Golf in Tuscany: Courses, Wine & Spa

Golf across four landscapes

Tuscany’s golf runs from the Tyrrhenian coast to the inland hills. Argentario Golf Club in the Maremma is Italy’s only PGA National course and hosted the 2025 Italian Open. In Brunello country, Castiglion del Bosco Golf Club, a private Rosewood estate course, and Royal Golf La Bagnaia sit between Chianti and Val d’Orcia. On the Etruscan Coast, Riva Toscana anchors a smaller cluster near Bolgheri’s cellars. Chianti has more courses than the other three combined, ten within range of Golf dell’Ugolino outside Florence, but none of them carries the same pedigree: here golf is an add-on to a city break rather than the reason for the trip. For course collectors there is also Golf Course Acquabona, nine holes on the island of Elba, a ferry hop from the Maremma coast.

Brunello, Chianti Classico and the Bolgheri reds

The wine map explains the golf map. Val d’Orcia is Brunello di Montalcino: Biondi-Santi is the estate where the wine originated, and Banfi makes the Poggio all’Oro riserva, alongside Argiano and, in nearby Montepulciano, Avignonesi. Chianti is Chianti Classico, led by Antinori nel Chianti Classico, whose Tignanello helped define the modern Tuscan style, and Badia a Passignano, a Vallombrosan abbey with cellars beneath the monastery. On the Etruscan Coast around Bolgheri, Tenuta San Guido makes Sassicaia, Ornellaia makes the wine of the same name, and Petra, designed by Mario Botta, bottles its own Toscana IGT blend. The Maremma has Morellino di Scansano: Fattoria Le Pupille and its Saffredi, plus Rocca di Frassinello, the Renzo Piano winery whose own blend shares its name.

Thermal water, free and paid

Tuscany has more thermal water than any other region in this guide. Terme di Saturnia, a 37.5C spring with free travertine falls beside the resort, is the icon. Val d’Orcia has the widest choice: Fonteverde in San Casciano dei Bagni sits on Medici-era springs, Adler Thermae is built around the thermal village of Bagno Vignoni, and free pools such as Bagni di Petriolo run alongside them. Chianti’s spas, Grotta Giusti and its thermal cave and Asmana Wellness World in Florence, are more urban. The Etruscan Coast has one: Calidario Terme Etrusche in Venturina, a thermal lake the Etruscans used.

When to go, and which base

April is the best month on the Etruscan Coast and in Val d’Orcia, May in the Maremma, October in Chianti; July and August run hot and dry rather than wet, which suits the coast more than the inland hills. Choose Maremma for one big round and a beach, Val d’Orcia & Montalcino for Brunello and the most thermal water, Chianti & Florence if the city matters as much as the golf, and Etruscan Coast: Bolgheri & Suvereto if the cellars are the real reason for the trip.