Is Arenas Golf & Country Club — The Complete Visitor Guide 2026

Ask any serious golfer who has played in Sardinia which course surprised them most, and the answer is almost always the same: Is Arenas. While Pevero commands the headlines with its Costa Smeralda glamour, Is Arenas quietly delivers something rarer — a world-class championship layout in a setting of extraordinary natural beauty, with barely another golfer in sight. This is the hidden gem of Sardinian golf, and this guide tells you everything you need to know before you visit.

A Course Born from the Forest

Is Arenas Golf Club is located on the centre-west coast of Sardinia, immersed in more than 750 hectares of pine forest, with its own 4km-long white sandy beach.  The course feels entirely removed from the outside world — enclosed within ancient pines and juniper, with the Sardinian mistral whispering through the trees and the scent of the Mediterranean maquis on every fairway.

The 800-hectare protected pine forest was planted in the 1950s to protect the natural sand dunes from trade winds, which frequent the area and contribute to the golfing challenge and experience.  The result is a course that feels completely natural and entirely unique — as though the fairways were always meant to be here.

In 2002 Is Arenas was awarded the best new golf course in Italy, and in 2003 it was considered one of the 20 best golf courses in Italy.  It has maintained that reputation ever since, regularly featuring in national and European rankings. Golf World magazine rated it Italy’s 19th best course as recently as 2022.

The Course - What to Expect

Is Arenas is an 18-hole par 72 course stretching 6,300 metres. This is a beautiful golf course draped across a sumptuous landscape, surrounded by tranquility and untouched nature. The player is invited to discover the course’s subtle and perceptible challenge — a course that offers abundant rewards for stylish play, astute strategy and proper execution.

Do not be misled by the forest setting into thinking this is a straightforward round. The course is well maintained with fast greens and many interesting holes. Fairways, water hazards, bunkers and waste areas are all in excellent condition.  The narrow fairways demand precise driving, and the many doglegs, elevation changes and strategically placed bunkers mean that course management matters at every hole.

One outstanding characteristic of Is Arenas is that every hole boasts a natural background of pines and junipers, which helps create a thrilling, one-of-a-kind experience for all types of golfer.

One experience that many visitors mention is the extraordinary sense of solitude. The course is completely secluded in the middle of the forest and you are almost alone — it is not uncommon to play the entire 18 holes without seeing another group on the course.  In an era of crowded tee sheets and slow rounds, this is genuinely priceless.

Holes to Watch

A special mention is due for the 17th hole, which offers fantastic views of the stunning western coast of Sardinia. The hardest hole on the course is the 14th, which has a sharp dogleg to the right leading up to a putting surface protected by strategically placed sand traps — a hole that demands both accuracy and nerve if you are chasing par.

The par threes throughout the course are particularly memorable — each one framed by tall pines with greens that reward precision over power. Come prepared to think carefully about your club selection, especially when the mistral is blowing.

Practical Information for Visitors

Address:

Loc. Pineta Is Arenas, 09070 Narbolia (OR), Sardinia, Italy

Getting there from Alghero Airport:

Alghero Riviera del Corallo Airport (AHO) is the most convenient gateway, approximately 45–50 minutes by car. Take the SS131 south towards Oristano and follow signs for Narbolia. Car hire at the airport is strongly recommended — the course is deep inside the pine forest with no public transport access.

Getting there from Cagliari Airport:

Cagliari Elmas Airport (CAG) is approximately 90 minutes by car, making Is Arenas a very comfortable day trip from the south of the island.

Green Fees 2026:

Green fees range from €115 to €160 depending on the season. If the full green fee feels steep, the Golfamore card can reduce the entry price significantly — worth considering if you plan to play multiple courses across your trip.

Handicap requirement:

Visitors are welcome on weekdays and weekends. Advance booking is required. The maximum handicap is 34.  Bring your handicap certificate from your home club.

Walking or buggy:

Players generally walk this course.  Golf carts are available for hire but the terrain is manageable on foot and walking the course allows you to fully absorb the extraordinary forest setting.

Equipment hire:

Golf club rental is available at Is Arenas.  Contact the club in advance to confirm availability, especially during peak season.

Facilities at the Club

This is one area where Is Arenas differs notably from Pevero, and it is worth knowing before you visit. The clubhouse is a simple wooden hut offering a few small items and drinks. The staff is very nice and helpful, and since you cannot pass the clubhouse during the round, free water dispensers are available on many of the holes.

There is also a 3-hole executive course and an excellent driving range with 40 outdoor bays and a further 10 indoors  — perfect for warming up before your round or working on your game after it.

The honest message: if you are expecting a grand clubhouse with a full restaurant, Is Arenas is not the place. If you want one of the finest and most peaceful golf experiences in the Mediterranean, it absolutely is.

Where to Stay - On Site and Nearby

Is Arenas has a remarkable advantage over almost every other golf course in Sardinia: you can sleep right on the course itself.

The Is Arenas Private Golf & Foresterie Boutique Resort is set within the pine forest, with the beach just 450 yards from the property. The resort has 18 rooms with modern furnishings, air conditioning, satellite TV and free Wi-Fi, and features the Bistrot degli Ulivi restaurant on site.

Select and elegant villas located within the golf course are also available, including one or two double room options with kitchen, living room, bathroom and private garden — offering the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the Is Arenas experience.

Staying on site is the ideal way to experience Is Arenas. Waking up inside the pine forest, playing a dawn round with the course entirely to yourself, then spending the afternoon on a private beach — this is one of the most complete golf holiday experiences available anywhere in Italy.

The cuisine of the Bistrot degli Ulivi delights the palate, while the most beautiful sea in Sardinia is just 500 metres away with a private beach for hotel guests.

For those staying elsewhere on the island, the towns of Oristano and Bosa are both within easy reach and offer excellent local restaurants and accommodation at every price point.

Browse golf-friendly hotels near Is Arenas on Solendra

Best Time to Visit

The beautiful weather at Is Arenas is favourable every time of the year. During the winter months, between 10am and 4pm, temperatures rarely drop below 10-12°C. During the summer they occasionally reach 30-33°C, but the gentle mistral keeps the pinewood cool and ensures a perfect climate even at the height of the season.

Unlike many courses where summer brings uncomfortable heat, Is Arenas benefits from its dense forest canopy and the cooling effect of the sea breeze. That said, the sweet spots remain April to June and September to October - when the course is at its most lush, the greens are at their fastest, and the light through the pines is simply magical.