Growing in stature
Greece’s Costa Navarino continues its golfing journey with two more courses added to its portfolio, designed by the legendary José Maria Olazábal. It’s time to take a look ...
osta Navarino is further improving its offering with the addition of two new layouts by José Maria Olazábal that will join the existing Bernhard Langer-designed Dunes Course, and the Robert Trent Jones Jnr-designed Bay Course. These two new courses will officially open next spring. But one of them, the International Olympic Academy Course, will host the Messinia Pro Am at the end of this month. Overlooking the historic Bay of Navarino, the International Olympic Academy Course will measure 6,962 yards.
The two new courses have different characteristics, as Olazábal explains: “The International Olympic Academy course has stunning views over the Bay of Navarino and is the longer and tougher of the two. It’s more compact and, in style, a bit posher than the Navarino Hills course.
“Navarino Hills has a more rural feel and takes you into the outback where you can enjoy a stroll in beautiful nature. On the IOAC, the 12th and 16th holes are two beautiful but challenging par 3s with great views over the bay. Holes 10 and 15 will also receive much attention.
“On the Navarino Hills course, I would say the 6th hole, a downhill par 5, stands out as well as the stretch from the 14th to the 17th.”
Another augmentation to the sporting facilities at Costa Navarino came this summer in the form of the Mouratoglou Tennis Centre. The only other Mouratoglou one in Europe is the Mouratoglou Academy in France. With a Greek father, Patrick Mouratoglou relished the chance to expand into Greece: “I feel a profound sense of patriotism; I am half-french and half-greek, and during my childhood, I spent several months in Greece every year.”
Another pleased is World No.3 tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has been mentored by Patrick Mouratoglou: “As a Greek, I was delighted. I have no doubt that this will be just as much of a success as his academy in France, which I have been a part of since I was 16. I hope it encourages the development of tennis in Greece.”
Costa Navarino was the brainchild of the late Captain Vassilis Constantakopoulos, who grew up in the region of Messinia in the southwest Peloponnese, and made a fortune in shipping. It was conceived, in large part, to ensure the people of his home region have employment to allow them to remain in the area, and preserve local culture and landscape.
Sustainability is at its core.
This ever-expanding destination is being developed across a series of distinct sites, the first was at Navarino Dunes where the Langer-designed Dunes Course is. The Dunes offers fine views and many highly enjoyable holes, such as the 2nd, a par 4 which slides gently towards the sea. Navarino Dunes is also home to two five-star hotels, The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort, and The Westin, Costa Navarino.
Old classics
The Bay Course offers some gorgeous views as you traverse its fairways. The 2nd is a cracking par 3 nestled alongside the shoreline, one of several magnificent short holes including two played over dramatic, deep valleys. There are six par 3s and five par 5s on this layout.
At Navarino Bay an ultra-luxury destination is under construction alongside a lifestyle venue at the nearby site Navarino Waterfront. When both the Navarino Hills courses open to visitors next spring, Costa Navarino will offer four golf courses within a maximum distance of nine miles, further enhancing its status as one of Europe’s finest destinations for golf. This was recognised at the 2020 World Golf Awards when Costa Navarino was named the ‘World’s Best New Golf Development’ for its Navarino Hills project.
At these awards Olazábal was also named as Golf Course Designer of the Year. He considers Costa Navarino to be “among the most beautiful places I have ever seen. It is a privilege for my team and me to be allowed to design the two new courses at Navarino Hills.
“I would like to congratulate the owners for their commitment to create such an extraordinary golf destination and I am proud to be a part of the story.”
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