When you say Golf in Rome and in Italy, you say "Acquasanta".

Established in 1903 as a 9 holes golf course (became 18 holes on 1913) along Via Appia on the south east of Rome, and just 3 miles from the Colosseum, Circolo del Golf di Roma Aquasanta is the oldest golf course of the country. 

The club actually dates back to 1885, founded by a group of British expatriates.

Its location is superb, a parkland layout inspired by the ancient british links which gently follows the undulations of the terrain, surrounded by mediterranean pines, cypresses and eucalyptus.

This golf course is in excellent shape.

Although just 6,429 yds from the pro tees, this par 71has a challenging layout with narrow fairways, well protected small greens and several holes are interested by the river Almone which crosses the course.

Some of the holes are really interesting. Short Par 5s like the straight 444 mts 10th and long Par 4s like the 408 mts 12th dogleg right bordered by the river on the right. 

My favorite, the 11th, is a downhill 120 mts Par 3 with the circular green protected by bunkers and water, and the 17th, one of the most challenging, a 391 mts Par 4 with a downhill fairway two water hazards to avoid before reaching the green.

Some of the views from the most elevated holes are incredible. 

From the Old Roman Claudian Acqueduct to the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, from the Roman Castles to St. Peter's Dome. 

Centuries of history around this magic golf course where time seems to have stopped.

The Sheraton Parco de' Medici boasts 27-hole of elegant, lightly tree-line parkland golf.

The Blue-White nines comprise the championship course, with the considerably shorter Red-nineserving as a good warm-up facility or somewhere to fine-tune any parts of your game that are currently misfiring.

Laid out on relatively flat terrain, the course has many excellent and challenging holes, with planty of stylish bunkering around the greens, and a pleasant array of pines, cypresses and weeping willows guiding you along the good-width, monde farways.

The only water you will be seeing are several small lakes and pound, principally found around the immacolate greens and approaches to them.

Fioranello Golf Club was founded in 1979 in the suggestive Roman countryside.

A gem designed by architect David Mezzacane perfectly integrated in a beautiful natural setting, between the ruins of the Roman acqueducts and the incomparable view of the Castelli Romani.

Today the complex offers a magnificent 18 hole course that takes full advantage of the natural characteristics of the Roman countryside which doesn’t have to distract the player’s attention from the difficulties of the course.

The difficulty of the holes is quite balanced, and accuracy and strategy are essential.

The scenic, exclusive club house with its large swimming pool, its vegetation rich in elms and pines uninterrupted by the outlines of old farmhouses and Roman aqueducts all combine to give Fioranello its unmistakable atmosphere.With regard to the facilities, there is a bar in the centre of the club house, a restaurant with view over the Castelli Romani and a swimming pool in the garden.

The terrain is wide open, with sand, water and rough being the real hazards.

The absence of trees might appear to be a limit to course challenge.

However, inexperienced golfers should be warned that Parco di Roma is a difficult layout whichever tee-box you play from. Buggy recommended .

Playing in Parco di Roma Par 72 Championship Course is a different and exciting experience.

The club has no closing days.

Located 15 miles north of Rome along the Via Cassia on the Olgiata quiet residential complex, Olgiata Golf Club is a magnificent classic tree-lined parkland golf course.

Opened 1961 it features 27 holes (18 holes West Course and 9 holes East Course) designed by english architect C. Kenneth Cotton and restyled by architect Jim Fazio in 1996.

During the years it hosted many important international tournaments including the Eisenhower Trophy in 1964, the World Cup on 1968 and 1984, the European Tour Italian Open on 1973 and 2002 (won by Ian Poulter) and the Challenge Tour Roma Open in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Before 2012 withdrawn, Rome was a proposed bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics Games, and Olgiata GC was chosen to host the golf tournament. 

For this reason the West Course on 2010 went under a €1 million renovation project supervised by Tom Fazio, where 15 holes have been modified, changed or totally redesigned. 

The West course today is 6,547 meters (7,159 yds) long from the back tees and is one of the few Par 73 in Italy with a 75.5/138 Rating/Slope.

It's a quite challenging long layout surrounded by trees and outstanding villas featuring undulating fairways, elevation changes, strategically placed bunkers and water hazards coming into play on several holes such as small creeks designed to protect some of the very fast greens.

Today is compared by many to Wentworth West Course.

Olgiata's West Course is really a great golf course  and after the last renovation I am positive it will be hosting soon a main European Tour tournament.