COSTA NAVARINO
Where world-class golf meets supreme sustainability
There are stunning places in the world where mass tourism has not set foot. The Greek region of Messinia, in the southwest Peloponnese, is one of them. Untouched for generations, culture, values and traditions have flourished, creating a spectacular setting that breathes history and pervades a sense of harmony. It’s here where you’ll find Costa Navarino.
A short and scenic drive from Kalamata International Airport, Costa Navarino opened in 2010. The dream of ship owner and keen environmentalist Captain Vassilis Constantakopoulos was to create a sustainable tourism development in his home region. The last 13 years have seen ‘The Captain’s’ vision become a glorious reality, with Costa Navarino establishing itself as Europe’s newest golf destination.
Fresh recognition for a period of lengthy investment came at the end of last year with Costa Navarino being named as the ‘World’s Best Emerging Golf Destination’ at the 2022 World Golf Awards, and further accolades look set to follow in 2023 with the opening of new hospitality offerings and unrivalled experiences – paving the way for a new era at the Mediterranean’s leading sustainable destination.
Having taken its status to new heights last February with the opening of its new 36-hole Navarino Hills golf development – which features two new 18-hole courses designed by two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal – Costa Navarino is now home to four 18-hole signature courses, three fivestar hotels (a fourth will open this summer) and an array of leisure and lifestyle facilities.
The two layouts at Navarino Hills – the world’s first International Olympic Academy Golf Course and the neighbouring Hills Course – provide the ideal complement to the two existing signature golf courses, The Dunes Course (designed by Bernhard Langer in association with European Golf Design) and The Bay Course (created by Robert Trent Jones Jnr). All four courses, built using the best sustainable practices,
sit within a maximum distance of 13km and offer a set of different challenges.
The Dunes Course was the first venue to open at Costa Navarino. Measuring 6,581 yards, the par-71 offers spectacular sea and river views and incorporates links-style features in areas closest to the sea, while occasionally venturing into beautiful olive and fruit groves.
Also no stranger to striking contrasts, The Bay Course meanders through three distinct settings – seaside, canyon, and grove. A par-70 at 5,929 yards, the layout overlooks the historic Bay of Navarino and is surrounded by olive groves.
Launched in partnership with the International Olympic Academy and the Hellenic Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Academy Golf Course is the longest of Costa Navarino’s courses, at 6,962 yards, and routes around the western part of the Navarino Hills property. With more than half its holes playing along the ridge overlooking the historic Bay of Navarino, the par-72 layout provides spectacular sea views.
The Hills Course – also designed by Olazabal – measures 6,836 yards and offers good balance and variety as it weaves its way through old olive trees, ancient rock walls and stunning ravines, providing a good test of creativity and course management.
Always looking to further enhance its sustainable credentials, Costa Navarino will adopt several new initiatives on the golf courses this year. Total grassed areas that need to be irrigated on the Bay and Dunes courses will be reduced by five and 10 percent respectively and the destination is promoting a plastic-free philosophy across all its golf venues, a natural step following the destination’s partnership with WWF Greece.
Off the course, Costa Navarino offers a range of five-star hospitality: The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort, is ideal for couples seeking a distinctive luxury holiday; The Westin Resort Costa Navarino is the perfect choice for families; and W Costa Navarino, which opened last summer, has a more vibrant atmosphere suited to groups of friends and the young at heart.
All guests have access to a wide range of 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, with the customer experience set to be enhanced even further over the coming months.
This summer will see the highly anticipated Greek debut of Mandarin Oriental – one of the world’s most admired hotel brands – at Costa Navarino, adding to and complementing the existing premium hospitality offering. Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino will offer guests an ultrapremium experience with earth-sheltered villas and guesthouses designed for absolute privacy and tranquillity.
In addition, Navarino Agora will showcase a vibrant marketplace with a wide choice of shops, open-air stalls, street food, outdoor cinema, and live events when it launches in April, while a new Watersports Hub at Navarino Waterfront will open at the same time, offering a wide range of water sports including windsurfing, waterskiing, and kayaking, and featuring state-of-the-art equipment and training options.