Albisola Golf Club

Located between the Sansobbia River and Erchi Hill, just a few minutes from the sea, is the Albisola Golf Club—a flat, 9-hole course with a par of 32, designed by Canadian architect Graham Cooke in 2005 and nestled among ancient olive trees.

At about 2,011 meters from the yellow tees, the course is compact but anything but mundane: Bermuda grass greens of about 500 square meters each, cleverly placed mounds, and views of the Ligurian coast make each of the nine holes a little adventure in its own right. If you play the course twice, you’ll complete an 18-hole round with a par of 65 and a total length of about 4,066 meters.

Here, you can wake up by the ocean in the morning and tee off at noon without a long drive—that’s exactly what makes this course an ideal addition to your Golf Vacation in Liguria.

The Course: Nine Flat Holes on the Riviera

The Albisola Golf Club is a perfectly flat 9-hole course—ideal if you’re looking for a quick, walkable round without much elevation change. From the yellow tees, the course measures about 2,011 meters with a par of 32; if you play both loops, that makes for an 18-hole round with a par of 65 and a total length of about 4,066 meters. The fairways are planted with heat-tolerant Bermuda grass (Tifway 419), and each of the nine greens measures about 500 square meters. Gently contoured mounds, strategically placed by Graham Cooke across the flat terrain, add variety to the course. The course is surrounded by ancient olive trees, with the Erchi hills in the background and the Sansobbia River running alongside it—all while offering frequent views of the coast. Compact, technically challenging, and full of Mediterranean charm: that’s how this course can be summed up in a nutshell.

Who designed the Albisola Golf Club?

Canadian golf architect Graham Cooke, who designed the course in 2005—it was previously known as the Filanda Golf Club—is responsible for the layout. Cooke is one of the most prolific designers in his field and has designed over a hundred courses worldwide. In Albisola, his signature style is particularly evident in the skillfully placed mounds, which lend structure and strategic interest to the otherwise flat terrain. Rather than relying on distance, the course emphasizes precision: players who approach the greens cleverly and control their approach shots will be rewarded here. This makes Albisola a course that doesn’t overwhelm beginners while still offering ambitious golfers excellent short-game practice.

Training Facility, Academy, and Restaurant

In addition to the course, Albisola boasts excellent facilities. The driving range features ten covered tees in a wood-and-copper structure as well as five open tees; it also includes a panoramic putting green, its own practice bunker, and an area for approach shots. The training fee is around €10 for the range. The in-house Golf Academy, led by Maestro Lorenzo Scala, offers private lessons, a beginner’s program („Avvio al Golf“), and a junior team. Those looking to optimize their equipment will find professional fitting services (including Ping and TaylorMade) as well as a pro shop. After your round, Ristorante Al Golf in the historic 19th-century clubhouse invites you to linger—and for a change of pace, there’s even a footgolf option.

Getting There and the Best Time to Visit

The Albisola Golf Club is located in Carpineto, above Albisola Superiore in the province of Savona, just a few minutes’ drive from the coast. You can easily reach the course via the A10 highway (Albisola exit); Genoa-Cristoforo Colombo Airport is about 45 kilometers away. The coordinates for your GPS are 44.3460, 8.4938. The course is open year-round—thanks to the mild Ligurian climate, you can play here even in winter. The most pleasant conditions are in the spring and fall, when temperatures are mild and the coast is less crowded. In the summer, an afternoon round is ideal, and a discounted rate is available starting at 2:00 p.m.

Who would benefit from joining the Albisola Golf Club?

This course is ideal for you if you want to combine your beach vacation on the Riviera with a few relaxing rounds of golf. Beginners, families, and those returning to the game will appreciate the flat terrain, the excellent academy, and the compact 9-hole course, which can be played in about two hours. Albisola is also a great choice for targeted short game practice or a quick round after work followed by dinner at the clubhouse—and thanks to footgolf, it’s even fun for the whole family.

This course isn't the best fit if you're looking for a long, 18-hole championship course with dramatic elevation changes: Albisola is too compact and too flat for that. But if you want to enjoy a simple combination of golf, the sea, and Ligurian cuisine, this is the perfect place for you. You can find more courses 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.