Thracian Cliffs Golf Course
Kavarna
Thracian Cliffs Golf Course is one of the most dramatic golf experiences on the Black Sea coast, with fairways carved into the cliffs above the water and sea views from every hole. Designed by nine-time Major champion Gary Player, the 18-hole championship course covers around 85 hectares and follows approximately 4.5 km of rugged coastline, creating a layout that feels completely different from a conventional resort course.
The course is officially listed as a par 72 and offers five sets of tees, allowing golfers to choose a suitable challenge. Elevation changes, cliff edges, thick rough and exposed positions make accuracy and course management particularly important, while the coastal breeze can completely alter club selection from one day to the next. Multiple tee options make the course accessible to different handicaps, but stronger players will find plenty of opportunities to take on more aggressive lines.
The unforgettable highlight is the par-three 6th. Played from a clifftop tee to a green around 40 metres below, the hole is surrounded by the Black Sea and requires a carry of more than 210 metres from the back tee. It is one of those holes where the view may be just as distracting as the shot itself.
Thracian Cliffs also has serious tournament credentials. It hosted the 2013 Volvo World Match Play Championship, won by Graeme McDowell, bringing some of the world’s leading players to Bulgaria. Visiting golfers continue to rate the resort highly, with current Leading Courses feedback giving it an overall score of 8.1/10 from more than 100 reviews.
Practice facilities, a golf academy, pro shop and clubhouse complete the experience. For a longer Bulgaria golf holiday, golfers can also play nearby BlackSeaRama, another Gary Player design, and the Ian Woosnam-designed Lighthouse Golf Course, with all three forming the Cape Kaliakra Signature Golf Coast.
Varna Airport
68km
England’s best golf tour operator 2026 winner
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Time Zone:
GMT+2
Currency:
лв (Bulgarian Lev)
Temperature:
-3°C - 29°C
Cost of a Beer:
£2.20
Cost of a 3-Course Meal:
£35
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About The Area
Kavarna is one of Bulgaria’s strongest golf destinations, sitting on the rugged Northern Black Sea Coast close to Cape Kaliakra. It works especially well for golfers because three of the country’s best-known courses sit within a compact coastal area: Thracian Cliffs, BlackSeaRama and Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort.
The headline venue is Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort, located near Kavarna. Its 18-hole Gary Player Signature course is carved into dramatic coastal cliffs, with the resort describing it as one of the most scenic courses on earth. The course opened in 2011 and is famous for Black Sea views from every hole, steep elevation changes and memorable cliff-edge shot-making.
Nearby, BlackSeaRama Golf & Villas offers another Gary Player design and was Bulgaria’s first championship signature golf course. Set around 200 metres above sea level, it gives golfers sweeping views across the Black Sea from Cape Kaliakra towards Cape Galata. Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort, designed by Ian Woosnam, adds a more resort-style option nearby, making Kavarna a proper multi-course base rather than a one-round stop.
Golf around Kavarna is best from spring to autumn, with May, June, September and early October especially appealing for warm weather without the strongest summer heat. Coastal wind is part of the challenge, so controlled ball flight and smart club selection matter.
Off the course, Kavarna is all about sea views, cliffs and quieter coastal exploring. The town sits on a rocky shore around 63km north-east of Varna, with a coastline stretching over 40km. Cape Kaliakra is one of the region’s standout sights, jutting dramatically into the Black Sea close to Kavarna. Balchik, Varna and the northern coast’s beaches and restaurants are all easy additions.
For golfers seeking dramatic sea-view courses, resort comfort and one of Eastern Europe’s most memorable golf clusters, Kavarna is one of Bulgaria’s standout golf holiday bases.
