From the first course in 1927 to the vision of Vittorio Moretti and the design by Pete Dye and Marco Croze, Franciacorta Golf Club represents an excellence that combines sport, nature, and tradition, becoming a benchmark for Italian and international golf.
The Origins
The First Franciacorta Golf Club
(1927–1950)
The history of golf in Franciacorta dates back to the 1920s, when Baron Edoardo Pizzini Piomarta, fascinated by the sport and eager to introduce it to his homeland, decided to build a golf course in the lush surroundings of Borgonato.
The first Franciacorta Golf Club was established in 1927, an era when golf in Italy was still an elite pastime enjoyed by only a few enthusiasts. Nevertheless, the club rapidly gained popularity, becoming one of the most prestigious landmarks in the Lombardy golfing scene. Thanks to the scenic beauty and the course quality, the club attracted players from across Italy, strengthening its reputation.
However, the legacy of this initial club was abruptly halted following World War II. The challenging war years and the subsequent reconstruction period led to the course’s closure, marking the absence of golf in Franciacorta for over thirty years.
During the subsequent decades, as the region evolved and Franciacorta became a world-renowned name for wine excellence, golf remained a distant memory. Only in the 1980s, thanks to the vision of Vittorio Moretti, did the sport regain its prominence, leading to the creation of the Franciacorta Golf Club as we know it today.
After more than thirty years of absence, golf returned to Franciacorta thanks to the intuition and determination of Vittorio Moretti, a successful entrepreneur in the construction and wine sectors, as well as a profound connoisseur and lover of his land. Already established as a producer of fine wines, Moretti realized that the Franciacorta region possessed all the characteristics to host a golf course on par with the best international circuits.
In 1984, together with eighteen other founding members, he established Franciacorta Golf, identifying the former clay quarry in Corte Franca as the ideal location for the project. This choice was deliberate: nestled among the lush vineyards, with an evocative natural landscape and a favorable microclimate, the area was perfectly suited for the creation of a technical and spectacular course.
The construction timeframe was extraordinarily rapid. Within four months, all necessary land was acquired, and in the spring of 1985, with the essential support of the Municipality of Corte Franca, permits were granted to start the work. Just eight months after the project was presented, earthmoving began, and in less than a year, the golf course began to take shape.
But Moretti was not content with building just any course: he wanted the best for the layout. He entrusted the design to Pete Dye, a world-renowned architect famous for creating some of the most iconic golf courses globally, and to Marco Croze, a leading Italian designer. The result was a captivating and technically stimulating track, capable of blending the beauty of the landscape with a high-level golfing challenge.
Franciacorta Golf Club was finally reborn, marking the start of a new era for golf in the region, where sport, nature, and excellence intertwine to create a unique experience.
Founding Members
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Vittorio Moretti (Promoter)
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Cesare Ariotti
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Giovanni Bassi
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Giovanni Belotti
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Tiziano Bertazzoni
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Gianfranco Bignami
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Vittorio Bignami
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Valerio Bono
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Giovanni Cavalleri
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Carlo Clerici
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Gianfranco Cucchi
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Paolo Dabbeni
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Angelo Del Bono
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Elio Del Bono
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Aldo Guerini
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Vittorio Palazzani
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Luigi Rizzi
A Project Designed by Master Architect Pete Dye and Marco Croze
(1985-1986)
To create a world-class course, two internationally renowned architects were commissioned: Pete Dye and Marco Croze.
Pete Dye, an American, was one of the most celebrated golf course designers in the world, famous for creating some of the most spectacular and challenging layouts in history. His signature style is defined by the strategic use of water, deep bunkers, and undulating fairways—all key features found at Franciacorta Golf Club. His most legendary works include TPC Sawgrass in Florida (home of The Players Championship) and Whistling Straits, which hosted the Ryder Cup.
Working alongside him was Marco Croze, a prominent Italian architect with vast experience in designing courses that blend harmoniously with their natural surroundings. Together, they created a technical and captivating course that enhances both the beauty of the landscape and the overall playing experience.
The Inauguration and Growth of the Club
(1986-1990)
In July 1986, Franciacorta Golf Club was officially inaugurated. The first Clubhouse was a restored farmhouse known as “Castagnola,” while the club’s first president was Giovanni Cavalleri, with Pierluigi Tadini leading the secretariat.
In the following years, the club continued to grow: in 1987, the new Clubhouse, designed by architect Paolo Dabbeni, was built, and the 9 executive holes were completed. The facility also included tennis courts and swimming pools, expanding its sports and recreational offerings.
A Harmonious Landscape – 2023
In 2023, Franciacorta Golf Club was recognized for its commitment to the Landscape, specifically for the environmental work on the shores of the lake adjacent to the course. Previous wooden sheet piles were replaced with PVC sheet piles, enhancing bank stability, preventing erosion, and blending harmoniously with the surrounding natural environment.
The Synergy of Sport, Culture, and Local Heritage – 2024
At Franciacorta Golf Club, the golfing experience is enriched by a perfect synergy of sport, culture, and local heritage. Over the years, our club has hosted art installations along the course in collaboration with the renowned Galleria 6499 Milano: mirrored steel statues and monumental works grace the greens, offering a unique multisensory experience for players and visitors alike.
This approach has been a cornerstone for several years, bringing art directly into the sporting arena and creating an environment of profound aesthetic and emotional impact. A continuous commitment that in 2024 was officially recognized by the Italian Golf Federation, which awarded Franciacorta Golf Club the prestigious prize in the “Historical, Artistic and Cultural Heritage” category, as part of the “Impegnati nel Verde” project.
Committed to the Green
Our Commitment to Sustainability
The “Impegnati nel Verde” (Committed to Green) project, promoted by the Italian Golf Federation, recognizes clubs that adopt eco-sustainable practices in design, course management, and the protection of natural resources.
Organized into five categories — Water, Biodiversity, Energy, Landscape, and Historical-Artistic Heritage — the goal is to guide clubs toward international GEO certification, enhancing the environmental and cultural quality of the courses.
Franciacorta Golf Club has been honored with this prestigious recognition three times, thanks to targeted interventions that combine innovation, respect for the territory, and aesthetic value.
An Eco-Sustainable Golf Club – 2012
In 2012, the club received the award in the Energy category thanks to the installation of a 254 kWp photovoltaic system, capable of sustainably powering a large part of the club’s energy needs.. This initiative highlighted Franciacorta Golf Club’s commitment to reducing environmental impact, keeping eco-efficiency at the core of its management.
Meticulous and Continuous Course Care
At Franciacorta Golf Club, the dedication to daily maintenance also translates into continuous course enhancements. Our goal is to offer an increasingly refined and stimulating playing experience through constant optimization and attention to detail.
In 2024, we introduced significant updates: Hole 8 of the Brut course was redesigned with a more fluid and direct style, ensuring a more linear technical challenge; furthermore, the back tees were extended on both Hole 9 of the Brut and Hole 8 of the Satèn course, allowing experienced players to tackle more demanding distances and sophisticated strategies.
These interventions reflect our philosophy: the course is not a static entity, but a living organism that evolves according to the needs of the game and its players. Thanks to this meticulous care and proactive approach, Franciacorta Golf Club remains one of the best-maintained courses in Italy, offering a unique experience that consistently meets the expectations of modern golfers.
Care, Innovation, and Constant Growth
Franciacorta Golf Club constantly invests in course care to ensure a high quality of play recognized at a national level. In recent years, strategic improvements have been implemented: a modern irrigation system was installed to ensure uniform and sustainable watering across all 27 holes, optimizing water consumption and improving turf performance. Old wooden sleepers were replaced with durable and long-lasting PVC sheet piles, which reinforce the banks of the main lake and prevent erosion.
Daily attention to the course’s needs is managed by a team of expert greenskeepers, providing continuous maintenance on fairways, tees, and greens to ensure impeccable playing conditions. These efforts have earned Franciacorta Golf Club prestigious awards for Best Course Maintenance, confirming the club’s standard of excellence.
