Varna Airport

Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport

Although Bulgaria, with only seven golf courses across the country, is not considered a golf country these three golf courses make the country 
definitely worth a visit. The courses are about an hour’s drive north of
 Varna on the Black Sea coast and from Burgas it takes around three 
hours. Both Thracian Cliffs and Black Sea Rama are designed by Gary 
Player one of the greatest golfers ever. Lighthouse Golf Resort is 
designed under the auspices of Ian Woosnam but is clearly less 
spectacular than the courses by Player.

In terms of accommodation, there is a wide choice of <a href="https://en.leadingcourses.com/hotel/125740/lighthouse-golf-spa-hotel/" target="_blank">hotel rooms</a> (Lighthouse) <a href="https://en.leadingcourses.com/hotel/136283/thracian-cliffs-golf-beach-resort/" target="_blank">apartments</a> (Thracian Cliffs) and <a href="https://en.leadingcourses.com/hotel/167697/club-residence-at-blacksearama-golf/" target="_blank">villas</a>
 (Black Sea Rama). Prices are more than reasonable for the quality 
delivered. When travelling with a family the facilities at 
the Lighthouse Resort probably are the best choice. The villas and 
apartments At BlackSeaRama and Thracian Cliffs are suitable for 
everybody and it's more depending on what course you want to play the most.

The nice thing about this destination is that these three courses are completely different. They all have a very high level of maintenance and are located only fifteen minutes by car from each other. 
Black Sea Rama and Lighthouse are adjacent to each other and Thracian is
 located just 6 km north along the coast. There are also beautiful beaches 
near Thracian, reachable with a free buggy ride form your room and there 
are several towns and restaurants nearby if you once do not want to eat 
on the resort. 
In terms of difficulty, the three courses are also very different. Lighthouse Resort is best described as a family or resort course where the high handicappers can have a great day. Black Sea Rama 
is also an inland links course, but a lot more challenging than 
Lighthouse and it plays harder than it looks. Thracian Cliffs, host of 
the Volvo Matchplay in 2013, is a real championship course with 5 
different tee boxes where even an experienced single handicap player can be sent home with a dozen balls less. What is essential at Thracian 
Cliffs is the tee box you choose. It must suit your level of play, 
otherwise, you'll really have a tough day.

<a href="https://en.leadingcourses.com/europe+bulgaria/thracian-cliffs-golf-beach-resort/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thracian Cliffs</a> is not only the best course of Bulgaria but also a top course in Europe, the best description
 for its spectacular location on the cliffs at the Black Sea is that the course looks like “Pebble Beach on Steriods‘. On every hole - except the 18th par 3 - you have one fantastic view after another of the Black Sea. The par 3 hole 6, with an elevation difference of 60 meters from the tee to the green is great and the tee on the 8th hole - located on a small island in the sea - is very special. As mentioned, at Thracian Cliffs you can see the Black Sea not only from one hole but from every hole! Words, pictures and even video cannot accurately describe the dramatic views of this golf course. I played the course last week and I can’t get it out of my head. You really need to go here yourself to fully understand what an exceptional course this is. 
Once you have played there you just want 
to go back and play it again. And you should because the first time it 
can be quite intimidating not only the signature 6th par 3 (174 meters 
from the medal tee and approximately 50 meters(!) down) but also the par
 4 seventh that requires a 185-meter carry from the silver tee. I walked
 back to the back-back-tee used in the 2013 Matchplay and my GPS 
registered a carry to the first piece of land with fairway from over 230
 meters… 
The second time you play it the views and the scenery is still amazing but you will have some more room in your mind
 to actually play golf and try to set a decent score. Although it is a 
difficult course (the pro stated that a good round here from the silver 
tee is about 10 shots over your handicap), if you play it with the 
respect it deserves the immaculate fairways and the true and fast greens
 will give you a fair score. 
If you have to comment on this course you can say the first 9 holes ON the cliffs are the most dramatic, but the back
 nine going back to the resort have some interesting challenges as well.
 The resort is not entirely finished yet the temporary clubhouse does 
not fit this majestic golf experience (the terrace doe not have a view…).
 A new clubhouse is planned on a perfect spot a little further down the 
course. There are also plans for a Hotel and a Marina. 
The current accommodation offers nice 
different sizes of apartments where you can stay for a weekend or longer 
and if you really like it you can buy one of them. The breakfast and the restaurant is good and the staff is very friendly, everything is 
possible so just ask. You definitely have to use a buggy on 
this course, sometimes the routing can be a bit confusing (especially 
where to park your buggy when you want to reach the green) but new signs
 are ordered. Some bunkers could use a little more sand. The in-course 
out of bounds left of the 17th is a pity but you have to locate the 
driving range somewhere on the narrow piece of land on top of the 
cliffs… 
 We played the course with no wind at all,
 a condition seldom experienced on Thracian Cliffs so if the wind is 
blowing bring plenty of balls. When I heard Gary Player talking about 
‘his’ course and saying that you will never find a course like this 
anywhere in the world I thought this is a designer who is proud of his 
work. but when I played it I realized he is right.

Poppy flowers everywhere! Playing 
<a href="https://en.leadingcourses.com/europe+bulgaria/blacksearama-golf/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BlackSeaRama</a> early of June is a treat, with sunshine and a light breeze.
 We were started by the friendly (UK) starter who explained to us that 
the high rough can be nasty on this friendly-looking Gary Player design. 
It is amazing how the oldest course on Cape Kaliakra is shaped high above the Black Sea coastline. It is an open<a href="https://www.leadingcourses.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/bezoek-3-juni.jpg"></a>
 (inland) links course with great maintenance that can be enjoyed by 
golfers of all handicaps. Do not be deceived by its benign looks, the 
course (especially the rough) has some hidden teeth also when the wind 
comes in play you will have to bring your A-game to play your handicap. 
The facilities are excellent, the 
clubhouse is on the perfect spot with a great terrace overlooking the 
Black Sea, a large driving range and well kept putting green. Here and there some ancient ruins are recreated that add to the atmosphere. 
Speed of play in the course was managed 
good by the English marshal, although like all the courses here in 
Bulgaria all levels of handicaps are allowed. Walking the course with a 
trolley is possible but when it is warm I would recommend a buggy to 
enjoy the experience better. The greens were in excellent condition when we played there early June they were fast and true. The design by 
Gary Player is beautiful and most people will leave the course with the 
signature 18th 194m (medal tee) par 3 in mind. This hole has a dramatic 
view and requires a significant amount of carry, for a mid handicapper 
or somebody with not so much distance it’s quite intimidating. My 
favourite hole is the par 3 13th embedded in poppy flowers (check the 
pictures) which is a better choice as an example of the rest of the 
course. 
The staff is very friendly and the food 
is great. Also, they have a very nice well stocked pro-shop. Playing all 3
 courses on Cape Kaliakra this is the place to stock up on (cheap) 
balls, you will need them in the high rough or playing Thracian the next
 day. 
 
On the course several nice villa’s with a swimming pool can be rented or bought. With &nbsp;two other excellent courses within a 10-minute drive this is an excellent choice to spend a
 weekend, week or the rest of your life!

<a href="https://en.leadingcourses.com/europe+bulgaria/lighthouse-golf-spa-resort/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lighthouse Golf &amp; Spa Resort</a> offers a course for all handicaps with great accommodation choices. A design by European Golf Design where Ian 
Woosnam was involved. It is a quite open course on the Black Sea Coast 
north of Varna. The views and scenery are not as spectacular as on its neighbouring courses, at some holes the view is actually blocked by trees to keep the wind from the green. 
When you want a full luxurious 
accommodation with an enormous Spa, pools, beach nearby, child care, 
restaurants this is the place to be. The course is playable for all 
level golfers and it is an excellent base to explore the other beautiful
 courses nearby. 
<a href="https://www.leadingcourses.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/bezoek-juni.jpg"></a>Maintenance
 was excellent, the greens large and fast, some patches in the rough 
could use some more grass but the level of quality of all three courses 
in Kaliakra is of a high level. Do not be fooled by the open character 
of the course the rough close to the greens can be pretty nasty. The 
fairways are full and you almost want to walk barefoot to feel the 
carpet like denseness… 
The service was excellent the last time 
my clubs were this clean is when they came out of the factory, the 
shaded terrace close to the 18th green is a nice place to add up your 
scores. Lighthouse Golf &amp; Spa Resort is exactly what the name 
describes a great place to relax with a nice golf course for all level 
golfers.

It is best to fly directly to Varna. From Zavetem (Belgium) TUI flies
 to Burgas and Varna, with good parking in Brussels this is certainly 
not a bad option. There are also a number of German cities that have a 
good connection to Varna. Burgas is an alternative but is it still 3 
hours (by taxi) away. 
Most courses/accommodations arrange “free” transfers to and from 
Varna to Burgas but usually a fee is required. Once you are on the 
course is a car really is not necessary. The course where you 
stay arranges a transfer for a small fee (€ 10) to other courses which are maximum 15 min drive away … 
In short, the Varna region has the potential to grow into a super 
golf destination in the months of April, May, June, Sept, Oct and Nov. 
Especially Thracian Cliffs alone is course is worth making the trip for.

Thracian Cliffs (photo credits, member MartinHardenberger)

Regularly a team of Leadingcourses.com visits an attractive golf region. For many golfers, the Cape Kaliakra region in the province of Varna along the Black Sea in Bulgaria is still not really known as a golf destination. But with courses like Thracian Cliffs, Black Sea Rama and Lighthouse Golf Resort this is a wonderful destination.

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Amongst golfers, Bulgaria is not really known as a golf destination. But courses like Thracian Cliffs make it a wonderful destination.

Thracian Cliffs, Pebble Beach on steriods…

Bulgaria

The Signature Course

"You will not find a golf course like this anywhere else on the planet." Gary Player

 Framed by rugged coastal cliffs and the vast blue of the Black Sea, the 18-hole Gary Player designed Signature course at Thracian Cliffs is one of the most dramatic golf courses on earth.

 Located on the Marina Village circle the Club House offers golfers a comfortable place to meet, have a casual meal or drink as they begin their adventure on the course and as they return to reminisce of the highlights of the day.

The full service Pro Shop is located adjacent to the Club House with a wide range of golf clothing, equipment and golf balls – something every golfer should have plenty of in their bag for this spectacular course.

Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort

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As promised I came back. I was so hoping to play there again. Exactly 4 years after my 1st visit we played there again. I'm in love with design of this course despite my following words, but I will recommend it as one time experience from this time on. I had seen a huge drop down in course quality. Could be the Corona restrictions, could be the poor maintenance, could be anything I understand that, but I paid premium and want quality for my money, these days everything is so pricey at Thracian so I would expect high quality but its not. Horrible tee boxes and fairways. around the greens the grass is so damaged. The best are the greens there. Honestly I would not come again seen it twice has good memories from 1st visit but do not want to waste my money again and will rather go to Turkey or Portugal for same or less money spend. Hope for other golfers this will change in future. Unfinished and falling houses, dirty beaches, lazy staff in restaurants, all that on top it. So that is Thracian Cliffs these days for me and my friends.

Samen met mijn zoon een weekje golfen in Bulgarije. 2x Thracian Cliffs, Blacksearama en Lighthouse. Gisteren 1e keer Thracian Cliffs gespeeld. Man, man wat een mooie baan! Ik heb al heel veel banen gespeeld, maar deze staat nu op 1 net boven West Cliffs (Portugal) en Monte Mayor (Spanje toen die nog geopend was). Zeer goed onderhouden en erg uitdagend. Schitterende holes en dito vergezichten. Deze baan moet je een keer gespeeld hebben! Geen enkele hole of slag is makkelijk. Je moet echt recht kunnen slaan. Met hcp boven 25 heb je hier niets te zoeken; behalve je ballen :). Op drivingerange kun je heerlijk van het gras afslaan op diverse doelen. Even oefenen daarnaast op puttinggreen kan geen kwaad; putten is soms zeer lastig op de snelle en mooie greens. Het enige dat wellicht ontbreekt, is een pitch en putt. Verder ontbreken prullenbakken in de baan. Service op dit resort is super en het eten in een vd 6 restaurants, (wij aten gisteren bij Geti) was top. Ook daar erg goede service en mooi uitzicht over zee. Eten en drinken is naar Nederlandse maatstaven niet duur.

What a golf course and great to have played it after season. Not in the best condition I would expect in summer. But still loved it.

Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort

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