Overview
The Dunes Course at Costa Navarino, in Messinia in the south-west Peloponnese, opened in May 2010 as the first signature-designed golf course in Greece. It was designed by two-time Masters champion and former Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer together with European Golf Design, and sits beside The Westin Resort Costa Navarino in the Navarino Dunes part of the resort.
This par-71 championship course measures 6,581 yards from the back tees, with several sets of tees on each hole. Near the sea it takes on a links character, with steep-faced pot bunkers, large rolling greens and wide fairways. Further inland it softens into olive and citrus groves, where golfers are welcome to pick ripe fruit in season, and some holes follow the small Sellas river as it winds across the site. Views stretch to the Ionian Sea and the mountains.
Wide fairways and big greens give generous targets, but the greens are the real defence: several have two or three tiers, so where you land in relation to the hole matters more than anything. The prevailing wind also shapes the round, with the uphill 7th and the par-3 8th usually playing into it.
The Dunes Clubhouse is home to the Flame Restaurant, which specialises in steaks from locally sourced meat with herbs and vegetables from its own gardens. Lessons are available from the Navarino Golf Academy, and the pro shop hires everything from shoes and buggies to full sets of clubs. Costa Navarino now has four 18-hole courses, all within 13 km of each other.
Facilities
Good to know
The Dunes Course is part of the Costa Navarino resort, next to The Westin Resort Costa Navarino and The Romanos. Golf is booked through the resort’s golf reception, and stay-and-play packages are offered with the hotels.
Contact the golf reception by phone or email to reserve tee times. In the cooler months the resort rotates which of its courses are open, so check the current winter or summer rotation before you plan your days. Official page ↗
Buggies are available for hire, and there are toilets after the 6th and at the 14th plus a halfway house after the 9th. Free shuttles run every hour between The Dunes and the Bay and Hills courses, and from March every 30 minutes.
The course is open from 08:00 until sunset. The pro shop and golf reception open from 07:00, and the driving range from 07:30.
History & highlights
Costa Navarino’s first area, Navarino Dunes, opened with The Dunes Course as its golf centrepiece in 2010. The Bay Course followed in 2011 in the Navarino Bay area, and the Navarino Hills area has since added The Hills Course and the International Olympic Academy Golf Course, making the resort one of Europe’s leading golf destinations.
443 metres from the back tees. Keep the drive right of the olive trees on the corner, and aim for the middle front of the green rather than a back-right pin.
The highest point of the course, with views over the resort and even The Bay Course. A good birdie chance, but the heavily contoured green can produce three- or four-putts.
A par 3 into the prevailing wind to a green almost 50 metres long, so the pin position can change your club by five or six. Miss right, as the left slopes towards out of bounds.
Mountain and village views with a big drop from tee to green. A semi-blind drive between bunkers sets up a second that has to thread more bunkers before a precise approach.
Tips for first-timers
- Warm up properly: the opening par 4 is one of the hardest starts on the course.
- Take one or two extra clubs into the uphill 7th, which usually plays into the wind.
- On the 5th, the shortest par 3 at 137 metres, miss short rather than left, right or long.
- Use the free shuttle to combine The Dunes with The Bay or Hills courses during your stay.
- Check the seasonal course rotation before booking, as not every course is open every day in winter.
Map & location
The course is in the Navarino Dunes area of Costa Navarino, beside the Westin and Romanos resorts on the Messinian coast. The Bay Course is about 9 km away, connected by the resort’s complimentary golf shuttle.
FAQ
Who designed The Dunes Course?
Bernhard Langer, two-time Masters champion and former Ryder Cup captain, together with European Golf Design. It opened in May 2010.
How long is The Dunes Course?
6,581 yards from the back tees, to a par of 71. Each hole has several sets of tees.
What are the opening hours?
The course is open from 08:00 until sunset. The driving range opens at 07:30 and the pro shop and golf reception at 07:00.
Can I hire clubs and buggies?
Yes. Golf packages cover hire of everything from shoes and buggies to full sets of clubs.
How many golf courses does Costa Navarino have?
Four 18-hole courses: The Dunes, The Bay, The Hills and the International Olympic Academy Golf Course, all within 13 km of each other and linked by free shuttles.
Where can I eat at the course?
Flame Restaurant in The Dunes Clubhouse serves steak and seasonal dishes, and there is a halfway house after the 9th hole.
Sources
- Official website
- Location
- The Westin Resort facilities
- Stay & play packages
- The Bay Course
- Location: OpenStreetMap
Facts checked 22 October 2026. We only list details we could confirm on the sources above; anything else is left out.