Costa Navarino (Dunes)

The dunes course, the first of many proposed courses to be developed at the stunning new costa navarino resort, opened in 2010 as the first signature 18-hole layout to open in greece. The course, which was designed by bernhard langer in partnership with european golf architects, opened a year before âĢľthe bay,âĢĿ a robert trent jones ii creation.

Costa navarino is the upmarket invention of vassilis constantakopoulos, a former shipping magnate who founded the temes construction company to transform his vision for the region into existence just before his death in 2011. Captain vassilis' son, achilles, has been tasked with furthering his father's goal.

A substantial part of the course has been built to resemble a links course, with tall 'dunes' dividing the holes nearest to the sea. The links feel is emphasized by undulating greens and steep-faced pot bunkers, but as the course progresses inland, the character softens to blend in with a traditional greek landscape of olive trees and citrus groves.

Egd lead designer ross mcmurray has the following to say: