Perched on the Peloponnese coast, The Dunes Course at Costa Navarino is a cracking option if you want a championship feel without the 'lose a dozen balls' punishment. Bernhard Langer's design, created with European Golf Design and managed by Troon Golf, weaves through olive groves and rocky outcrops with the Ionian Sea never far away.
Right, the stand-out is the variety. The driveable par 4 2nd is pure temptation, especially with The Romanos Hotel sitting down the left. I'll admit it, it's the sort of hole that makes you feel brave until you've got driver in hand and a tight line to hit. The par 3 5th is another story, with a green that falls away at the back, so long leaves a nasty recovery. Then on the par 5 16th you get sensational mountain views, but it still asks for proper placement rather than a 'smash it and hope' swing.
In my opinion, The Dunes is at its best when you accept it's a thinking golfer's course. Fairways move, greens sit up and angles matter, so good club selection will save you shots. After the round, FLAME in the clubhouse is well worth pencilling in for a relaxed meal and a post-mortem of the scorecard.
Who is this for? Golfers staying at Costa Navarino who want a quality round in a top-class resort setting, plus couples or groups mixing golf with food, beaches and downtime.
Who is it best for? Mid to low handicappers who enjoy shaping shots and playing to angles, but it's still very playable for higher handicaps off sensible tees.
