The first public diffusion of golf took place in Scotland in the 19th century and the first rules were written in Edinburgh in 1744 by the Company of Gentlemen Golfers. The famous 13 rules of golf, which still form the basis of today’s modern rules observed by professionals as well as amateurs originated from the rules drawn up by the association of St. Andrews golfers in May 1754.

Golf arrived in Italy, or more precisely in Rome, much later. In 1903, the Acquasanta Golf Club was founded on 12 January at the English Consulate in via Condotti, and was established on land owned by Prince Torlonia in Via Appia Antica. Acquasanta has always been the favourite golf club for Roman and international nobility, leading figures of the industrial, political and cultural world as well as show business celebrities. It can boast an impressive membership list including the likes of His Majesty Vittorio Emanuele III King of Italy, Princess Maria of Greece, Count Galeazzo Ciano, Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman and Gianni Agnelli.
In 1907, two more Golf Clubs were opened, the Menaggio and Cadenabbia, but it wasn’t until 1927 when the Italian Golfing Federation (FIG) was established that the number expanded to 20. The sport has continued to grow with a total of 258 clubs as of 1999, and as a consequence, the FIG decided to set up a National Golfing School to standardise and improve teaching methods.

Nowadays, golf is the most widely played sport in the world with 80 million players and it is greatly increasing in popularity in Italy as well. As a matter of fact, until recently golf was considered a sport for the elite, whereas nowadays it has great popular appeal and potential for growth. The abundance of courses in Italy has resulted in the European Golf Federation considering Italy as a country that attracts golfers. Thus combining tourism attractions with golfing facilities to offer true and proper holidays for the entire family can also boost Rome’s tourism.

A lot of clubs have opened over the last few years. In addition to the historic Acquasanta Golf Club, there is the Archi di Claudio Golf Club, Golf Club Le Magnolie, Olgiata Golf Club, Parco De’ Medici Golf Club, Golf Club Simone – home of famous fashion designer Laura Biagiotti, and Country Club Castel Gandolfo, just to name a few.

From the tourism perspective, Rome must aim at consolidating and increasing its golfing structures, whose services are increasingly tailored for a diversified clientele originating from every corner of the world. As such, nowadays Rome is not only a tourist attraction par excellence for its historical and cultural interest, but also for its new sporting and leisure structures, which are capable of satisfying the needs of international tourism.

Because of its strategic position in the centre of the Mediterranean and the luscious green countryside of the hills, streams and rivers of the Lazio region, Rome shows great developmental potential in this sector as well as in all its accommodation facilities that are starting to develop around the sport of golf.