Four championship golf courses, ancient Messinian history, gorgeous hotels and an epic Pro-Am that firmly puts Greece at the top of global resorts, Rob Rees makes a pilgrimage to Costa Navarino, where the Peloponnese is fast becoming Europe’s most seductive golf escape…
If Greece was once considered a curiosity rather than a serious destination on the golfing circuit, Costa Navarino has emphatically corrected the record. On the unspoilt southwestern edge of the Peloponnese, this sunlit resort has assembled one of Europe’s most compelling line-ups: four signature courses from the finest golf architects, several world-class hotels and a tournament calendar that now draws professionals, amateurs and spectators from across the continent. Little surprise Costa Navarino has been named World’s Best Golf Venue by the World Golf Awards and ranked 7th Best Golf Resort in the World by both ‘Today’s Golfer’ & ‘Golf World’.
Set across 1,000 fertile hectares in Messinia, Costa Navarino is the result of a long-term vision rather than some nouveau-riche Mediterranean excess. Conceived by the late shipping magnate Captain Vassilis Constantakopoulos, the development was always deeply rooted in respect for his birthplace and the land, its heritage and the community. Olive groves were retained, wetlands protected, buildings kept low and materials drawn from local stone. The result feels less like a resort imposed on the landscape than one coaxed from it.
Messinia is among Greece’s most storied regions. From Mycenaean palaces and Byzantine churches to the great offshore Battle of Navarino in 1827. The battle was a decisive naval clash where British, French, and Russian fleets destroyed Ottoman–Egyptian forces, securing Greek independence. This is a land layered with history yet its enduring wealth has always been agricultural. The region’s defining export, the Kalamata olive, thrives here in the dry heat and limestone soil. Plump, dark and intensely flavoured, it appears everywhere: at breakfast, at lunch, pressed into oil and worked into spa treatments.
Access is refreshingly simple. Kalamata International Airport, recently modernised and named in honour of Constantakopoulos, lies just 45 minutes away by road. EasyJet and BA fly there in summer. The 3 hour drive from Athens Airport is manageable in the shoulder seasons.
At the heart of Navarino Dunes sits The Westin Resort Costa Navarino, a calm, expansive hotel that understands golfers instinctively. Bedrooms are generous and elegantly understated – stone floors, linen textures, shaded terraces and, in many cases, private plunge pools for post-round recovery.
Mornings begin downstairs with the much talked-about breakfast buffet. Served in a vast, cool, basement dining room, it is abundant without being frantic: fresh breads, thick-as-clotted-cream Greek yoghurt, honeycomb, local cheeses, olives in dizzying variety, eggs cooked to order and enough choice to fuel even the most ambitious 36-hole day. Enjoy uncovering goat’s cheese, fresh tomatoes, flaky filo pastries, often all topped with herbs from surrounding hillsides and local honey. It’s plentiful, unrushed and pre-game civilised.
Golf logistics are handled smoothly – shuttle services, club storage and tee-time coordination all quietly efficient – leaving players free to focus on what matters. In my case more coffees; for others their diligent warm-up routines and practice!
Costa Navarino’s greatest achievement is not merely quantity but contrast. Each of the 4 courses feels distinct, shaped as much by terrain as by the architect’s philosophy. The Dunes Course (Bernhard Langer) is the original and still a benchmark. Rolling fairways wind through olive groves and along the Selas River, combining a parkland feel with flashes of coastal drama. The par-5 18th, guarded by bunkers and water, is a classic risk-reward finisher that tempts ambition and punishes haste. Generous off the tee, demanding into the greens.
The Bay Course (Robert Trent Jones Jr.) is shorter, sharper and gloriously scenic. It shifts character hole by hole, from coastal exposure to canyon golf. Its signature moment comes at the par-3 11th, played across a ravine to a green suspended above the Ionian Sea – a hole that demands composure as much as club selection.
Set high above the coast at Navarino Hills, the International Olympic Academy Course (José María Olazábal) is bold, modern golf. Wide fairways encourage aggressive driving, but water hazards and elevated greens demand precision. The par-4 14th, plunging downhill toward the sea, is unforgettable – a tee shot played into space, followed by an approach that seems to hang in the air.
Finally, the Hills Course (José María Olazábal) is more rugged and arguably the most dramatic of the quartet. The terrain rolls hard, elevation changes are pronounced and strategy matters. The par-5 9th epitomises the design: a thrilling drive downhill and a decision-laden second shot that rewards nerve.
Olazábal’s influence is keenly felt. A two-time Masters champion, Ryder Cup icon and former Spanish world No.2, he designs as he played – thoughtfully, creatively and with respect for shot-making. His courses here favour angles, imagination and intelligent risk, ensuring they remain engaging well beyond the first round. But they’re tough tests.
The Aegean Messinia Pro-Am is the resort’s competitive heartbeat, staged annually and increasingly regarded as one of southern Europe’s standout amateur-professional golf events.
I was privileged to play in the November 2025 edition. It brought together touring professionals, elite amateurs and invited guests in mixed teams, playing three competitive rounds across the resort’s championship courses. Teams consist of one professional paired with three amateurs, using team stableford and stroke-play, ensuring both competitive edge and sociable spirit. It is as much about shared experience as silverware – serious golf by day, beach or spa time after the game, convivial Greek hospitality by night.
Trey Niven of Sky Sports was my pro with phenomenal Swedish lady golfers Johanna Johnsson and Veronika Cervin completing my ‘Dream Team’. For many regulars, it is part competition, part annual pilgrimage.
As a higher handicapper, I loved the Bay Course. It’s shorter and deliberately designed to be a fun experience for most golfers. The sea views also soften the punishment of the occasional sliced drive into the Ionian wilderness!
The Dunes Course is probably second-best for mid-to-high handicappers. Its fairways are relatively generous, although the bunkering and the tricky greens are subtle and demanding. You have to plot your way, favouring canniness and accuracy over length.
Between rounds lie olive-oil-rich cuisine, classical ruins, guided hikes, sailing in the Bay of Navarino, padel, tennis and spa treatments inspired by ancient Greek wellness traditions. Yet it is the golf that lingers longest – the light, the space, the camaraderie, the sense of a destination that’s very special.
The Captain died in 2011, shortly after the first phase of Costa Navarino opened. His family – particularly son Achilles Constantakopoulos – continues the vision. Today the project represents billions in investment and has transformed Messinia into a globally recognised luxury destination while still feeling distinctly Greek rather than any ubiquitous international resort.
Costa Navarino has achieved something rare: it has created a golf resort of genuine international standing on a par with North Carolina’s Pinehurst & the Algarve’s Quinta do Lago but without losing sight of place. Four superb courses, a prestigious tournament, and a region whose history and produce enrich your stay. Greece may be late to the golfing pantheon of greats — but Costa Navarino is worth its top spot on any holiday golfer’s wishlist.
The Peloponnese golf season extends from February to November. For more information about Costa Navarino, including details of the Westin resort, please visit www.costanavarino.com.
Aegean Messinia Pro-Am packages (via Afea Travel) include 4, 5 or 7 nights B&B at The Westin Resort, with 3 Pro-Am tournament rounds (Dunes, Hills, International Olympic Academy), practice rounds, buggies, evening events, and on-course food and drinks included. To books, contact aegeanmessiniaproam@afeatravel.gr.
And for more Pro-Ams in Europe, visit the Confederation of Professional Golf at www.cpg.golf.
