Rhodes is best known for its beaches, medieval old town and long sunny summers, but the island also has a genuine claim on the golfing traveller. At its heart sits a full 18-hole championship course near the village of Afandou, on the east coast between the resorts of Faliraki and Kolymbia. This is a long-established, mature course laid out among low hills close to the sea, with a parkland feel and a hint of links character in its open, breezy stretches. It welcomes visitors and hotel guests alike, so a round is easy to fold into a wider holiday. If you want to pair a day on the fairways with sightseeing, ferries and tailored trips, start planning with My Greece Tours.
The warm eastern-Mediterranean climate gives Rhodes an unusually long golf season, with spring and autumn the most comfortable times to play and high summer noticeably hot. This guide works alongside our wider Rhodes travel guide for the rest of your trip. The sections below cover the course and its setting, the facilities on site, how to book a round, when to play and what to bring, and how golf fits a beach holiday.
Where is the golf course on Rhodes and what is it like?
The island’s main course is a full 18-hole championship layout near Afandou on the east coast, sitting between Faliraki to the south and Kolymbia to the north. It is a long-established, mature parkland course set among low undulating hills close to the sea, with an open, breezy character.
The course occupies a gently rolling stretch of coastline where the land rises and dips between the road and the shore, giving several holes a view out towards the water. Because it has been established for a long time, the fairways are lined with mature trees and settled turf rather than the raw, newly seeded feel of a modern build. The layout is broadly parkland in style, yet the openness of the site and the sea breezes that sweep across it lend certain holes a links-like quality, where the wind becomes as much a factor as the yardage. The result is a varied round that rewards thoughtful club selection and shot shaping rather than raw power alone.
As an 18-hole championship course it offers a full test for competent players while remaining playable for holiday golfers and higher handicaps. The undulating ground means few completely flat lies, so course management and a steady short game count for a great deal here. The setting close to the beaches of the east coast makes the round feel like part of the holiday rather than a separate expedition. Our guide to Afandou Beach covers the long shingle-and-sand strand right beside the course, and the next section covers the facilities you will find on site.
What facilities does the golf course offer visitors?
The course is set up to welcome visitors and hotel guests who arrive without a full kit. On-site facilities typically include club and buggy or trolley hire, a pro shop, a driving range and practice area, and a clubhouse, so you can turn up, equip yourself and play a full round comfortably.
For travellers who prefer not to fly with a heavy golf bag, the availability of club hire is the single most useful facility. You can rent a set on the day, add a buggy or a pull trolley to spare your legs on the undulating ground, and pick up balls, tees, gloves or sun protection from the pro shop if you have arrived short of anything. The practice area and driving range are worth using before you tee off, especially if your clubs are unfamiliar hire sets or you have not swung in a while, because a few loosening shots make a real difference on the opening holes.
The clubhouse is the natural hub of a visit, offering somewhere to check in, settle the round, take shade and refreshments, and relax afterwards while the heat of the afternoon passes. Staff and the resident professional can advise on the day’s conditions, local rules and where the wind is likely to catch you. Together these facilities make the course genuinely accessible to holidaymakers rather than members alone. Our guide to Faliraki covers the lively resort just south of the course where many golfing visitors stay, and the next section covers how to book a round.
How do you book a round of golf on Rhodes?
Booking is straightforward: contact the course ahead to reserve a tee time, particularly in the busier spring and autumn periods when demand is highest. Visitors and hotel guests are welcome, and you can arrange club and buggy hire at the same time so everything is ready when you arrive.
In the quieter parts of the season you can often play with little notice, but during the popular spring and autumn windows tee times fill up, so it is wise to book a few days ahead rather than simply turning up. When you reserve, state how many are playing, whether you need hire clubs, and whether you want a buggy or trolley, so the pro shop can have your kit waiting. Many hotels on the east coast can help arrange a round for guests, and some packages bundle green fees with accommodation, which can simplify planning if golf is central to your trip.
Prices for green fees, tee times and hire vary by season and by how you book, so it is best to confirm the current rates directly with the course or through your hotel rather than relying on old figures. Allow enough time in your itinerary for the round itself plus practice and a spell in the clubhouse afterwards, and plan your transport so you are not rushing back. Our guide to getting around Rhodes covers hire cars, buses and transfers for reaching the course, and the next section covers when to play and what to bring.
When is the best time to play and what should you bring?
The warm climate gives Rhodes a long golf season, but spring and autumn are the most comfortable, with mild air and softer light. High summer is hot, so play early in the morning. Bring or hire clubs, plenty of sun protection, water and soft-spiked shoes.
Spring and autumn offer the ideal blend of warm, settled weather and manageable temperatures, letting you play a full 18 holes without wilting in the heat. Winter rounds are perfectly possible thanks to the mild climate, though you should expect the occasional shower and a cooler breeze off the sea. High summer brings strong sun and heat that build through the day, so the sensible approach is an early tee time, finishing the round before the fiercest afternoon warmth. Whenever you play, keep an eye on the wind, which can rise across the open, coastal holes and change your club choice noticeably.
In terms of kit, either bring your own clubs or hire a set on site, and pack or buy soft-spiked golf shoes suitable for the course. Sun protection is essential across most of the season: a hat, sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen and plenty of water will keep you comfortable, along with light, breathable clothing. A rangefinder or course guide helps on unfamiliar undulating ground, and a few spare balls are wise given the breeze. Our guide to Kolymbia covers the calmer resort just north of the course, and the next section covers combining golf with a beach holiday.
How do you combine golf with a beach holiday on Rhodes?
The course sits on the east coast among the island’s best beach resorts, so golf slots neatly into a wider holiday. Base yourself near Faliraki, Afandou or Kolymbia, play a morning round, then spend afternoons on the sand, sightseeing or exploring by hire car.
The east coast is Rhodes at its most holiday-friendly, a run of sandy and shingle bays, family resorts and tavernas within easy reach of the fairways. Staying nearby means you can tee off early, be back for a late lunch and still have most of the day free for the beach, a boat trip or a visit to the medieval old town. Because the course sits between Faliraki and Kolymbia, non-golfers in the group are never far from a beach or a pool while one or two of the party play, which makes the destination work well for mixed groups and families rather than dedicated golf societies alone.
A hire car is the key to stitching it all together, letting you reach the course, hop between beaches and drive inland to villages and viewpoints on the days you are not playing. Balance the itinerary so golf is one thread among several rather than the whole holiday, and you get the best of both worlds: a memorable round on a long-established championship course and a relaxed shore-side break. For ideas beyond the fairways, our guide to things to do in Rhodes covers the wider island. Plan your visit and tours through our Rhodes travel guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Afandou golf course open to visitors and non-members?
Yes. The island’s championship course near Afandou welcomes visiting golfers and hotel guests, not just members, which is exactly what makes it useful for a holiday. You can arrange a round as a casual visitor, book a tee time in advance and turn up to play a full 18 holes. Because many travellers arrive without their own equipment, the course is geared towards visitors, with club and buggy or trolley hire available on site alongside a pro shop for anything you have forgotten. It is sensible to contact the course or your hotel ahead of your visit, especially during the busy spring and autumn periods, to confirm availability and reserve your slot. If golf is central to your trip, ask whether your accommodation offers any packages that combine green fees with your stay, as these can simplify booking and sometimes bundle the practicalities together into a single arrangement.
Do I need to bring my own golf clubs to Rhodes?
No, you do not have to travel with your own clubs. The course offers club hire on site, so you can rent a set for your round rather than paying airline fees and carrying a heavy bag across Europe. This is one of the main reasons the course suits holiday golfers: you can pack light, then hire clubs, a buggy or a trolley on the day and add balls, tees and gloves from the pro shop as needed. That said, committed players often prefer the feel of their own equipment and are welcome to bring it. Whichever you choose, do pack or buy soft-spiked golf shoes, a hat, sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen and a way to carry water, because sun protection matters across most of the long season. If you are hiring, mention it when you book your tee time so the right set and any buggy are ready and waiting when you arrive at the clubhouse.
What is the golf season like on Rhodes?
Rhodes enjoys a long golf season thanks to its warm eastern-Mediterranean climate, which keeps the course playable across much of the year rather than for a short summer window alone. Spring and autumn are generally the most comfortable times to play, offering warm but manageable temperatures, settled weather and pleasant light for a full round. Winter golf is entirely feasible given the mild conditions, though you should be ready for the occasional shower and a cooler sea breeze. High summer is hot, with strong sun that intensifies through the day, so the wise approach then is an early morning tee time that lets you finish before the fiercest heat. Across every season, watch the wind on the open coastal holes, as it can rise quickly and change your club selection. Whenever you visit, book ahead in the busier spring and autumn months and build enough time into your itinerary for practice, the round and a spell in the clubhouse afterwards.