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GM | PROMOTION ITALY A TREASURE HAUL | SHORT TROVE OF GREAT GOLF Every part of Italy is blessed with superb courses and facilities. Here, we explore the golfing treats to be found in Lazio, Puglia and Sicily... ITALY LAZIO azio boasts 250 miles of facilities, nine 18-hole courses, a golf Parco di Roma Golf & Country Club Marco Simone Golf & Fiumicino is 18 miles to the south-west coast and is mainly hilly academy and five nine-holers. has an 18-hole course designed by PB Country Club of Rome, while the smaller Ciampino, L with small mountainous Circolo del Golf di Roma Acquasanta, Dye. It makes much use of water and served mainly by low-cost airlines, is areas, especially in its which dates from 1903, is the oldest sand and has been a venue on the about nine miles south-east. There are most eastern and southern parts. It is club in Italy. In its early days, members Ladies’ European Tour circuit. About direct flights to Rome from Heathrow, also the Italian region with the greatest were mainly British and American eight miles from Rome city centre and Stansted, Gatwick, East Midlands, number of lakes – a wealth of water diplomats, and until 1929, AGM minutes 12 miles from Fiumicino airport, Golf Bristol, Leeds, Manchester and Dublin. that for centuries has been vital for both were written in English. Club Parco De’Medici has 27 holes and Any golf experience can be enriched economy and society. In October last year, the Challenge is part of a Sheraton resort. It, too, has by exploring the region’s outstanding There are lakes of many types, from Tour visited Terre dei Consoli, 20 miles hosted the Ladies’ European Tour. cultural and artistic heritage. Rome is a LAZIO coastal and volcanic to karst, offering north of Rome, with Swede Johan Rome has two airports: Leonardo da vast open-air museum and the Vatican PUGLIA charming landscapes and opportunities Edfors claiming the trophy. This Robert Vinci – or ‘Fiumicino’ – and Ciampino. Parco dei Medici City has some extraordinary treasures. for activities such as sailing, fishing Trent Jones II design opened in 2013 But you may prefer to relax on and bird watching. The fascinating and plays over rolling terrain and Lazio’s wonderful beaches, take the archipelago of the Pontine Islands is through natural wetlands. ferry out to the Pontine Islands, or visit also part of Lazio and lies opposite its The 27-hole Olgiata Golf Club, just Rainbow Magic Land or Zoomarine southern coast. outside Rome to the north-west, Waterpark. Alternatively, a tour of Thanks to its favourable climate, opened in 1962. Tony Jacklin won the Viterbo medieval district and a day Lazio offers golfers the opportunity to Italian Open here in 1973, as did Ian relaxing in the Spa of the Popes may play all year round. Its clubs are spread Poulter in 2004. Golf Nazionale staged take your fancy... or maybe a visit to SICILY around the region’s main cities – Rome, the World Cup in 1991, a year after Castelli Romani’s wine cellars will prove Viterbo, Rieti, Frosinone and Latina. opening, while Marco Simone Golf & a refreshing holiday experience. In total, Lazio boasts two 27-hole golf Country Club has the ultimate honour of For more information, check out playing host to the Ryder Cup in 2022. visitlazio.com www.italygolfandmore.com 50 51 GM PROMOTION SHORT HAUL | SHORT ITALY PUGLIA SICILY uglia boasts an extremely dotted about. The back nine features Acaya Golf coming in one hole – the monster his beautiful island International Airport and 70 miles from mild climate meaning expanses of water and sand on what is 604-yard 2nd, which doglegs to the is the largest in the Catania International Airport. In addition P golf can be played here fairly open terrain. The club prides itself right late on. It isn’t even stroke index T Mediterranean and during to providing 36 enjoyable holes, the all through the year. It on its practice facilities, with a driving one – that is the 484-yard par-4 13th. To its fascinating history it has resort makes a good base to explore is a special place for golf enthusiasts range, two chipping greens and two balance things a little, four of the other been a Greek colony, a Phoenician city, the beautiful towns of the Val di Noto too, with its beguiling combination putting greens. par 4s are less than 340 yards. But just a Roman province, a Byzantine area, an – the cradle of Sicilian Baroque. These of historic surroundings and natural Just outside Bari, Barialto Golf Club one of the par 3s is under 198 yards! Arab emirate and a Norman kingdom. include Ragusa, Noto, Ragusa Ibla, features. The region’s numerous artistic is attached to a small four-star hotel. San Domenico Golf Club nestles It is one of the world’s most beautiful Modica and Scicli, as well as beautiful and cultural attractions offer the chance The course opened in 1997 and is fairly between the ancient city of Egnathiam, golf destinations with the climate seaside locations such as Marina di of a peaceful breather between rounds. compact. It twists around five reed- dating from the 5th-century BC, and the allowing play all year round. Sicily Modica, Marina di Ragusa and Porto Puglia is a coastal region of southern fringed, lily-covered lakes – ten of Savelletri marina. The layout is flanked is also a place where the mountains Palo di Capopassero. Italy, with the Adriatic Sea on its eastern the holes have water on them – while by the Adriatic and has a links feel to it, meet the sea, and is home to heavenly Set in the heart of Palermo, in an coast, the Ionian Sea on its south- weaving through ancient olive groves, with the wind playing a key role in its beaches and majestic mountains. Mount 18th-century park with fountains, eastern coast and the Strait of Òtranto palm trees and umbrella pines. defences. From the 8th you can see part Etna is Europe’s largest active volcano monuments and historic trees, lies and Gulf of Taranto to the south. Its The par-70 layout measures 6,262 of the necropolis – a site where ruins and one of the main tourist attractions. Villa Airoldi Golf Club. Le Saie Golf Top: Donnafugata Golf The food is typically Mediterranean lower section, the Salento peninsula, yards, with almost a tenth of its yardage San Domenico dating from the 5th-century BC to the If you want a superb close-up view Club is situated in the beautiful Gulf Resort. Above: The with strong hints of Arabic and Spanish Picciolo Etna Golf Resort forms the heel of Italy’s ‘boot’. 3rd-century AD have been discovered. of Mount Etna – one of nine UNESCO of Catania close to the Simeto Oasis flavours. Sicilians have very sweet teeth The region’s capital is Bari, with the Riva dei Tessali Resort, on the coast World Heritage Sites on the island – Natural Reserve. It opened in 2014 and and are among the best dessert makers Bari Karol Wojtyla airport, also known near Taranto, has hosted the European head to Picciolo Etna Golf Resort. Its is recognised as a high-quality course in Italy. Try ‘cannoli’, ‘granita’ and their as Palese, about five miles north-west of Challenge Tour on a layout carved course is laid out on the slopes of Etna. on Sicily’s east coast. most famous export, ‘cassata’. the city centre. There are direct flights through dense pine forest, so accuracy You can also enjoy excursions to explore Golf Club Siracusa Sicily ‘I Monasteri’ As for drinks, Sicilians enjoy a fruity from Gatwick, Stansted and Dublin, is at a premium here. the vineyards, orchards and typical is in the south-eastern part of Sicily liqueur called ‘Limoncello’. The island while Brindisi–Salento airport also has For those who prefer a little more Mediterranean vegetation of Mount between Syracuse and Noto. Tourists is also home to more vineyards than direct flights from Manchester, Stansted leeway off the tee, nearby Metaponto Etna’s beautiful landscape here. here can visit the Pantalica rock any other Italian region and has one of and Gatwick. features wider fairways playing through Verdura Resort has 45 holes situated necropolis and the Sicilian Baroque Italy’s most progressive wine industries. About 45 minutes from Brindisi sparsely planted olive and citrus groves. in the valley of the River Verdura and area, or swim in crystal-clear waters and There are direct flights to Catania airport, in the heart of Salento, is Acaya But even here you can’t be too wayward laid out between olive and lemon trees. sunbathe on brilliant white beaches. from Birmingham, Bristol, Gatwick, Golf & Spa Resort. Within a few miles of as water crops up on ten holes, It is a luxury oasis immersed in the The island offers a wide range of Stansted, Luton, Manchester and Dublin; this Hilton locale is the Baroque town of and the undulating greens demand peace of the Sicilian countryside, away activities and can be considered the to Palermo from Gatwick and Dublin; Lecce with its host of famous beaches. concentration and deftness of touch. from more traditional tourist routes. Mediterranean’s top destination for golf, and to Comiso from Dublin. The opening holes at Acaya have a For more information, visit Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa history, art, gastronomy, areas of natural For more information, visit regione. heathland feel due to the heather that’s viaggiareinpuglia.it lies about ten miles from Comiso beauty, and much more. sicilia.it/turismo and visitsicily.info www.italygolfandmore.com 52 53.

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