Marco Simone Golf & Country Club is more than a golf course — it’s where the 2023 Ryder Cup was contested, where Europe defeated the United States, and where every international golfer planning a trip to Italy now wants to play. If you’re searching for the best golf in Rome, this is where your story begins.
This is the complete guide for international golfers planning a Ryder Cup pilgrimage to Italy: what makes Marco Simone special, how to play the championship course, where to stay in Rome, and how to combine golf with the eternal city’s history, gastronomy, and culture.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: the Ryder Cup Course
Located just 17 km northeast of Rome in Guidonia Montecelio, Marco Simone sits on rolling Roman countryside with one of the most spectacular skyline views in world golf — on clear days you can see the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in the distance.
The 18-hole championship course was originally designed by Jim Fazio (brother of Tom Fazio) and David Mezzacane in 1991. In preparation for the 2023 Ryder Cup, the layout was completely redesigned by Tom Fazio II and Dave Sampson, who reshaped 17 of the 18 holes to create a true Ryder Cup arena.
What makes Marco Simone unique
- 7,268 yards from the championship tees, par 71
- Strategic risk-reward holes designed for match play
- Massive natural amphitheater greens — the same ones that hosted 50,000+ spectators at the 2023 Ryder Cup
- Iconic 16th hole “the Cathedral” with views of Rome on the horizon
- Bunkering and water hazards positioned exactly where you don’t want them
This isn’t a links course or a parkland — it’s a modern stadium course built for drama, similar in spirit to TPC Sawgrass or Whistling Straits. Every shot matters.
The 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone
For the first time since the 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama, the biennial competition was played in continental Europe outside the UK and Ireland. Team Europe, captained by Luke Donald, defeated the United States 16½ to 11½ in front of partisan Italian crowds, with memorable performances from Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, and rookie Ludvig Åberg.
For golfers visiting today, walking the same fairways where Jon Rahm chipped in or where Tommy Fleetwood holed his winning putt is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Most pin positions used during the Ryder Cup are still marked, allowing you to recreate the iconic shots.
How to play Marco Simone
Marco Simone is a private members’ club, but tee times are available for international visitors through a select group of authorized tour operators — Golf Tour Experience is one of them. Direct booking from outside Italy is rarely possible.
Practical info:
- Best season: April–June and September–October (avoid July–August heat and December–January cold)
- Green fee: from €350 (premium pricing reflects the Ryder Cup status)
- Dress code: collared shirt, tailored trousers/shorts, soft spike golf shoes
- Caddie service: highly recommended (€80–120) — the course is technical and walking is encouraged
- Tee time advance booking: minimum 30 days, ideally 60–90 days in high season
Where to stay in Rome for your golf trip
Marco Simone is 30 minutes from central Rome by car. We recommend staying in the city center to combine golf with Rome’s incomparable cultural offerings, then driving (or taking our private transfers) to the course.
Rocco Forte Hotel de Russie ★★★★★
Steps from Piazza del Popolo, Rocco Forte’s flagship Roman property is the favorite of celebrities and discerning travelers. The secret garden in the inner courtyard, the De Russie Spa, and the Stravinskij Bar make it a destination in its own right.
👉 Stay & Play package: Esperienza Indimenticabile a Roma — 3 nights at Hotel de Russie + 1 round at Marco Simone + private transfers + Vatican-area concierge.
Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel ★★★★★
Set on Monte Mario hill with sweeping views over Rome, the Cavalieri offers the only true resort experience in the city — outdoor pool, tennis courts, and the Michelin three-star La Pergola. Perfect for golfers who want hotel-level amenities.
👉 Stay & Play package: Cavalieri Experience — 3 nights at Rome Cavalieri + 1 round at Marco Simone + spa & dining included.
Combine Rome with Florence and Sicily
For travelers wanting a multi-stop Italian luxury golf experience, our Rocco Forte Experience Italy combines Florence, Rome, and Sicily across the Rocco Forte hotel collection — including Marco Simone, Olgiata, Ugolino in Florence, and Verdura Resort in Sicily.
What to do in Rome between rounds
One of the great pleasures of a Roman golf trip is the contrast: 18 holes in the morning, then the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum, or a long Roman lunch in Trastevere in the afternoon.
- Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel: book a skip-the-line guided tour at 9:00 AM the day after a round
- Colosseum + Roman Forum: 90-minute private guide is the only way to do it properly
- Borghese Gallery: book 4 weeks in advance, world-class art in 2 hours
- Trastevere food tour: cacio e pepe, carbonara, supplì — eat where Romans eat
- Aperitivo at Stravinskij Bar (Hotel de Russie) or Hassler Roof Garden
Other golf courses near Rome
While Marco Simone is the headline act, the Roman countryside offers other excellent courses worth combining in a longer Italian golf trip:
- Olgiata Golf Club — historic Roman club, hosted the 1989 Ryder Cup qualifying matches
- Acquasanta Golf Club — Italy’s oldest golf club, founded in 1903, with the ancient Roman aqueducts running across the course
- Parco de’ Medici Golf Club — flat course with the only sand of Rome, very playable, 15 minutes from Fiumicino airport
When to visit: Italian golf calendar
Italy’s golf season runs essentially year-round, but the sweet spots for Rome are:
- April–May: temperatures 18–24°C, courses in peak condition after winter rains
- September–October: identical conditions but with fewer tourists, ideal for a focused golf trip
- November–March: playable but shorter days, occasional rain, lower green fees
Avoid August: extreme heat, many Italians on holiday, restaurants closed.
Plan your Marco Simone golf trip
Marco Simone isn’t just a golf course — it’s a pilgrimage. For golfers from the United States, the United Kingdom, or anywhere in the world, playing where the Ryder Cup was decided is a story you’ll tell for the rest of your golf life.
Combining it with Rome’s eternal beauty makes it the trip of a lifetime.
Plan your Italian golf experience with Golf Tour Experience. We are official partners of Marco Simone Golf Club and the only Italian tour operator specialized exclusively in golf travel. Contact us to create your tailor-made golf itinerary in Rome and beyond.
📧 booking@golftourexperience.com · 📞 +39 02 39005170 · 🏌️ golftourexperience.com
Related reading: Golf in Veneto · Golf in Puglia · Italy Golf Map
Want to play Marco Simone without the logistics?
Guaranteed tee times, private transfers and hand-picked 5-star hotels in Rome — we take care of everything. Discover our Rome & Marco Simone golf packages by Golf Tour Experience.
Combine the capital with the south: discover where to play in our guide to golf in Sicily.
Want to combine Rome with the rest of the country? Explore our guide to luxury golf vacations in Italy — tailor-made itineraries across Tuscany, Lake Como, Sicily and Rome.
