The Italian lakes combine parkland golf with villas, gardens and lake ferries, and they are within a drive of Geneva: Milan, the gateway city, is 329 km and about 3 h 50 from Geneva Airport, and Lake Maggiore is reached via the Simplon Pass or the Mont Blanc and Aosta route. AirportsTransfers.ch can drive you and your clubs from GVA to your lakeside hotel, with stops along the way.
- Lake Como: historic courses in the wooded hills south of the lake
- Lake Maggiore: courses near Stresa and on the Varese side
- Season: spring to late autumn, mild shoulder months
- Ideal trip: five to seven days, three or four rounds
- Travel: the route crosses the border into Italy
Why golf on the Italian lakes
The region between Lake Maggiore, Lake Como and Milan has one of Italy's densest concentrations of golf clubs, many of them old, tree-lined parkland courses built for the industrial families of Lombardy. Fairways wind through chestnut and pine woods, and several courses have lake or mountain views. The appeal is the combination: a morning round, lunch on a terrace, an afternoon boat to a garden villa and dinner by the water. Golfers find a relaxed atmosphere and partners who do not play are never short of things to do. The lakes also enjoy a mild climate, extending the season well into autumn.
Around Lake Como
The hills between the city of Como and the plain towards Milan are home to some of Italy's most established golf clubs, including historic courses known for tight, tree-lined fairways and testing greens. Some sit around small lakes in the hills, others look up to the Alps. Staying on Lake Como itself, in Bellagio, Menaggio or Cernobbio, puts you within reach of several courses by car while letting you enjoy the lake in the evenings. Roads along the shore are narrow and slow, so a driver who knows the area saves time and stress, particularly with golf bags in the boot.
Around Lake Maggiore
Lake Maggiore, wider and gentler than Como, has courses in the hills above Stresa with views across the water to the Borromean Islands, and more on the Varese side towards the east. Its western shore is the most convenient base when arriving from Switzerland via the Simplon Pass. Days here can mix golf with visits to the islands' palazzi and gardens, a cable car up to a viewpoint, or a lazy afternoon on the lakefront. The lake also crosses into Switzerland at its northern end, where Locarno and Ascona offer a Swiss-Italian atmosphere. Golfers based on the Swiss end of the lake can play in Ticino as well as in Italy, and the drive between the two shores is short. In the evenings, lakeside promenades fill with people taking a passeggiata, restaurants serve risotto and lake fish, and the mood is unhurried, which is exactly what a golf holiday should feel like.
Travelling with golf clubs
Flying into Geneva with clubs and continuing by road is often easier than connecting flights into Milan. Golf bags travel in the boot or rear of the vehicle, with no extra handling at train stations. Choose a hard or well-padded travel bag, and allow time at Geneva Airport, where oversized items are delivered separately from regular luggage. If you are a group, one van for players and bags keeps everyone together. Remember that the route crosses the border into Italy, so travel documents are needed. Most clubs ask for a handicap certificate and advance booking of tee times, so arrange these before you go.
Planning your week
A typical golf week on the lakes might include three or four rounds on different courses, with rest days for boat trips, villa gardens or a day in Milan for shopping and the cathedral. Spring and autumn are popular for their mild temperatures; July and August can be hot, so early tee times are advisable. Base yourself in one or two places rather than moving every night: one week split between Lake Maggiore and Lake Como works well. If you want a taste of mountain golf too, consider adding Crans-Montana in the Valais on the way, 190 km and about 2 h 15 from Geneva Airport.
Booking the drive with AirportsTransfers.ch
We quote a fixed price for the whole vehicle, shown before you pay online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Let us know how many golf bags you are bringing: a Mercedes V-Class carries up to seven passengers with bags, and a Sprinter minibus suits larger groups. Your chauffeur waits at Geneva Airport arrivals with a name sign, follows your flight and includes waiting if you land late. We can arrange the return from the lakes to Geneva, and companies receive invoices. Contact us on +41 78 346 56 77 by phone or WhatsApp.
