A Greek odyssey
Visiting golfers will be truly spoilt for choice at Costa Navarino this summer, with a quartet of superb golf courses and four five-star hotels to choose from
”It truly was something special – a spectacular region, great golf courses, amazing guests and perfect organisation. My wife and I loved our time here and we already look forward to coming back to Costa Navarino soon.“
That was the verdict of Miguel Ángel Jiménez, global golf icon and winner of 34 titles worldwide, after accepting two-time Masters Champion José María Olazábal’s invitation to head to Greece and play in the inaugural Olazábal and Friends Charity Pro-am. It was the popular Spaniard’s first visit to the Mediterranean destination with a prime focus on sustainability and, like those who have visited before, he is determined for it not to be his last.
The event offered amateurs the exclusive opportunity to join Olazábal and his professional friends in an up-close and intimate experience and provided a fitting finale to the 2022 golf season at Costa Navarino – a season that began with the launch of Olazábal’s two new 18-hole courses at Navarino Hills and ended with it being named ‘World’s Best Emerging Golf Destination’ at the 2022 World Golf Awards. Situated on Greece’s southern Peloponnese coastline a short, scenic drive from Kalamata International Airport, Costa Navarino has come a long way since opening in 2010, when ship owner and keen environmentalist Captain Vassilis Constantakopoulos fulfilled a lifelong dream to create a sustainable tourism destination in his home region of Messinia.
With the two layouts at Navarino Hills – the world’s first International Olympic Academy Golf Course and The Hills Course – offering the ideal complement to the two existing signature layouts – The Dunes Course and The Bay Course – players of all levels can now enjoy the challenge of four 18-hole golf courses within a maximum distance of 14k.
With three luxury hotels (a fourth will open in summer 2023) and an array of leisure and lifestyle facilities, it’s easy to
see why Costa Navarino is considered a flagship for modern golf developments and Europe’s newest golf destination. At the heart lie its four impressive courses, all built using best sustainable practice.
The first – designed by two-time Masters Champion Bernhard Langer in association with European Golf Design – was The Dunes Course, which offers spectacular sea and river views and incorporates links-style features in areas closest to the sea, while occasionally venturing into olive and citrus groves.
Surrounded by olive groves and overlooking the historic Bay of Navarino, The Bay Course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Junior. It meanders through three distinct landscapes – seaside, canyon and grove – to provide striking contrasts. Golfers can also enjoy the award-winning, earth-sheltered Bay Clubhouse, which blends seamlessly into the natural landscape.
Launched in partnership with the International Olympic Academy and the Hellenic Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Academy Course routes around the western part of the Navarino Hills property. More than half its holes play along a ridge overlooking the historic Bay of Navarino and the Ionian Sea, providing spectacular sea views. The Hills Course offers a scenic journey past old olive trees, ancient rock walls and stunning ravines carved into the Kinigou Hills. It has great balance and variety, with myriad strategic options to test creativity and course management.
The quality of golf is matched by a high standard of leisure and lifestyle facilities, courtesy of Costa Navarino’s range of five-star hospitality options: The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort ideal for couples seeking a distinctive luxury holiday; The Westin Resort Costa
Navarino, a perfect choice for families; and W Costa Navarino, which opened in August 2022 and has a more vibrant atmosphere to suit groups of friends or the young at heart. All guests have access to 27 fine-dining venues, state-of-the-art sports facilities, world-class spa centres and a wealth of experiences to engage with the region’s culture, history and nature.
From this summer, Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino will offer an ultrapremium experience with earthsheltered villas and guesthouses designed for absolute privacy and tranquillity, And from spring, Navarino Agora will showcase a vibrant marketplace with a wide choice of shops, open-air stalls, street food, outdoor cinema and live events.