The Crete Golf Club is the island’s only 18-hole course built to international championship standards. Bob Hunt’s par-71 design measures 5,740 metres and occupies mountainous ground above Hersonissos, approximately 15 minutes from Heraklion Airport. Rather than copying the lush look of a conventional beach resort, the holes have been sculpted in a rugged, desert-style landscape that retains the colours, rock and native character of the Cretan hills.

Wide views do not mean a simple round. Elevation changes alter both distance and perspective, doglegs reward an accurate starting line, and ravines or rough can turn an ambitious shot into a difficult recovery. The uphill first asks for an extra club immediately, while the short second presents an early risk-and-reward decision. The par-three sixth is the signature hole and looks more intimidating from the tee than its playing distance suggests. At the seventh, golfers must carry a ravine but should resist over-hitting once they understand the true yardage.

The ninth is identified by the club as the toughest hole, with a long uphill approach. On the back nine, the eleventh provides one of the round’s defining views towards the Lasithi Mountains and surrounding countryside. Elevated greens, two-tier putting surfaces and changing ground continue to test distance control, before a relatively short par four offers a more inviting finish at the eighteenth. The choice of tee is important: a suitable forward position keeps the carries enjoyable, while the back markers expose more of Hunt’s intended challenge.

The course originally opened in 2003 and later underwent extensive modernisation before reopening in 2015. Practice and coaching are available, including the Aegean Golf Academy, while the clubhouse provides changing, dining and social facilities. Visitors should reserve any club or buggy hire, confirm handicap and dress requirements, and check maintenance schedules before travel. Warm conditions also make water, sun protection and sensible start times part of good trip planning.

Early tee times can be especially attractive during the hottest summer weeks.

Crete Golf Club Hotel sits beside the course with 25 spacious suites, a pool and restaurant. That proximity makes a second round practical rather than repetitive: players can change tees, adjust strategy after seeing the ravines and make more informed approach decisions. The course suits golfers attracted to sunshine, unusual terrain and a quieter island setting. Hashtag Golf Travel can package it as a focused short break or build a longer Crete stay with time for Hersonissos, Heraklion, Knossos and the north-coast beaches between rounds.