RANKED: The Top 100 Best Golf Resorts in Continental Europe

What are the best golf resorts in Europe?

Welcome to this ranking of the Top 100 Best Golf Resorts in Continental Europe.

JUMP TO: 100-76 | 75-51 | 50-26 | 25-11 | 10-1

I compiled the first list of the best 100 golf resorts in Continental Europe in 2016 and, looking down that ranking years on, the names I included largely stand up to scrutiny.

Three things have changed since then, however. Firstly, my knowledge of the resorts has increased as I’ve now been to 94 of this Top 100. The criteria I use to assess each one has also been refined. And most notably, so many of the resorts have improved to significant degrees over those last eight years.

I lost count of the times I wrote ‘as a result of improvements to…’ in the 100 entries in this supplement, and I was not referring to new ball washers on each tee or a refurbished pro shop. It was usually a new hotel – two resorts in this list have built two hotels since 2016! – or something similarly substantial.

Helped by one extremely high new entry and a notable rise for another resort, the top end of the list is incredibly high now. The top 25 is just high-class resort after high-class resort.

These elite entries are naturally well-rounded resorts, but even within the top 25 there are different emphases in terms of quality and quantity of course/s, opulent accommodation and non-golf amenities.

That sets the tone for a list that I can confidently say caters for absolutely every golfer in terms of taste, budget, geography and emphasis. I have made sure to indicate in most entries who they suit best, but you can also find that out just by looking at the individual marks.

I’d be very interested to hear your views on this list. We’d love to hear from you via email, on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

How the list was compiled

I like to be totally transparent about who has had input on the Top 100s, and while I had insight on the list from some well-travelled golfers, this is probably the ranking I dominate the most. I have been to 94% of the courses ranked here, so if you disagree with any positions it is largely my fault. My panel was: David Jones, Dirk Schaeffer, Charles North, Kevin Brown, Sheila Diamond, Nigel and Suzanne Butler, and Borje and Gunnel Laurinsson.

The scoring criteria

We assessed each resort using the same criteria as for the 2022 ranking:

Course(s) (marked out of 40)

We followed our Top 100 Courses ranking as an initial guide, then assessed from there. Extra marks were awarded for resorts with more than one course, which means never having to leave the resort for variety.

Accommodation (20)

This needs little explanation, but… the range and quantity of accommodation on offer was looked on favourably, and usually scored better than a resort with just 10 incredible rooms.

Setting (20)

Simply, expect higher marks for a beachside, cliff edge or lakeside location. Peaceful countryside gets 15s and 16s, the ‘wow’ factor get 17s and above. Also, marks may be taken off if a shuttle is required between courses/hotel.

Non-golf amenities (20)

The facilities that make a resort appealing to golfers who want to do more than play the game, as well as non-golfers who may be travelling with them.

What is a resort?

Boring but important. This explains why some destinations you may think of as a resort aren’t in – likely because I don’t consider them a resort. (You might find them in my Top 100 Best Golf Courses in Continental Europe ranking.) And also why some big names aren’t as high as you might think – for example hotel-less Vale do Lobo and even top-10 Quinta do Lago, with just one small hotel that is part of the same group. The course(s) and accommodation have to be part of the same company or group, and be on site or within a very short transfer. If the course(s) and hotel are spread out a little, the resort receives slightly lower marks in the ‘Setting’ category.

Golf World Top 100: Best Golf Resorts in Continental Europe – 100-76

100. Himmerland

Aalborg, Denmark

Courses 27 Accommodation 15 Amenities 12 Setting 16 Total 70
Getting there Aalborg is 45 minutes away.

A regular European Tour venue, this Danish resort boasts the woodland-parkland Backtee course as well as the Garia, plus a nice hotel whose spa and wellness center excels.

99. Tecina

La Gomera, Spain

Course 24 Accommodation 15 Amenities 12 Setting 19 Total 70
Getting there Ferry or fly to La Gomera.

Le Jardin hotel is perfectly pleasant but the real star of this entry is the location, given Tecina is set down on the edge of the Atlantic. The course is funky because of the volcanic terrain and, of course, aesthetic.

98. Kaya Eagles

Belek, Turkey

Course 22 Accommodation 17 Amenities 16 Setting 16 Total 71
Getting there Antalya airport is 40 minutes away.

There’s still space for one more Belek entry, this time with a course by former European Tour player David Jones and another predictably swish hotel with plenty of activities other than golf.

97. Grado

Monfalcone, Italy

Course 23 Accommodation 15 Amenities 15 Setting 18 Total 71
Getting there Venice is 80 minutes, Trieste 40.

A great spot for families because there are loads of amenities – it’s basically a classy, continental take on a holiday park, with cute woodland cabins. The course feels like it’s in the Everglades. I loved it here.

96. Modry Las

Choszczno, Poland

Course 27 Accommodation 15 Amenities 12 Setting 17 Total 71
Getting there Fly to Szczecin, Berlin or Poznan.

Don’t go here if you want numerous amenities. Do go here – and I really recommend it – if you want the best piece of design work by Gary Player that I’ve seen, plus lovely cottage accommodation within the woods.

95. Morgado

Portimao, Portugal

Courses 26 Accommodation 15 Amenities 13 Setting 17 Total 71
Getting there Faro is 40 minutes away.

Number 95 has two courses, would you believe. This Algarve resort in the hills above Portimao has the Morgado and the Alamos, and it would be higher if there was more than ‘just’ nice apartments.

94. Poggio Dei Medici

Florence, Italy

Course 24 Accommodation 17 Amenities 15 Setting 16 Total 72
Getting there Bologna, Pisa both 50 mins away.

A low-ish profile Italian resort that backs up the view that Tuscany is Italy’s golf tourism Mecca. The course sits in the Mugello valley and the 70-room UNA hotel is in a restored farmhouse. Good facilities.

93. Isla Canela

Isla Canela, Spain

Courses 23 Accommodation 18 Amenities 16 Setting 15 Total 72
Getting there Fly to Sevilla or Faro.

I must admit I had not even heard of Isla Canela when they got in touch to ask why they weren’t in this ranking. When I explained my ignorance, they were confident enough to suggest a visit in the hope they might be included next time. Well, I’m glad they got in touch because it is a worthy and distinctive addition to this list.

Isla Canela is a lovely little island – although you don’t really feel like you are on an island – that is right on the border with Portugal.

It is a popular yet neat, well-kept and inviting tourist area mainly populated by Spanish holidaymakers in high season, with a long, wide sandy beach and several restaurants along the seaside road of the eponymous town.

The golf resort fits perfectly into this vibe and is headlined by a stylish boutique hotel.

The Old course winds round the hotel and is a nice resort experience with a handful of standout holes, playable throughout. It’s a really good option for couples in particular.

But Isla Canela has more. The whole island is owned by the same company and that brings in four family-friendly hotels such as the Barcelo and Melia, as well as a second course, the excellent Links – which hosts DP World Tour qualifying.

So while the boutique hotel and the Old could not be closer, there are 10-minute drives between these extra hotels and courses, which costs it in terms of a Setting mark as far as our ranking is concerned. In reality, this is a large resort with an extensive choice of hotels and two nicely contrasting courses.

92. Zala Springs

Keszthely, Hungary

Course 24 Accommodation 16 Amenities 15 Setting 17 Total 72
Getting there Budapest is two hours away.

The pride of Hungary. The Robert Trent Jones Jnr course is backed up by 32 modern ‘design suites’ in the hotel and a spa and wellness center that one of my panellists won’t stop raving about.

91. Dolce Fregate

Nice, France

Course 23 Accommodation 18 Amenities 16 Setting 16 Total 73
Getting there Nice is 50 minutes away.

Ron Fream cut the main 18 holes out of classic Mediterranean and Provencal countryside, then added another nine to give guests in the 4-star hotel plenty of golf.

90. Chateau du Taulane

Grasse, France

Course 24 Accommodation 18 Amenities 15 Setting 16 Total 73
Getting there Nice is 40 minutes away.

Another entry for the south-east of France, this time a 4-star hotel set within an ancient castle, with a limited number (20) of rooms, but each of them very high class. A Gary Player woodland-parkland course.

89. Salgados

Albufeira, Portugal

Course 23 Accommodation 17 Amenities 14 Setting 19 Total 73
Getting there Faro is 20 minutes away.

Holds its place in the 80s thanks to a fabulous setting next to Salgados Beach and a nature reserve. A very playable course is complemented by the villas, a 5-star beach hotel Salgados Palace and nice apartments.

88. Barbaroux

Brignoles, France

Course 24 Accommodation 17 Amenities 16 Setting 16 Total 73
Getting there Fly to Toulon, Marseille or Nice.

The course by Pete Dye and P.B. Dye runs among pine trees, oak trees, rosemary and lavender and is an all-out assault on the senses… in a good way. The small Mercure hotel is a lower-key complement.

87. Barcelona Golf

Barcelona, Spain

Course 24 Accommodation 17 Amenities 16 Setting 16 Total 73
Getting there Barcelona is 20 minutes away.

A nice all-rounder set among vineyards, with the Masia course by Jose Maria Olazabal complemented by a shorter nine-holer. The hotel is renowned for its cuisine and has a good spa, gym and pool.

86. Villaitana

Alicante, Spain

Courses 25 Accommodation 17 Amenities 16 Setting 15 Total 73
Getting there Alicante airport is 35 minutes.

Villaitana entered the list for the first time in 2022 and only drops here because of two high new entries. This Alicante resort has two courses by Nicklaus Design and 4- and 5-star hotel options.

85. Son Antem

Majorca, Spain

Courses 25 Accommodation 17 Amenities 16 Setting 15 Total 73
Getting there Palma airport is 30 minutes away.

That there is great quality right the way down this list is illustrated here. Son Antem has two courses and tonnes of accommodation via a hotel and villas, plus loads of amenities. A great family option.

84. Campo Real

Lisbon, Portugal

Course 24 Accommodation 17 Amenities 16 Setting 17 Total 74
Getting there Lisbon airport is 30 minutes away.

More of a family option than anything else, with an especially good hotel boasting indoor and outdoor pools, a large spa, equestrian centre, kids’ club and tennis courts. The course is by Donald Steel.

83. Desert Springs

Almeria, Spain

Course 25 Accommodation 17 Amenities 15 Setting 17 Total 74
Getting there Murcia airport is 80 minutes away.

A brilliant winter sun option because the climate here is pretty much the best in mainland Europe. There are apartments and townhouses in the ‘town’, plus a desert-style course in the Indiana.

82. Penati

Senica, Slovakia

Courses 30 Accommodation 15 Amenities 11 Setting 18 Total 74
Getting there Bratislava is an hour away.

Penati goes a little against what I want from a resort in that it has minimal amenities, but with two contrasting courses – including the Heritage that features in our ranking of the Top 100 best golf courses in Europe – it absolutely has to be in.

81. Peralada

Girona, Spain

Course 24 Accommodation 17 Amenities 16 Setting 17 Total 74
Getting there Fly to Girona, 30 minutes away.

A neat, 6,600-yard parkland course that travels over undulating ground and winds between lakes and mature trees.

The course has some excellent holes and is allied to a really swish, stylish hotel with a Wine Spa (no, really) and excellent food.

80. Pirin

Razlog, Bulgaria

Courses 25 Accommodation 17 Amenities 15 Setting 17 Total 74
Getting there Under two hours from Sofia.

This Bulgarian resort has plenty of good accommodation because it doubles as a ski resort during the winter. It’s also really good value, with one of the courses by Ian Woosnam and a pretty second option.

79. Chateau Augerville

Nemours, France

Course 24 Accommodation 18 Amenities 16 Setting 16 Total 74
Getting there Paris Charles de Gaulle is 80 mins.

Paris is arguably the greatest golf city in continental Europe – in terms of a city break, only Amsterdam comes close. But this is the only Parisian resort in this list – and it is especially well placed for a game at Europe’s No.3 course, Fontainebleau.

At Chateau Augerville there is a woodland course by French architect Olivier Dongradi, who has a good reputation in his homeland and who has made a fine job of integrating l’Essonne river into this course, with the finishing hole in front of a chateau hotel a classic.

So the golf is good – but it might actually be overshadowed by the 5-star hotel, which boasts 40 truly beautiful rooms.

A member of Chateaux & Hotels Collection, this is accommodation of rare pedigree, with the grandeur of the castle brought out magnificently by its conversion to a hotel. Bursting with charm, character and a tangible feeling of being somewhere special, there are also the luxurious touches the discerning modern traveller demands.

Foodies will relish the alluring restaurants Jacques Coeur and L’Atelier, where local cuisine is promoted, and if you need pampering on your visit, the 620 square meter spa will oblige. Thus, this is a wonderful couples option and also for those seeking the finer things in life. A real find in the leafy suburbs of Paris.

78. Vale do Lobo

Vilamoura, Portugal

Courses 27 Accommodation 17 Amenities 12 Setting 18 Total 74
Getting there Faro airport is 40 minutes away.

I’m often asked why Vale do Lobo is so low in this list, because it has two continental Top 200 entries – the Ocean and Royal, both with their own ‘wow’ holes. The reason is simply that the golf club ‘only’ has apartment accommodation. With a hotel, it’d be top 30.

77. St Endreol

Frejus, France

Course 24 Accommodation 17 Amenities 16 Setting 17 Total 74
Getting there Fly to Nice, Toulon or Marseille.

I’m saying this light-heartedly, but by the time I’d got through half of the local brew and bowl of salty nuts we were enjoying at St Endreol, it was destined to move at least one place up in this ranking. Sat on the clubhouse patio overlooking the 18th green on a beautiful May evening, we’d only arrived 30 minutes earlier, but all was right with the world. We looked out across the course and forward to a couple of days here, and our drinks and snacks tasted sublime.

A further place higher was secured with dinner, a typically excellent French offering on an atmospheric patio. You also enjoy breakfast there and, if you’re anything like us, a post-round lunchtime beer. It’s the sort of low-hassle, high-reward destination that makes large resorts seem so unwieldy and soulless to some. The bedrooms in the 50-room hotel here are really nice, usually with a delightful view over the pretty courtyard, while the spa makes it a terrific option for couples, with a range of treatments, aquatic cycle, saunas, Turkish and whirlpool baths, plus a fitness room.

The course is funky and fun, somewhere to think your way round and perhaps leave driver in the bag for more holes than usual. It was nicely presented and a very vibrant place to play.

All those positives added seven extra places to the one it had secured as refreshment was taken on arrival…

76. Barseback

Malmö, Sweden

Courses 31 Accommodation 16 Amenities 10 Setting 18 Total 75
Getting there Fly to Malmö and drive up the coast, or fly to Copenhagen and drive to Sweden.

This Solheim Cup and European Tour host has two 18-holers, the No.1 being a course of two halves that is a continental Top 100 fixture. There are 36 rooms in the hotel and while it lacks somewhat for amenities, many will certainly enjoy it.

Golf World Top 100: Best Resorts in Continental Europe – 75-51

75. Diamond Country Club

Atzenbrugg, Austria

Courses 26 Accommodation 17 Amenities 14 Setting 18 Total 75
Getting there Vienna airport is an hour away.

This European Tour Destination venue is a continental X Factor Top 100 course and is allied to high-end clubhouse and apartment accommodation. The setting is predictably pleasant and all reports I get about this resort are good. I haven’t yet been, but it’s on my wishlist for 2025.

74. Bad Ragaz

Zurich, Switzerland

Courses 22 Accommodation 18 Amenities 18 Setting 17 Total 75
Getting there Vienna airport is an hour away.

A significant rise for this Swiss resort. Full disclosure that I’ve not been to Bad Ragaz so am relying on the verdicts of others – and reports are generally very good. The Donald Harradine parkland course is backed up by a hotel and amenities that include renowned wellness facilities and even a casino.

73. Palheiro

Madeira, Portugal

Course 25 Accommodation 18 Amenities 14 Setting 18 Total 75
Getting there Madeira airport is 30 minutes away.

One of the classiest resorts in the list. This elegant Madeira play-and-stay comprises an interesting course with trees, bushes and plants that burst with colour as a result of its temperate climate. It has a gorgeous but unfussy hotel and expansive Atlantic views from its hilltop position.

72. Anfi Tauro

Gran Canaria, Spain

Course 27 Accommodation 17 Amenities 14 Setting 18 Total 76
Getting there Gran Canaria airport is 30 mins.

Anfi’s course is a combination of spellbinding views and testing holes that are at times a brutal challenge. It therefore does well in our continental X Factor Top 100 and scores well in Setting in this list.

The resort accommodation is in the form of high-class apartments and villas.

71. Great Northern

Kerteminde, Denmark

Course 30 Accommodation 17 Amenities 14 Setting 15 Total 76
Getting there Copenhagen and Billund are 90 mins away.

A new entry for this rising star of Danish golf, where everything is done to an incredibly high standard. The rooms are what you would expect of a 5-star+ hotel, dripping in quality furnishings, architecture and interior design. The spa is similar, an idyllic place to be pampered in 4,500 square meters of treatment rooms, pools and aqua spa.

The clubhouse restaurant and its large, enticing patio area in particular is the sort of place you slink onto at 4pm after your round and leave after sundown feeling very satisfied with your lot following several refreshments and some excellent food.

The golf course – a Jack Nicklaus design – is climbing our continental European ranking, currently at No.57 and poised to rise further next year. It’s in terrific condition and packed with thrilling holes.

70. Robinson Nobilis

Belek, Turkey

Course 25 Accommodation 18 Amenities 17 Setting 16 Total 76
Getting there Antalya airport is 30 mins away.

I really do like the Robinson brand – it is pleasantly unfussy and you get a lot for your money and they do things very well. Nobilis is their Belek offering, with a pleasant golf course allied to a quality hotel with enough amenities to keep everyone happy.

69. Dreamland

Baku, Azerbaijan

Course 27 Accommodation 18 Amenities 15 Setting 16 Total 76
Getting there Baku airport in 20 mins.

It doesn’t have any impact on our ranking but Baku is a really intriguing city to visit, so for the golfer travelling with non-golfer/s, this is a really good ‘different’ option. The course was laid out by Cynthia Dye and is a thoughtful design in good condition. It also has an excellent on-site hotel.

68. Thracian Cliffs

Cape Kaliakra, Bulgaria

Course 30 Accommodation 15 Amenities 12 Setting 19 Total 76
Getting there Varna airport is 60 mins away.

As the marks here suggest, this is really all about the course and its setting, a location so spectacular that we named it No.3 in our continental X Factor Top 100. If a hotel was added to the villa accommodation and limited amenities, Thracian Cliffs would threaten the top 20 here.

RELATED: Europe’s most ‘wow factor’ golf courses

67. Kusadasi

Aydin, Turkey

Course 25 Accommodation 18 Amenities 17 Setting 16 Total 76
Getting there Izmir is less than an hour away

The views of the Aegean Sea from Kusadasi’s split-level course help secure this non-Belek Turkish entry another top-70 position. The golf sits among two lakes, olive and carob trees. Off the course, there’s a 400-room hotel with lots of amenities, including six pools and an aqua park.

66. San Roque

Sotogrande, Spain

Courses 32 Accommodation 16 Amenities 12 Setting 16 Total 76
Getting there Malaga airport is 30 minutes away.

San Roque’s courses have had a successful renovation and are now knocking on the door of the continental courses Top 100 again. The accommodation is limited, hence this drop, and while there is a new hotel nearby, it is not linked to the hotel and so is not counted in this ranking.

65. Vila Sol

Vilamoura, Portugal

Course 26 Accommodation 17 Amenities 16 Setting 17 Total 76
Getting there Faro airport is 40 minutes away.

The presentation of Vila Sol’s three loops of nine – Prime and Challenge, plus the Prestige – don’t help this Algarve resort’s position, which is a shame as there is lingering affection for this old favourite.

The hotel is good and as a family option it ticks most boxes.

RELATED: Best Golf Resorts in Portugal

64. Lubker

Aarhus, Denmark

Courses 31 Accommodation 15 Amenities 14 Setting 16 Total 76
Getting there Aarhus is 20 minutes away.

This notable rise for Lubker is recognition of its all-round quality as well as a nod to extra amenities we experienced on a visit last year. So, you have 27 holes – all of a continental European Top 100 level – plus spacious apartment accommodation adjoining the clubhouse, plus a spa and leisure centre on the other side of the courses that are reachable by a 10-minute walk through the forest.

It’s one of the most relaxed golf breaks I’ve experienced. Of course everything being so close together helps, but there was more to it than that. The staff are exceptionally good, the accommodation unfussy yet perfect, the golf not overcrowded yet high-calibre, and the woodland setting tranquillity itself.

Expect a cerebral examination from the Robert Trent Jones Jnr-designed loops of nine, and expect them in superb condition thanks to the efforts of English greenkeeper Spencer Lloyd-Pye.

Expect a superb Danish breakfast, a tremendous Danish beer on the patio with your tasty lunch, and, if you take my recommendation, order a cold cuts platter to enjoy on your balcony with a glass of red wine on at least one evening.

Flying in and out of Copenhagen and staying here and at Great Northern (overleaf) for a couple of nights each is a trip I can heartily recommend. I’d love to hear of groups of golfers doing that.

63. Palazzo Arzaga

Garda, Italy

Courses 26 Accommodation 18 Amenities 16 Setting 16 Total 76
Getting there Milan Bergamo is 50 mins away.

This resort, now known as Termegarda, has 27 holes – by Nicklaus Design and Gary Player – set around the ‘palace’ that has been converted into a hotel. Like Pula, it feels like it ought to be higher. Delightful accommodation that oozes old-world charm – you breakfast in a little al fresco piazza – and a peaceful setting.

RELATED: Best Golf Courses in Italy

62. Castelconturbia

Milan, Italy

Courses 29 Accommodation 16 Amenities 15 Setting 17 Total 77
Getting there Milan Malpensa is 30 mins away.

Three loops of nine set down in mature woodland by Robert Trent Jones Snr and which are good enough to have been in our continental Top 100 courses list. Add in neat on-site accommodation and you have a first-class resort. Like Bogogno, it lies close to Malpensa airport.

61. La Quinta

Marbella, Spain

Courses 28 Accommodation 17 Amenities 16 Setting 16 Total 77
Getting there Malaga airport is 40 minutes away.

If you find it tricky to tell the courses and resorts in the Costa del Sol apart, be assured that La Quinta is one of the area’s quality venues. There are three never-boring loops of nine to choose from, plus a large hotel with plenty of amenities to entertain you off the course.

60. Pula

Majorca, Spain

Course 25 Accommodation 18 Amenities 17 Setting 17 Total 77
Getting there Palma airport is 45 minutes away.

59. Linna

Vanajanlinnantie, Finland

Course 29 Accommodation 17 Amenities 14 Setting 17 Total 77
Getting there Helsinki airport is an hour away.

During his time working for European Golf Design, Tim Lobb laid out this course in a classic Finnish landscape of tumbling terrain and statuesque pines. It’s good enough to be a continental Top 100 fixture, and very ably backed up by a fine hotel next door.

A course redesigned by Jose Maria Olazabal which has hosted several European Tour events. Its golf offering is backed up by a hotel set within an ancient castle that has a heated pool, Jacuzzi and spa. It feels like it should be higher than No.60, but that’s the standard in this ranking…

58. La Finca

Valencia, Spain

Courses 26 Accommodation 18 Amenities 18 Setting 16 Total 78
Getting there Alicante airport is 45 minutes away.

Despite it having three 18-hole courses, including one in our Spain Top 70, as well as a 5-star hotel, La Finca is somehow not a particularly high-profile Spanish resort. Take advantage of that fact, but note that as there’s a bit of shuttling around to get to the golf, it loses a mark in setting.

57. Lighthouse

Cape Kaliakra, Bulgaria

Course 25 Accommodation 18 Amenities 17 Setting 18 Total 78
Getting there Varna airport is an hour away.

Cape Kaliakra has three courses – Thracian Cliffs, Black Sea Rama, and Lighthouse. The latter is the No.3 of the trio but has a large and impressive hotel attached. The rooms, restaurant and pool area are all so spacious and there are plenty of decent amenities for the non-golfer.

56. Titanic

Belek, Turkey

Course 25 Accommodation 18 Amenities 18 Setting 17 Total 78
Getting there Antalya is 30 minutes away.

A course that has been redesigned by Gary Johnstone of European Golf Design and is now known as Cullinan Links. It offers some good sea views and this being Belek, the hotel is luxurious and amenity-packed. It would very comfortably fit inside the top 40 of this ranking.

55. Hotel du Golf Barriere

Deauville, France

Courses 28 Accommodation 17 Amenities 17 Setting 16 Total 78
Getting there Ferry to Le Havre/tunnel to Calais.

Deauville is steeped in French sophistication, as befits the stand-out hotel in the charming, iconic town from which it takes its name. Its art decor exterior hints at an episode of Poirot but this is not a resort resting on its 1920s laurels. The interior has been renovated to an exceptional level, offering a fresh but classy feel as well as boasting the expected trappings of modern luxury. The courses have a tough job to not let the accommodation down, but the Tom Simpson and Henry Cotton-designed Diane Barriere and Lucien Barriere layouts indubitably enhance the offering.

There is a spa including a sauna, Turkish bath and gym, plus a delightful outdoor heated pool.

When you also factor in the joys of the town, you have a highly alluring destination.

And given its location in Northern France, it’s very easy to book your car onto a Brittany Ferries overnight service from Portsmouth or Poole and have a very appealing long weekend away.

54. Lofoten Links

Lofoten Islands, Norway

Course 32 Accommodation 16 Amenities 10 Setting 20 Total 78
Getting there Fly to Oslo-Bodø-Svolvaer.

Not too many will need to be told much about this spellbinding course in the Arctic Circle. It knocks every other setting I’ve experienced into a cocked hat and thus has several all-world holes. Limited but lovely chalet accommodation, plus horse riding and boating.

53. Argentario

Orbetello, Italy

Course 24 Accommodation 19 Amenities 17 Setting 18 Total 78
Getting there Rome Fiumicino is an hour away.

A splendid option for couples, especially those drawn to an uber stylish hotel that has a spa, indoor and outdoor pools, gym and tennis courts. The course is notably environmentally friendly, so offers a rustic charm as well as several ‘wow’ moments as you gaze over the Tuscan countryside.

52. Pine Cliffs

Vilamoura, Portugal

Course 21 Accommodation 19 Amenities 20 Setting 18 Total 78
Getting there Faro airport is 40 minutes away.

A small fall but only because of a high riser and a high new entry. Make no mistake, Pine Cliffs is superb as an all-round venue because of the non-golf amenities and range of accommodation.

51. PGA National Sweden

Malmö, Sweden

Courses 32 Accommodation 17 Amenities 12 Setting 17 Total 78
Getting there Malmö airport is 30 minutes away.

This is easy to sum up, as the marks suggest, and easy to define who it suits: golfers who want to play a lot of golf. Two continental Top 100-calibre courses by Kyle Phillips and lovely clubhouse rooms. It’s a great base to play here and at Falsterbo and Ljunghusens.

Golf World Top 100: Best Resorts in Continental Europe – 50-26

50. Korineum

Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus

Course 24 Accommodation 17 Amenities 18 Setting 19 Total 78
Getting there Fly to Paphos or, preferably, Ercan.

I don’t factor cost in to the ranking (I tinker enough with the list as it is!) but I can’t talk about Korineum without saying that it is almost certainly the best-value resort in the entire 100. Expect an adventurous course, a solid all-inclusive hotel and a picturesque beach club, all at a very appealing price.

49. Montecastillo

Jerez, Spain

Course 26 Accommodation 18 Amenities 18 Setting 17 Total 79
Getting there Fly to Jerez or Seville, which are an hour away.

This Jerez-based former European Tour destination has a 5-star Barcelo hotel and a Jack Nicklaus-designed course – both are of a standard fit for the top 50. And while it’s not a factor in our ranking, you can add in pretty much year-round sun for a fine 12-month option.

48. Kytaja

Hyvinkaa, Finland

Courses 32 Accommodation 18 Amenities 10 Setting 19 Total 79
Getting there Helsinki airport is 35 mins away.

A huge and very justified jump for this 36-hole Finnish resort as a result of a much-expanded accommodation offering.

Kytaja previously qualified for the resorts ranking by virtue of gorgeous villa accommodation overlooking the lake. It was an imbalanced entry though, with the quantity, pedigree and setting of the golf responsible for 70% of its mark.

Things are very different now, with the opening of the Torola hotel as well as beautiful ‘Uni’ villas that lie alongside the 18th. The Torola is a robust building 50 yards from the clubhouse that was once the living quarters of the staff who worked on this famous county estate. Sensitively and stylishly converted, it makes for a wonderful base for a long weekend here.

The villas might be even more special. They are arranged in collections of three and all have views of the 18th and the lake that makes this such a picturesque place for golf. They consist of a bedroom-living room, a bathroom and golf club store, plus the real deal-breaker… a balcony overlooking the lake. They are absolutely gorgeous, from the soothing smell of wood and the full-length windows that offer sparkling lake views, to the supremely comfortable furnishings.

There are minimal amenities outside the excellent food in the clubhouse, but with the South East – a Continental Europe Top 100 fixture – and the North West – a contender for that list – you are not short of ways to spend your time at this easy-to-love resort.

47. Royal Bled

Bled, Slovenia

Course 31 Accommodation 17 Amenities 12 Setting 19 Total 79
Getting there Fly to either Ljubljana or Trieste.

A simply gorgeous Slovenian bolt-hole, situated on the edge of the utopian lake town of Bled. A course that is in the top 50 of our continental list, with delightful bedrooms in its clubhouse plus a good spa and pool. It’s one of my favourite weekend breaks.

46. Las Colinas

Valencia, Spain

Course 28 Accommodation 18 Amenities 16 Setting 17 Total 79
Getting there Alicante is 30 minutes away.

The marks tell the story here. An easy-to-love course that is comfortably in our Continental Top 100 Golf Courses, high-end apartment accommodation – many with their own pool – and super restaurants. It does lose points in there not being lots of non-golf amenities, however.

45. San Domenico

Puglia, Italy

Course 25 Accommodation 19 Amenities 17 Setting 18 Total 79
Getting there Fly to Bari or Brindisi.

One of the best couples trips in this ranking as a result of the idyllic, luxury accommodation – Masseria San Domenico, Masseria Cimino and Borgo Egnazia – which are dreamy whitewashed buildings. A course on the edge of the Adriatic by European Golf Design also helps.

44. Abama

Tenerife, Spain

Course 26 Accommodation 18 Amenities 17 Setting 18 Total 79
Getting there Tenerife South is 40 minutes away.

This position feels a little low for Abama because it does everything well as per its well-balanced marks – but note that it is ‘just’ 18 holes, among many 27- and 36-hole resorts. But it has a lovely Atlantic setting for the punchy Dave Thomas course and the luxury hotel.

43. Château des Vigiers

Bordeaux, France

Courses 27 Accommodation 18 Amenities 17 Setting 17 Total 79
Getting there Bordeaux airport is 50 mins away, Bergerac 15 mins.

There’s lots to like about this French resort, not least the convenience if you can fly in to Bergerac airport, which is just 15 minutes away. If that’s not possible, Bordeaux is only 50 minutes. You play three contrasting loops of nine, stay in a converted castle and eat and drink like royalty.

42. La Bagnaia

Pisa, Italy

Course 26 Accommodation 19 Amenities 16 Setting 18 Total 79
Getting there Pisa airport is 50 minutes away, Rome 90 mins.

Located close to the beautiful town of Siena, this tranquil resort has a Robert Trent Jones Jnr course draped over undulating land and arguably the most characterful accommodation in the list. Its bedrooms are converted from centuries-old buildings. La bella vita in spades.

41. Castelfalfi

Florence, Italy 

Courses 25 Accommodation 18 Amenities 18 Setting 19 Total 80
Getting there Fly to Florence or Pisa.

A scenic and never boring course with an extra nine holes, accompanied by two superb hotels. Castelfalfi offers one of the top accommodation options outside of our top 20. It’s ideal for couples and there are lots of other amenities in a resort that is essentially a traditional Tuscan village.

40. Aphrodite Hills

Paphos, Cyprus

Course 26 Accommodation 18 Amenities 18 Setting 18 Total 80
Getting there Paphos is 20 minutes away.

One of the great winter sun options. The course is famously exhilarating, with terrific views and dramatic holes, and there is also a family-friendly hotel. I wrote in 2022 that its well-balanced marks across the categories illustrate its appeal, and that remains true again. Aphrodite won’t let anyone down.

39. Quinta da Marinha

Lisbon, Portugal

Course 26 Accommodation 18 Amenities 18 Setting 18 Total 80
Getting there Lisbon is 45 minutes away.

A fall for this resort to the west of Lisbon in Cascais as others rise, but it has a large family-friendly hotel as well as a course with some wow moments. It remains a very fine option with lots of amenities and a water-dominated course with some thrilling holes.

38. Palmares

Portimão, Portugal

Courses 30 Accommodation 17 Amenities 15 Setting 18 Total 80
Getting there Faro is 30 minutes away.

Three loops of nine redesigned by Robert Trent Jones Jnr and currently being revitalised after a tough year because of Portuguese water restrictions; we expect it to thrive going forward. The smallish hotel has relatively few amenities but boasts a wonderful setting. It’s the perfect place for the golfing connoisseur.

37. Bogogno 

Milan, Italy

Courses 31 Accommodation 16 Amenities 17 Setting 17 Total 81
Getting there Milan Malpensa is 15 minutes away.

A sign of the extraordinary quality in this list… Number 37 for a resort with two courses – by celebrated architect Robert von Hagge – so evenly balanced that we struggle to split them in our best golf courses in Italy list, plus a really enjoyable hotel with surprisingly good non-golf amenities. Malpensa’s proximity makes it a long weekend option.

36. Aroeira 

Lisbon, Portugal

Courses 31 Accommodation 18 Amenities 15 Setting 17 Total 81
Getting there Lisbon airport is 50 minutes away.

Remember when Aroeira was ‘just’ two pine-lined courses, one in the continental Top 100 and the other just outside? Well, since 2019 it has also had a hotel. I was one of the first to stay in it and it impressed me a lot. Super stylish with perfect bedrooms for a long weekend. It doesn’t have loads of amenities, but it ticks all other boxes.

35. Quinta da Ria

Tavira, Portugal

Courses 30 Accommodation 17 Amenities 16 Setting 18 Total 81
Getting there Faro is 25 minutes away.

A resort that I had too low in my original 2016 list, a ranking which was reliant on the views of local golfers. That was soon corrected once I had visited. Whether in its contrasting courses – the tougher woodland Cima and the gorgeous, Mediterranean-facing Ria – or in its very neat and cosy hotel, it’s a really, really good resort.

34. Penina

Portimao, Portugal

Course 28 Accommodation 19 Amenities 17 Setting 17 Total 81
Getting there Faro is 45 minutes away.

If Penina had just a little more golf it would be at least 10 places higher in this list. Number 34 feels a bit low for a resort with a fine woodland course – the original on the Algarve – that sits under the nose of a majestic hotel that will keep non-golfers of every age and taste entertained. Again, the competition is incredibly fierce.

33. Emporda

Torroella, Catalonia

Courses 31 Accommodation 17 Amenities 16 Setting 17 Total 81
Getting there Fly to Girona or Barcelona.

This resort near Girona made a big leap up the ranking after a multi-million euro overhaul at the turn of the Millennium. It has two courses – the nicely contrasting Links and Forest – plus a refurbished hotel. Everything about it is top-30 calibre and it could arguably grace the top 25. The competition is just fierce…

32. Arabella

Palma, Majorca

Courses 30 Accommodation 18 Amenities 17 Setting 16 Total 81
Getting there Palma airport is 20 minutes away.

If you want a lot of golf on site but don’t need any of it to be continental Top-100 quality, this is a very good option. All the courses are solid even if they won’t dazzle you. The dazzle is more likely to happen in two hotels with good amenities. For groups – and couples with one golfer just happy to be out there – it’s great.

31. Royal Obidos

Obidos, Portugal 

Course 29 Accommodation 18 Amenities 17 Setting 17 Total 81
Getting there Lisbon airport is an hour away.

Obidos falls one place but this slot is no mean achievement for a single-course resort. This one has a Seve Ballesteros design as its key attraction; a Continental Top 100 entry that overlooks the Silver Coast next to Praia D’el Rey. The modern-looking hotel makes for a fine base.

30. Sueno

Belek, Turkey

Courses 29 Accommodation 18 Amenities 17 Setting 17 Total 81
Getting there Antalya is 30 minutes away.

Back in Belek again, to a resort with two courses of a very similar standard – the Pines and the Dunes, the latter of which I marginally prefer. It boasts the standard ‘Turkish Riviera’ hotel that oozes luxury, amenities and comfort. It’s just another impressive all-round option!

29. Vidago Palace

Porto, Portugal

Course 26 Accommodation 19 Amenities 18 Setting 18 Total 81
Getting there Porto airport is 1hr 20 mins away.

The course is not a let-down by any means, with the older holes full of charm and the more modern ones being good, solid tests. But where Vidago Palace really excels is in its hotel; it reminded me of Gleneagles in its class and character. One of the best couples trips on offer in Europe.

28. Budersand

Sylt, Germany

Course 31 Accommodation 18 Amenities 15 Setting 17 Total 81
Getting there Fly to Sylt airport from Germany, or get to the island via ferry/Sylt Shuttle.

Budersand takes a bit of getting to so it’s worth staying for at least a night. The vibe on the holiday island of Sylt is very enjoyable and the hotel is really stylish and slick, even if there aren’t many non-golf facilities. The course is a proper links in the top 30 of our continental list. A pedigree entry all round.

27. Salobre

Gran Canaria, Spain

Courses 28 Accommodation 18 Amenities 17 Setting 18 Total 81
Getting there Gran Canaria airport is 25 mins away.

A very likeable Gran Canaria resort that boasts two courses in a desert-style setting and which incorporate both spectacular and quirky holes. The hotel is set into the hillside and offers good all-round amenities. I really liked it and it is a splendid winter sun option.

26. Amendoeira

Alcantarilha, Portugal

Courses 32 Accommodation 17 Amenities 15 Setting 17 Total 81
Getting there Faro airport is 30 mins away.

Amendoeira doesn’t have loads of amenities, other than a gym, pools and restaurants, but its townhouse accommodation is really, really special. I thought it was outstanding. There are also apartments and two courses of Continental Top 100 standard. It really would not be out of place in the top 20.

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25. Villa Padierna

Marbella, Spain

Courses 28 Accommodation 19 Amenities 18 Setting 16 Total 81
Getting there Malaga is an hour away.

There are three courses here – Flamingos and Alferini plus the shorter Tramores – but it’s not being too harsh to say it is a step below the likes of Le Touquet and El Saler in terms of quality. Solid but not outstanding.

The hotel, though, is truly magnificent, simply one of the best in this ranking.

24. Montgomerie Maxx Royale

Belek, Turkey

Course 27 Accommodation 19 Amenities 18 Setting 17 Total 81
Getting there Antalya airport is 30 mins away.

‘Just’ 18 holes here but for it to be so high highlights how good they are. Possibly the glitziest hotel in the whole list and it boasts, as ever in Belek, numerous amenities. We always rank the Colin Montgomerie-designed course just outside the Continental Top 100.

23. Evian

Evian, France

Course 25 Accommodation 20 Amenities 18 Setting 19 Total 82
Getting there Geneva airport is 70 mins away.

Evian was a real surprise. I knew going here that the accommodation would be of a high standard and naturally expected a beguiling lakeside setting, but both of them blew me away.

I actually got the course spot on with my pre-trip expectations: a quirky, scenic experience that is enhanced by the knowledge you are playing a venue used annually for a women’s Major.

All this adds up to a resort that categorically deserves its rise to the cusp of the top 20 of this ranking and will be a very strong contender to come into the World Top 100 Golf Resorts list next year.

The Evian Resort is made up of several ingredients, dotted about the lakeside town but all walkable (or a very short shuttle in a cute VW Beetle van): the 5-star Hotel Royal and the 4-star Hotel Ermitage and La Verniaz, the golf club and a casino which is home to two superb restaurants.

Hotel Royal is palatial in its interior design yet remains comfortable and not even remotely stuffy. I arrived off my flight late and my fears about being under-dressed for lunch in dreamy La Veranda were dismissed. In other similar hotels, I don’t think my concerns would have been allayed.

Anyway, it has been renovated in the past few years and they have done a superb job of modernising and adding a touch of opulence while maintaining the sheen of pedigree and grandeur. The handsome exterior helps, of course.

You simply cannot eat poorly here and it was only because I knew everything else would be amazing that I managed to refrain from repeat ordering the croque monsieur and local Le Savoie red wine from that first lunch. I’m daydreaming about it now, again.

The rooms are exceptional and half of them enjoy an awesome view of the lake.

There are plenty of activities, from a superb racquet centre to an incredible spa to a kids’ club, as well as a department devoted to adventure sports such as hiking, kayaking and so on.

The golf course is intersected by roads here and there so lacks a little flow, but it has been upgraded by Dave Sampson of Marco Simone fame and is consistently entertaining. I’d categorise it as excellent resort golf that is part of not just a superb resort, but a truly majestic destination.

22. Cornelia

Belek, Turkey

Courses 28 Accommodation 19 Amenities 18 Setting 17 Total 82
Getting there Antalya is 30 mins away.

The Belek entries keep coming… and with good reason. The Turkish hotspot just does golf resorts extremely well! Cornelia has three Nick Faldo-designed loops of nine of Continental Top 100 quality as well as comprehensive, luxurious on-site accommodation and many amenities.

21. El Saler

Valencia, Spain

Course 31 Accommodation 17 Amenities 16 Setting 18 Total 82
Getting there Valencia airport is 20 mins away.

An easy to love resort because of Javier Arana’s celebrated course, officially the best-value in continental Europe – calculated by plotting green fee against Top 100 position. It’s complemented by the impressive Parador hotel that overlooks the end to both nines… and the Mediterranean.

20. Monte Rei

Tavira, Portugal

Course 31 Accommodation 19 Amenities 14 Setting 18 Total 82
Getting there Faro airport is 50 minutes away.

Monte Rei oozes class right from the moment you make your way down a driveway lined by beautiful stone walls and myriad plants. As first impressions go, it bows to no resort in this ranking.

An impressive driveway alone does not get you a top-20 slot in this ranking, though. And a top-20 ranking for a resort with relatively limited amenities is a serious feat, achieved by an elite course with accommodation that is now right out of the very top drawer.

Most people reading this will have heard of Monte Rei the course and its quality. It is unquestionably one of the most special experiences on the continent, the Jack Nicklaus Signature North Course holding its own among the greats of European golf.

It is a bucket list course in every sense, combining the wow factor of delivering exciting shot after exciting shot along with some muscular tests that will challenge even the strongest player.

The big recent development at Monte Rei, which accounts for its rise in this list, is the accommodation on offer now. For a long time there were handsome villas to rent, but they have now been joined by spectacular apartments that increase the quality of accommodation to a point that rivals any golf resort in Europe.

It does not have the depth of others, and we do mark on breadth of options. But these two- and three-bedroom apartments are absolutely sensational. Chic, spacious, luxurious, comfortable and incredibly well equipped, they are fit for a millionaire.

Each block has a pool and there are now two gyms, while the famously high level of dining remains.

I would never have previously said Monte Rei was a wise option for anyone other than groups of connoisseur golfers. Now, it is a wonderful option for couples and especially families.

Perhaps this sums up Monte Rei’s new all-round appeal: if I had the money to buy a property on any resort in this list, Monte Rei would be my choice.

19. La Manga Club

Murcia, Spain

Courses 32 Accommodation 15 Amenities 19 Setting 16 Total 82
Getting there Murcia airport is 35 minutes away.

It may not spark enthusiasm as it used to do back in the day, but this famous/infamous destination does what it says on the tin. Three golf courses – for my money the West is the best, then the South and finally the North – plus extensive amenities and accommodation that includes a hotel and super townhouses.

18. Le Touquet

Le Touquet, France

Courses 34 Accommodation 17 Amenities 13 Setting 18 Total 82
Getting there An hour’s drive south of Calais.

Pedigree golf, a refurbished hotel… and you can be here within an hour of rolling off the Eurotunnel. For single-sex groups and couples it has so much appeal. With Frank Pont’s continuing restoration of Harry Colt’s seaside classic La Mer, a second 18-holer and the charming Le Manoir hotel, it’s very easy to see why.

17. Oitavos Dunes

Cascais, Portugal

Course 30 Accommodation 18 Amenities 16 Setting 18 Total 82
Getting there Lisbon airport is 40 mins away.

It’s really easy to sum up Oitavos. You have a Continental top-30 course with views of the Atlantic and a fast-running links-like experience, plus a minimalist hotel that aches with chic vibes, a heated outdoor pool and a terrific breakfast. Combined, it makes a wonderful base for a break in Cascais and Lisbon generally.

16. Castiglion del Bosco

Siena, Italy

Course 28 Accommodation 20 Amenities 17 Setting 18 Total 83
Getting there Siena is an hour away, Florence two hours.

Castiglion del Bosco’s golf course has existed since 2012 and the Rosewood hotel opened two years before, so does this splash new entry mean I have only just realised they exist? No. I had hoped to include CdB for years, but until now it did not fulfil the criteria of the course and hotel being owned by the same group and offering golf breaks.

Happily now, that is the case after the historic estate, which had been lovingly developed by the Ferragamo family, came under new ownership and with breaks including a stay in the hotel and golf on the course now able to be arranged.

It was only ever going to be destined for the top 25, given the course is comfortably in the Top 200 in Europe and one of the Italy’s elite, while the Rosewood hotel is one of the finest in Europe, golf or otherwise.

I didn’t take any chances though and gritted my teeth and bravely visited it just before finalising the ranking. (Does sarcasm work in a Top 100 ranking?) I had to makesure the hotel lived up to reputation.

It most certainly did, and Castiglion del Bosco offers a sumptuous golf break the like of which few in the world can offer. This placement – second only to Finca Cortesin among single-course resorts – feels likely to be just an initial landing position from which it nudges up.

The 20/20 for Accommodation was one of the easiest marks to decide of the 400 awarded in this ranking and I can see the golf course gaining a point or two in the coming years that would take it into top-10 consideration overall.

It has one of the great inland settings in the list and might well warrant a 19 in this category, but half a mark is lost for the five-minute journey between the hotel and golf club.

That short shuttle quite rightly won’t stop anyone going there for a golf break, of course. And once there, I can confidently state that every guest will return enthusing about one of the world’s most special golf destinations.

15. Penha Longa

Sintra, Portugal

Courses 27 Accommodation 19 Amenities 19 Setting 18 Total 83
Getting there Lisbon airport is 40 mins away.

A big climber last time and Penha Longa consolidates its rightful place among the elite of continental Europe. The Robert Trent Jones Jnr Atlantic course is backed up by nine extra holes, while the hotel is just a masterpiece of architecture, interior design and luxury – with fabulous staff. LAB by Sergi Arola is a Michelin-starred restaurant and there is a gym, tennis, football and volleyball, an adventure playground and indoor kids’ club with soft play area. It is family and couple heaven.

14. La Cala

Marbella, Spain

Courses 32 Accommodation 17 Amenities 17 Setting 17 Total 83
Getting there Marbella airport is 30 mins away.

This is one of the leading resorts on the continent and has undergone significant improvements in the last five years.

Few are as comprehensive in terms of courses, with 54 very evenly-balanced holes at La Cala: America, Europa, and Asia. All have been renovated in the last six years, giving the golf a fresh look that so many resorts would be wise to follow.

The third of the courses to open at this Andalusian ‘super resort’ might be its No.1. Europa was designed by Cabell Robinson and has arguably its best nine – its second half – and arguably the best hole of the 54, the intriguing and exacting two-shot 4th.

While it will appeal to groups of golfers, don’t overlook the fact it also has an epic spa plus tennis, football and a large swimming pool. And La Bodega’s tapas restaurant on a sunny evening is tough to beat.

13. Antalya GC

Belek, Turkey

Courses 33 Accommodation 17 Amenities 17 Setting 16 Total 83
Getting there Antalya airport is 30 mins away.

Two courses – one in the Continental Top 100 and one just outside it – and two hotels, the Sirene and the Kempinski. The luxurious latter has just had an impressive upgrade that includes new Lagoon and Golf Suites, plus a new (Seljuk) and refurbished (Lale) restaurant.

12. Cabot Bordeaux

Bordeaux, France

Courses 35 Accommodation 17 Amenities 14 Setting 17 Total 83
Getting there Bordeaux airport is 25 mins away.

A new name (formerly Golf du Medoc) and ownership for this entry, and with Cabot’s marketing and exposure, expect it to receive wider acclaim going forward. We’ve known for 15 years how good this heathland-woodland resort is. A charming hotel with a fine spa further elevate the experience.

11. Dom Pedro 

Vilamoura, Portugal

Courses 37 Accommodation 15 Amenities 15 Setting 16 Total 83
Getting there Faro airport is 30 minutes away.

A holding position here, as it’s undergoing a multi-million euro renovation under new owners that will elevate its golf – headlined by the Old plus Victoria (to re-open in 2025), Laguna, Millennium and Pinhal – and three hotels next to Vilamoura marina. So much potential that it could be No.1 in 2026.

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10. Gloria

Belek, Turkey

Courses 33 Accommodation 18 Amenities 19 Setting 15 Total 85
Getting there Antalya is 30 mins away.

Another potential No.1. Gloria has three super courses and three world-class hotels. The courses are evenly balanced and the hotels have different emphases; the Serenity and Verde for couples and the Golf hotel vies with Pine Cliffs as the list’s best family base – it even has its own water park!

9. Praia D’el Rey

Obidos, Portugal

Courses 37 Accommodation 15 Amenities 15 Setting 18 Total 85
Getting there Lisbon airport is 60 mins away.

So good that it could be No.1. The golf is magnificent, encompassing Continental top-20 entry West Cliffs and top-30 entry Praia D’El Rey; the highest quality golf in this list. An awesome Atlantic location but loses a mark in ‘Setting’ for West Cliffs being 10 minutes away. Plus a nice hotel.

8. Finca Cortesin

Casares, Spain

Course 29 Accommodation 20 Amenities 18 Setting 18 Total 85
Getting there Fly into Gibraltar or Malaga.

A Cabell Robinson-designed course that is in our Continental Top 100 and is presented beautifully. Yet it is overshadowed by the hotel, which one could argue is matched in the rest of this list but never surpassed. It is demure, luxurious and, frankly, a work of art.

Amenities include a predictably high-calibre spa, swimming pools, racquet sports, a super gym and a gorgeous Beach Club 10 minutes away. Service plays no part in our ranking but it is worth pointing out it is exceptional here.

7. Quinta do Lago

Almancil, Portugal

Courses 36 Accommodation 16 Amenities 17 Setting 18 Total 87
Getting there Faro airport is 20 minutes away.

Three courses – the South, North and Laranjal – within the top 120 in Continental Europe are a powerful offering but it has only the relatively small (but cute) Magnolia Hotel as accommodation. That affects the amenities a bit but fantastic restaurants and a superb sports hub boost that mark.

6. Sotogrande

Sotogrande, Spain

Courses 33 Accommodation 20 Amenities 19 Setting 16 Total 88
Getting there Malaga airport is 70 minutes away.

A very significant rise for a resort that encompasses the Top 100-ranked golf course plus amenities and villa accommodation at La Reserva Club, in addition to Almenara’s refurbished 27 holes and the elegant SO/ Sotogrande hotel.

It is the addition of the facilities at La Reserva Club – headlined by an inland beach club that is more alluring than most seaside ones – and the gorgeous SO/ Sotogrande hotel that see it move to the edge of the top five.

Nearby superstars Valderrama and Real Sotogrande are not part of the reckoning as they are not owned by the resort; if they were, the Courses mark would be 40/40 and it doesn’t take Carol Vorderman to work out where that would then place Sotogrande.

And what’s more, it loses a mark in ‘Setting’ for the short journeys between La Reserva Club and Almenara/SO/ Sotogrande. They are nothing more than traffic-free 10-minute drives, so it is arguably harsh to knock a full mark off.

Despite that, this represents a strong rise for a destination that now puts a very large tick in every box for couples, families and groups of golfers.

5. Carya

Belek, Turkey

Courses 35 Accommodation 18 Amenities 19 Setting 16 Total 88
Getting there Antalya is 30 minutes away.

The best resort in Belek boasts two courses that have become fixtures in our Continental Top 100 in the shape of Carya – Belek’s No.1, and just yards from the hotel – and The National, a short shuttle away. Plus, it has one of the best hotels in the list in terms of design, luxury and especially amenities – they include a mini water park and a bowling alley.

4. Camiral

Girona, Spain

Courses 35 Accommodation 19 Amenities 17 Setting 18 Total 89
Getting there Girona airport is 10 minutes away.

No change from the 2022 list for the resort that takes the No.4 spot in the ranking, but there is a change to its name. PGA Catalunya has become Camiral, and while I understand the benefit resorts and courses see in PGA branding, this feels a positive change to me.

‘Camiral’ suits this destination, which has grown from a resort that was principally two golf courses into one of the most well-rounded resorts in the world.

The addition of two hotels – Camiral and Lavida – has naturally helped that, and do not underestimate the non-golf amenities as well as the world-class practice facilities that are now on offer here.

For example, in 5-star+ Camiral, the award-winning Wellness Centre is a spa that is so much more. It is an international-class wellbeing facility that leading professional sports teams would be wowed by, never mind you and I. So, state-of-the-art treatments such as cryotherapy, an oxygen chamber and photo-bio modulation are available, as well as your more standard spa experiences.

Opened in 2021, the Wellness Centre allows guests to undertake a Detox Program that purifies the body from the inside out. Or focus on beauty and aesthetics with a trio of treatments including Bioline Jato – a full immersion of vitamins, mineral salts and oxygenating elements – or Biologique Recherche, whose science-backed formulations are based on raw active ingredients.

Even if I have made a really poor job of explaining the comprehensive nature of the Wellness Centre, you hopefully get the idea. If you go there with anyone who doesn’t play golf but is happy in a spa, you can head off to play knowing they will be entirely content.

There are also summer camps for kids, a cycling hub, yoga, and a beautiful pool area.

The hotel itself is one of the most stylish in this list. The tasteful elegance of the public areas contrasts with the modern shininess of the exterior, and that extends into the 138 superb bedrooms.

Girona is pretty much the gastronomic capital of the world, so Camiral simply had to be special in that regard. And it is. No matter where you eat, you will eat very well. The clubhouse menu, for example, combines standard favourites with local dishes so tempting they draw you away from a burger or club sandwich.

Camiral’s latest restaurant is Origin, which combines traditional, locally-sourced Catalonian flavours with innovative techniques from its renowned chefs, led by David Vives, who previously spent 10 years at the three Michelin-star restaurant El Celler de Can Roca.

The 1477 restaurant is now called Camiral Bistro and offers rustic dishes of fresh fish, chargrilled meats and Mediterranean vegetables prepared over the coals.

This is a good point at which to mention Lavida, which is closer to 4-star than five but is still exceptionally chic. And it has Bella’s, an al fresco Italian restaurant a short stroll from the Camiral hotel.

The golf? A course that is a fixture in the Continental European Top 100 – and has been close to hosting the Ryder Cup – and one that is in the Next 100. You may already have heard plenty about them. Suffice to say they can keep golfers happy for a week, but you may not know as much about the practice facilities at Camiral. ‘Practice facilities’ is probably not all that accurate a term, because as with the spa, this Golf Hub is more like a tour-level performance centre than just a range and putting green. TrackMan range software is the latest addition to the armoury of technology here to improve the games of guests – Camiral is only the second resort in Spain to feature its courses on the industry’s leading virtual golf software.

The driving range has been upgraded with a new private tee for groups, target greens, bunkers and distance markers, plus four greens with different grasses – Bermuda, Bent, Paspalum and Poa. There is also a beginners’ area with high-quality mats, a short-game practice area with large bunkers, a green with different flag positions, and a 2,000 square meter putting green and chipping area, with five bunkers.

The driving range has been upgraded with a new private tee for groups, target greens, bunkers and distance markers, plus four greens with different grasses – Bermuda, Bent, Paspalum and Poa. There is also a beginners’ area with high-quality mats, a short-game practice area with large bunkers, a green with different flag positions, and a 2,000 square meter putting green and chipping area, with five bunkers.

3. Terre Blanche

Fayence, France

Courses 34 Accommodation 19 Amenities 19 Setting 18 Total 90
Getting there Nice airport is 35 minutes away.

For Terre Blanche to lie only three marks behind Costa Navarino, which has double the number of courses and triple the number of hotels, shows just how good this French resort is.

Our long-time No.1 is in third here but would still be a worthy name at the very top of the list by virtue of its excellence in accommodation, tranquil Provence setting and high-calibre golf.

It has one Continental Top 100 golf course and a second that is in the Next 100, so enough firepower in that department to keep even the demanding golfer content.

The golf offering may even be surpassed, however, with a majestic hotel arranged in a series of cute detached rooms augmented by myriad amenities.

For families and especially couples, the end result is very tough to beat.

2. Verdura

Sicily, Italy

Courses 34 Accommodation 19 Amenities 18 Setting 19 Total 90
Getting there Palermo is 50 minutes away.

Verdura moved four places up in the 2023 list because it had fully recovered from the freak storm that damaged its golf courses and made its 2020 slot of seventh something of a ‘holding position’.

Kyle Phillips had reworked the East and West by the time of our last ranking, though, turning the East into the No.56 in our Continental European list with its sister in the Next 100.

They are complemented by a stylish 168-room Sir Rocco Forte hotel, sensational restaurants, activities such as yoga, aquatic bodywork, trekking, Pilates and a superb gym, plus an infinity pool and spa. The dreamy white-sand beach just yards from the heart of the resort elevates the experience still further.

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1. Costa Navarino

Messinia, Greece

Courses 38 Accommodation 20 Amenities 18 Setting 17 Total 93
Getting there Athens is a two-hour drive away, Kalamata is 30 minutes.

This is the second successive Continental resorts ranking in which Costa Navarino has been our No.1. The depth, range and quality of every aspect of this Greek destination mean it is a scenario that is unlikely to change any time soon.

Indeed, describing why it is No.1 becomes easier by the year, because there is always something new to report.

Four years ago, the prospect of two new courses was on the agenda. When they became reality in 2022, it rose to No.1. At that time, there were two new hotels in the pipeline, and both are now fully operational.

So, in the space of just a handful of years, Costa Navarino has doubled its number of courses and doubled its number of hotels. And one could feasibly argue that these new developments include the best course and the best hotel. Those additions have increased the destination’s lead at the top of this highly-competitive ranking.

Certainly, the new courses are every bit as good as the existing ones, and as I have written before, ask 10 golfers for their one-to-four here and you will get all sorts of permutations. It’s like that if you ask the golf staff, too.

The hotels are a little more distinct, but the common theme is luxury and style. The non-golf amenities are also up there with the best in this ranking and range from a water park and infinity pools to an epic spa and a first-class gym.

The setting? Well, one course sits on the edge of an idyllic bay, two are laid out high in the hills overlooking that bay and the fourth has an all-world infinity green as early as the 2nd. And the hotels all have access to a sandy beach.

You might think it should score higher than it does in Setting, but it loses a mark in this category for the journeys between hotels and golf courses.

Those journeys are the inevitable consequence of the extraordinary number of courses and hotels being so sensitively set into the natural landscape.

The Dunes is a couple of minutes walk from The Westin and Romanos hotels while the W and Mandarin Oriental are perfectly located for the Bay.

But unless you move about in the hotels – and what an experience that would be! – or stick to one course for your stay, you will have a bit of shuttle action.

These obviously can’t possibly run to everyone’s specific tee time so you sometimes find yourself leaving for a tee time a fair bit in advance. I know it sounds boring and not very ‘holiday vibes’, but I think it’s worth doing a bit of planning.

I accept 36 holes in a day on holiday is not for everyone, but the perfect itinerary for me – and for argument’s sake let’s base ourselves at The Westin or Romanos – is something like this…

Day one is for unwinding and exploring, with no golf. Day two begins with a 10am tee time on the Bay, followed by a late lunch on the majestic terrace of the clubhouse and a late supper back at Flame restaurant.

Day three is a pool or beach day to prepare for the exertions of an epic day four that sees me head off at 9am for a tee time on the Hills followed by lunch in the eponymous clubhouse and a late afternoon game on the Olympic. You deserve the pizza and pasta overload you gorge on at Da Luigi in the cute piazza located between The Westin and Romanos.

Day five is a beach day with a long, lazy lunch at gorgeous Barbouni made even longer by a couple of Aperol Spritz. A quick change and straight to the outdoor 1827 bar for a sundowner followed by the high-calibre buffet at Morias.

Day six is a lie-in and a game on the Dunes, which will start 15 minutes after you’ve left your breakfast table. Then indulge in sensational gyros in cute Souvlakerie for lunch followed by the must-try ice cream in the cosy parlour next door before sushi to die for and a couple of G&Ts in uber chic Onuki in the evening.

Romanos is a sensational base for your trip and while The Westin is the lower-priced option it too is superb – and if you get a room with a pool with the sea beyond, I personally think it is hard to beat.

I haven’t stayed at the W, but have spent a day there and for the younger crowd looking for beachside drinks and livelier atmosphere, it felt like this will be the pick. Its location is spellbinding and the hotel’s design and decor takes full advantage. If someone writes to tell me it’s the best hotel at Costa Navarino, I wouldn’t be surprised.

The Mandarin Oriental, meanwhile, naturally has its own emphasises and its own particular level of luxury.

As for the courses, I favour the Dunes for the all-round package it offers, but I can absolutely see why others would insist the Bay is the top choice. It is the epitome of holiday golf because of its setting – but trust me, you have to hit it well here to score well.

I’ve played the new courses twice each, eight months apart. I enjoyed the stretch on the Hills from the 6th as much as any at Costa Navarino; solid hole after solid hole and a feeling of glorious isolation.

The International Olympic is relatively narrow in a bid to produce the most eco-friendly course possible, so when it’s windy it can be a challenge. On a calm day, I wouldn’t argue with anyone who said it was the No.1… the back nine is magnificent.

The two newer courses, by Jose Maria Olazabal, will keep being refined and nurtured, further stretching the resort’s advantage in European terms and enhancing its position in the World Resorts list, where it was No.7 in 2023 behind only Bandon Dunes, Gleneagles, Turnberry, Pinehurst, Streamsong and Pebble Beach.

And by the time this ranking is refreshed in 2026, you can be sure Costa Navarino will have developed something new, something very impressive.

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