A golf day in Tuscany with wine at the end.

What makes Golf & Wine at the Medici House a standout is the flow of the day. You start with golf basics and practice, then play a full round on a challenging course, and finally you switch gears to a classic Tuscan meal with wine pairing guidance.

I especially like the hands-on feel you get from the included dedicated caddy and provided equipment, so you spend less time figuring things out and more time enjoying the course. I also love that lunch is served right at the 9th hole, then dinner and tasting happen after golf at the 19th hole setup.

The main thing to consider is logistics on a long, weather-dependent day. You will need good weather, and golf shoes are not included, so pack accordingly if you do not already have them.

Key points before you book

• 18 holes with a dedicated caddy and a cart for the round, so you get help and you do not walk the whole course
• Driving range access with unlimited balls, great for warming up or working on a few shots
• Light lunch at the 9th hole, plus a welcome coffee to start the day
• Tuscan dinner and wine tasting with a sommelier, including 4 wines paired with Chianti and Mugello
• Locker, shower, and towel access, so you can freshen up after golf
• Private transportation and a private experience, only your group participates

Golf on a Tuscany course, with a caddy doing the heavy lifting

This experience is designed for a full day, not a quick tour snack. You are playing 18 holes, and you get a dedicated caddy, which changes the whole feel of golf here. Instead of you trying to read the terrain on your own, you get on-the-ground support as you go hole by hole.

The caddy angle matters because the course is described as beautiful and challenging. That is exactly where having a guide helps, whether you are improving your aim or you just want a smoother rhythm.

You also get a cart for the round. That is a quiet but practical benefit. It keeps the day comfortable, especially if you are coming from Florence early and want to save energy for the last holes.

From Porta al Prato to Mugello: your morning run-up

The day starts early, with a 8:30 am start time. The meeting point is Porta al Prato, Florence (Firenze FI), and pickup is offered at Stazione Leopolda.

From there, you travel to Scarperia e San Piero. This is where Mugello culture shows up in the food and the slower pace, and it is a smart contrast to the city. A private transfer also helps. You are not sorting seats, waiting for other groups, or timing your own bus connections.

The morning begins with a welcome coffee. It sounds small, but for a sport day that starts early, it sets a calmer tone. You can use it to wake up, then gear up for practice and the first holes.

Hitting the driving range: unlimited balls, fewer regrets

Before you play, you get entrance to the driving range with unlimited use of balls. This is a big deal because practice time is often where the day either feels smooth or feels rushed.

If you are even a little rusty, use this window to test your swing and check distances. If you are confident, you can still use it to fine-tune a couple of clubs before you start chasing fairways.

You are also provided complete golf equipment, including irons and five golf balls as part of the set. You are not stuck without gear, which is great if you are traveling light or you only play occasionally.

One note to keep in mind: extra golf balls are not included if you use up the provided ones. They can be bought for €10 per booking. So if you tend to take lots of swings, you may want to pace yourself at the range.

Your 18-hole rhythm: practice first, then lunch at the 9th

Once you step onto the course, the day follows a classic golf pattern with a food break built in. You will play 18 holes, and the experience includes entrance to the course for your 18-hole play.

The clever part is the pacing around food. A light lunch is served directly at the 9th hole. Instead of dragging you back to a clubhouse far away and breaking your momentum, the meal happens in the middle of the round.

That mid-round timing is also helpful if you want to avoid the kind of lunch that makes the afternoon feel heavy. You get a light reset, then you stay in the swing mentally and physically.

You will likely feel the course’s challenge in the back half. That is where having a dedicated caddy and a cart really pays off, especially if some holes require more strategy than pure power.

The 19th hole at the Medici House: dinner, then wine pairing guidance

After you play, you move to the 19th hole experience. This is when the food and wine side of the day becomes the main event.

You are treated to a Tuscan dinner with typical products and an organic emphasis in the description. The dinner includes a Tuscan appetizer with cold cuts, mixed croutons, and cheeses. Then there is pasta and dessert.

After the meal setup, you get a wine tasting guided by a sommelier. You get 4 wines paired with Chianti and Mugello. That pairing structure is especially valuable because it gives you a framework. You can taste with purpose instead of just sampling and hoping one bottle matches the mood.

This is the part many people remember as the peak of the day. The strong feedback focuses on the wine tasting and the dinner as a perfect ending, and it is easy to see why. You finish the physical work of the morning, then you sit down for a meal that feels fully integrated with the setting.

What you’ll eat at lunch: Mugello classics, not filler

Lunch at the 9th hole is described as light, and the menu is clearly rooted in Mugello cooking.

Your lunch options include tortelli mugellani or pappardelle with porcini mushrooms. If you come to Mugello, you cannot leave without tasting one of these delicacies. That is not vague marketing language, it is a real statement of local identity.

Here is why this matters for your day. If you are spending hours on the course, you do not want a random sandwich that could be eaten anywhere. You want flavors that feel like they belong to this specific region, and these dishes do that.

Portion size is not spelled out, so plan to treat it as a golf-friendly reset, not a full-blown late lunch. Then the dinner later will do the heavy lifting on the meal side.

Wine tasting with a sommelier: how to get more from the glass

A guided wine tasting is different from a free-for-all. A sommelier leads you through the bottles and helps you connect what you taste to the wines and the pairing choices.

Because you are tasting 4 wines paired with Chianti and Mugello, you can compare the styles rather than just collecting sips. This turns wine tasting into a learning moment without turning it into a lecture.

If you want to make the tasting enjoyable, pace yourself and pay attention to the order. The first few sips set your expectations, and later pours start to show how the wines shift as your palate adapts.

Also, save room mentally for the fact that golf lasts all morning. By the time dinner arrives, your body has already done a lot. That is when wine and food feel most satisfying, not when you are still half asleep in the city.

Facilities that make it easier to stay fresh

Golf can mean sweat, dust, and a long day. This tour includes access to a changing room with locker, shower, and towel.

That is a practical inclusion that many people underestimate. After a round, you want to clean up so the dinner side feels comfortable, not sticky and rushed. The towel and shower access also makes the private day feel more complete, like you are being taken care of rather than just dropped off.

Plus, using the cart for the round means you are less likely to feel drained. So the facilities become the finishing touch that helps you enjoy the meal portion with a better mood.

Price and value: what you pay for, and what you get back

The price is $710.09 per person, for a day that runs about 10 hours. That sounds steep until you break down the included pieces.

You are getting:

• 18-hole course entrance
• a dedicated caddy
• a cart for 18 holes
• complete golf equipment, plus driving range access with unlimited balls
• private transportation from Florence area pickup
• welcome coffee, light lunch with drinks at the 9th hole
• Tuscan dinner with appetizer, pasta, dessert
• a wine tasting led by a sommelier with 4 wines paired with Chianti and Mugello
• changing room access with locker, shower, and towel

In other words, you are paying for an all-in-one day where golf gear, instruction support, transport, and a serious food and wine program are bundled together. If you were to arrange golf instruction, transportation, a full meal, and a wine tasting day on your own, the total often gets messy fast.

What makes this feel like real value is the integration. The lunch is scheduled into the round. The dinner and tasting happen at the 19th hole moment, so it feels like the day has a natural arc instead of turning into a separate activity block.

Who this is best for, and who should rethink it

This is best for people who want a sport day that does not ignore the local food and wine. You will enjoy it most if you are comfortable spending most of the day outdoors, and you like the idea of ending with a guided tasting.

It also suits first-timers and intermediate golfers. The caddy and provided equipment reduce friction, and the cart helps you keep the focus on the course rather than the physical grind.

If you are traveling with someone who does not golf much, this is trickier to justify. The core experience is the 18-hole play, and the lunch and dinner are built around that schedule.

Also think about shoe planning. Golf shoes are not included, so bring your own if you have them. If you do not, make sure you can get to the point where you can wear appropriate footwear.

Practical notes for a smooth day

The experience is described as private, with only your group participating. That matters because it usually means fewer timing headaches and a more tailored pace.

English is offered, so you should be able to follow the day and the tasting guidance without guessing. Service animals are allowed, and the activity is near public transportation, which can help if you are coordinating your own timing.

Weather matters. The day requires good weather. If conditions are poor, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. That is worth building into your Florence plan, especially if you have tight scheduling.

Should you book Golf and Wine at the Medici House?

Book it if you want a true Tuscany day that connects the golf course to regional food and wine. The biggest strengths are the structure of the day, the included caddy and cart, and the fact that the dinner and sommelier-led tasting feel like a real program, not a token add-on.

Skip it or rethink it if you hate long days, you are not a golf person, or you are not able to plan for golf shoes. Also, if your schedule is so tight you cannot flex for weather, you may want a backup plan.

If you can handle an early start and you like the sound of Mugello food choices like tortelli mugellani or porcini pappardelle, this is the kind of day that turns into a story you keep telling.

FAQ

What time does the experience start?

It starts at 8:30 am.

Where do I meet the group in Florence?

You meet at Porta al Prato, Firenze FI, Italy.

Is pickup offered?

Yes. Pickup is offered at Stazione Leopolda.

How long is the experience?

It lasts about 10 hours.

What golf equipment and course access are included?

You get complete golf equipment, entrance to the driving range with unlimited balls, and entrance to the course for 18-hole play. You also have a cart for the round and a dedicated caddy.

What are lunch and dinner like?

Lunch is a light lunch served at the 9th hole, with drinks included. Dinner includes a Tuscan appetizer, pasta, dessert, and wines paired with Chianti and Mugello.

Is wine tasting included, and who leads it?

Yes. Wine tasting is included and is guided by a sommelier. You get 4 wines.

What should I bring, since some items are not included?

Golf shoes and a golf glove are not included. If you run out of the balls provided, extra golf balls cost €10.00 per booking. Also plan for good weather since the experience requires it.