywhere in southern Europe. Non-resort guests can book tee times but availability is limited by design — the estate prioritises villa guests. Green fees are the highest in Tuscany, and justified. After your round, the estate's osteria uses produce from the farm. If you are playing once in Tuscany, this is the round.
Best for: Discerning golfers who want world-class design, wine, and Italian countryside in one stay.
Poggio dei Medici Golf & Country Club
The best-value round in northern Tuscany and one of the most scenic courses in Italy. Poggio dei Medici sits in the Mugello valley north of Florence, on slopes above the Medici family's historic hunting grounds. The fairways rise and fall across vineyards and Mediterranean scrub, with Apennine peaks behind and the San Piero a Sieve valley below. The routing is well-conceived, the greens hold their surface through the summer, and the agriturismo accommodation on the property is genuinely comfortable. A full day here — practice, round, lunch — costs less than a single green fee at some Algarve courses. That is exceptional value for the quality of landscape and layout.
Best for: Golfers based in Florence for a day trip. Groups wanting solid value with proper scenery.
Golf Club Punta Ala
The oldest course in Tuscany and one of the oldest in Italy. Punta Ala opened in 1964 on a dramatic Maremma headland, weaving through stone pines and cork oaks along the Tyrrhenian coast. The views out to the island of Elba make it one of the more photogenic rounds in Italy, but the course earns its place on merit too: tight, well-tree-lined fairways demand accuracy, and the greens have subtle breaks that punish complacency. The club retains a proper Italian golf club feel — members, a clubhouse with a terrace, a caddie master who has been here for decades. It is not a resort course and is better for it. Combine with a stay in Castiglione della Pescaia, 20 minutes south, for a full Maremma coastal trip.
Best for: Golfers who appreciate history, character, and coastal scenery over resort polish.
Golf Club Ugolino
Florence's original golf club, founded in 1930 in the Chianti hills 15 kilometres south of the city centre. Ugolino is a proper old-school Italian golf club — members-first, slightly formal, with a course that rewards shot-making over power. The layout runs through Chianti vineyards and cypress-lined slopes; several holes play downhill with Florentine towers visible on the horizon. Par 71 plays longer than it looks on the card. The condition is solid year-round and the green fee is fair for the quality and location. A good choice for golfers spending two or three days in Florence who want a course with genuine character rather than a purpose-built resort layout.
Best for: Florence-based golfers. Anyone who wants a genuine club atmosphere and Chianti backdrop.
Montecatini Golf Club
The most accessible round in central Tuscany and a sensible addition to any Montecatini-based itinerary. Montecatini Terme is a historic thermal spa town and the golf club is a proper facility — 18 holes, driving range, short game area — at green fees that leave room for a spa afternoon and dinner without breaking the budget. The course is flatter than most Tuscany layouts, crossing agricultural land with tree-lined fairways and open approaches. It lacks the scenery of Poggio dei Medici or Punta Ala but plays well for mid-to-high handicappers and is an excellent warm-up round at the start of a multi-course Tuscany trip. The club is also a useful base if you are using Montecatini as your hub for day trips to Castelfalfi (30 minutes) or Florence (45 minutes).
Best for: Higher handicappers. Golfers using Montecatini as a spa-and-golf base.
How to plan a Tuscany golf trip
The standard Tuscany golf trip is five to seven nights with three to four rounds of golf, the remainder spent on wine estates, hill towns, and food. Golfers who insist on five or six rounds will find the region too spread out for a concentrated schedule — the distances between courses, while manageable, are not the 20-minute drives of the Algarve or the Costa del Sol. Budget 45 minutes to an hour between most properties.
The best base for central Tuscany golf is either Florence (puts you within 45 minutes of Ugolino, Poggio dei Medici, Montecatini, and Castelfalfi) or a rural agriturismo between Siena and Florence (better for Castelfalfi and the Montalcino area, less convenient for the north). Golfers combining Punta Ala on the coast should plan a mid-trip move to Castiglione della Pescaia or Follonica — there is no sensible single base that covers both the coast and central Tuscany.
The best months are April, May, October, and November. Spring brings green post-winter conditions and wildflowers across the Crete Senesi; autumn has the grape harvest, lower green fees, and long golden-light afternoons. July and August are hot — courses remain in good condition but afternoon rounds in 35°C heat change the game. Winter (December–February) is playable on most courses but Poggio dei Medici and Ugolino can close after heavy rain on their clay-heavy subsoils.
Handicap certificates are expected at all six courses. The formal clubs — Ugolino and Punta Ala — are stricter about this than the resort layouts. Carry your national golf association handicap certificate, or use the WHS digital card. Some Italian clubs still require printed documentation for external visitors; confirm before you travel.
For groups of four or more, coordinating tee times across multiple Tuscany courses while managing accommodation moves, restaurant reservations, and vineyard visits becomes genuinely complex. The courses have different booking systems — some through the resort, some through the club secretary, some via golf-specific booking portals — and preferred tee times fill quickly in peak season. A specialist handles the coordination and usually has access to preferred rates at the resort properties.