Marco Simone Golf & Country Club
Marco Simone entered the geography of contemporary European golf definitively through the...
Marco Simone entered the geography of contemporary European golf definitively through the Ryder Cup, yet its importance goes beyond the event itself. Only a short distance from Rome, the course delivers modern, televisual, athletic golf built to generate strategic tension and dramatic sightlines. The distant view toward St Peter's dome adds an almost symbolic layer that few courses in the world can claim. The layout is demanding and highly visual, with substantial greens, assertive bunkering and a rhythm that rewards players able to think clearly under pressure. For elite travelers, Marco Simone is an unavoidable stop if they want to experience the new icon of Italian golf. It does not offer the romance of older clubs or the quiet of an isolated resort. Instead, it offers energy, international recognition and the distinct sensation of playing in a place that has just written an important chapter in the recent history of the game.
Vai con aspettative da grande venue contemporanea, non da circolo classico romano: il suo linguaggio è internazionale, competitivo e molto attuale.
Modern icon of Italian golf post-Ryder Cup
Very strong position for those staying in Rome
Less historic charm than classic Lazio clubs
Demanding and highly technical course
Marco Simone entered the geography of contemporary European golf definitively through the Ryder Cup, yet its importance goes beyond the event itself. Only a short distance from Rome, the course delivers modern, televisual, athletic golf built to generate strategic tension and dramatic sightlines. The distant view toward St Peter's dome adds an almost symbolic layer that few courses in the world can claim. The layout is demanding and highly visual, with substantial greens, assertive bunkering and a rhythm that rewards players able to think clearly under pressure. For elite travelers, Marco Simone is an unavoidable stop if they want to experience the new icon of Italian golf. It does not offer the romance of older clubs or the quiet of an isolated resort. Instead, it offers energy, international recognition and the distinct sensation of playing in a place that has just written an important chapter in the recent history of the game.
On the technical side, the course is a parkland layout of 18 holes playing to a par of 72 with a slope rating of 143. The design was created by Jim Fazio. Visitor ratings underline the point: outstanding course standard.
The best time to visit Marco Simone Golf & Country Club is April, May, June, September, October. Among its most appreciated strengths: Modern icon of Italian golf post-Ryder Cup; Very strong position for those staying in Rome.
The facilities include putting green, driving range, restaurant, pro shop, cart rental, caddy on request.
The nearest airport is Roma Fiumicino (FCO), approximately 35 minutes by car.
What is the best time to play?+
The best time to play is April, May, June, September, October. Outside this window the club may be closed or operating with reduced services.
Is a handicap certificate required?+
Yes, Marco Simone Golf & Country Club requires a maximum handicap of 36. Contact the club directly to confirm current requirements.
How do I get to the club?+
The nearest airport is Roma Fiumicino (FCO), approximately 35 minutes by car. Car rental is recommended for maximum flexibility.
Is there on-site accommodation?+
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club does not have on-site accommodation. There are various lodging options in the surrounding area; contact the club for partner recommendations.
How many holes does the course have, and how challenging is it?+
The course has 18 holes playing to a par of 72 with a slope rating of 143. It is a demanding course best suited to experienced players.
Exclusive Experiences
Secrets found in no guidebook, curated by our concierge.
Villa Gregoriana — Gola d'Acqua
Just beyond tournament Rome, Tivoli offers a striking counterpoint: water-carved gorges, shaded paths and romantic vistas that feel worlds away from the city. It is a detour that softens championship golf tension without lowering the level of the day.
“Enter the park in late afternoon and take the walk slowly toward the great waterfall: as the sun drops, the moisture changes the colour of the rock and everything feels more theatrical than expected.”
Roma — Aperitivo in Palazzo
Rome's most elegant side is not always its most monumental. A noble salon near the historic centre, with few tables and old-world service, extends the precision of Marco Simone with a measured and deeply Roman urban gesture.
“Book before 7pm and ask for the most secluded table: in Rome, true privilege is not seeing everyone, but feeling the opposite.”
Sabina — Hammam di Pietra
Between the Roman countryside and the first Sabine hills, a small wellness retreat works with steam, warm stone and understated treatments. After a round at Marco Simone, it is the right choice for recovery without adding noise to the day.
“Take the latest slot available: the transition between heat and the cooler evening air is what makes the treatment truly memorable.”
Palestrina — Santuario della Fortuna Primigenia
The Hellenistic sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia defies gravity across seven superimposed terraces dating to the 2nd century BC, turning the entire hillside into architecture. At its summit, the Museo Nazionale Prenestino houses the Nile Mosaic, a work of extraordinary complexity depicting Egypt in flood. The town itself bears the name of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, the contrapuntist born here whom Bach studied with reverence.
“Climb to Palazzo Barberini at dusk — the panoramic terrace commands the entire Lazio plain all the way to the dome of St. Peter's.”
Riserva di Gattaceca — Bosco dell'Agro Romano
Just a few kilometers from Guidonia, this reserve shelters one of the few remaining oak and Turkey oak forests of the Roman countryside, crossed by quiet trails where time is measured in the call of woodpeckers. The woodland borders the seasonal ponds of Macchia del Barco, a precious habitat for amphibians and the raptors that glide over the clearings at dusk. A fragment of primordial countryside that has survived the capital's relentless expansion.
“On a November dawn, when the mist slowly lifts among the oaks, the woodland becomes a Corot painting — bring a jacket and no schedule.”
Cantina De Sanctis — Frascati Autentico
In Frascati, among the Castelli Romani hills, Cantina De Sanctis tends old-vine Malvasia Puntinata and Bombino with something close to monastic devotion. The Frascati Superiore DOCG they produce bears no resemblance to the industrial wines that gave this appellation a bad name — it is taut, mineral, with an almond finish that speaks of the volcanic tufa beneath the Colli Albani. To visit the cantina is to understand why emperors and cardinals coveted this landscape for centuries.
“Ask to taste the Cannellino di Frascati, their late-harvest passito: this is the wine the popes drank on holiday in the hills, produced in only a few hundred bottles each year.”
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