Matilde di Canossa Golf Club

When you stand on the first tee at the Matilde di Canossa Golf Club, an 18-hole, par-72 course stretching approximately 6,231 meters unfolds before you—nestled in the gently rolling plains near San Bartolomeo, just a few minutes west of Reggio Emilia.

The course is named after the legendary Margravine Matilde di Canossa, who left her mark on this region during the Middle Ages. Today, it is a championship course that can be played year-round, designed by Italian architect Marco Croze in 1987.

Here, you'll find technically challenging courses combined with short distances, a well-maintained clubhouse with a pool, and green fees starting at around 45 euros. This makes the club an ideal addition to your Golf Vacations in Emilia-Romagna.

The Course: An 18-hole course at the foot of the Matilden Hills

The championship course takes you through 18 holes, par 72, and spans approximately 6,231 meters from the back tees. The terrain isn’t a flat meadow but is gently undulating: gentle undulations, mature trees, and a few water hazards demand precise decisions from you on every round. Depending on the tee, the course rating is around 72, so you’ll find honest, fair holes here that are neither excessively long nor trivial.

The dogleg holes and the well-defended greens are what make this course so appealing: Players who hit the fairways are rewarded, while those who attack too aggressively will quickly find themselves in the rough or behind a bunker. For beginners, there’s also the 9-hole „Tricolore“ short course, a par-29 layout spanning about 1,382 meters—ideal for practicing your swing and short game.

Who designed the Matilde di Canossa Golf Club?

Marco Croze, one of Italy’s most prolific golf course architects, who has designed numerous courses in Italy, is responsible for the layout. He opened the course in 1987 and designed it as a classic parkland course that blends harmoniously into the landscape west of Reggio Emilia.

Croze opted for a design that works for a wide range of players: From the front tees, the course remains very playable; from the back tees, it challenges even low-handicap players with its length and precision. The name is a reference to Matilde di Canossa, the Margravine of Tuscany, whose seat of power was located in this very region in the 11th century.

Facilities: From the practice area to the pool

The practice facility is spacious: The driving range offers about 15 hitting bays, 4 of which are covered, plus a putting green and a pitching green for your short game. A golf school with pros is available if you want to work on your swing.

Around the clubhouse, you’ll find everything you need for a relaxing day of golf: a pro shop, bar, and restaurant, locker rooms, and—a rarity among golf clubs—a swimming pool for hot summer days. You can rent clubs, trolleys, and electric carts on-site, and parking is available. This makes the club a great choice for a full day out with the family.

Getting There and the Best Time to Visit

The Matilde di Canossa Golf Club is located in San Bartolomeo, a neighborhood west of Reggio Emilia. You can reach it in just a few minutes via the A1 highway (Milan–Bologna) from the Reggio Emilia exit. The Reggio Emilia AV Mediopadana high-speed train station connects you to the area via the Frecciarossa in just over 25 minutes from Bologna or Milan.

The nearest airports are Bologna (about 70 kilometers) and Parma (about 30 kilometers). Golf is played year-round, but the most pleasant conditions are in the spring (April through June) and early fall (September and October), when temperatures are mild and the course is in top condition.

Who would benefit from joining the Matilde di Canossa Golf Club?

This course is worth a visit if you’re looking for a well-designed 18-hole course with fair par-72 holes—one that’s neither a “Ballermann” nor a “ironing board.” Budget-conscious golfers will appreciate green fees starting at around 45 euros, while families will enjoy the pool and the short 9-hole course. The club is also ideal for a spontaneous stop while passing through along the A1, thanks to its year-round opening hours.

This course isn’t the best choice if you’re expecting a sprawling luxury golf resort with a hotel right on the fairway or dramatic elevation changes—Matilde di Canossa is too down-to-earth and too flat for that. If, on the other hand, you appreciate straightforward, good golf at reasonable prices, you’ve come to the right place. You can find more destinations in our overview of Golf in Italy.

Note: Disclaimer – Italien.news is not the owner or operator of the golf course mentioned and makes no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information regarding prices, tee times, hours of operation, facilities, and events. Changes are subject to change at any time.

Please check all relevant information—especially green fees, tee times, and directions—directly with the golf club before your visit.