COURSES

Five to visit this month: High-class Italian resorts Courses of premium quality combine with a desirable climate, legendary cuisine, fine wine and convenient access to make these five complexes highly appealing to travelling golfers.

To casual observers, landing the 2022 Ryder Cup might have appeared as much a shot in the dark by the European Tour as if it had gone to Poland, Russia or Bulgaria. In fact, Italy has tremendous pedigree in the sport, and just as the 2018 Ryder Cup has helped shine a light on the wealth of courses – both traditional and modern – in France, the matches four years later ought to do the same in Italy. There are historic and modern courses established in our Top 100 and there are an increasing number of high-class resorts with a wealth of attractions on and off the course. Here are a quintet that we especially like. Bogogno, Piedmont Argentario, Tuscany Donnafugata, Grado, Friuli Venezia Castelfalfi , Tuscany

It has a Top 100 and a Top 200 course plus A luxury retreat with a superb course in the A resort where golf (via two Top 200 Tenuta Primero is a comprehensive holiday There are 27 holes at Castelfalfi golf club, WHAT IS THE an intimate hotel. It was created by the Maremma, a beautiful but still-unexplored courses) truly is the top priority. There is a resort that is renowned in Italy. It is situated while Il Castelfalfi is a fi ve-star hotel being OVERVIEW OF THIS Robert von Hagge-Rick Baril axis of Les part of Southern Tuscany. There is an spa, delightful accommodation, an infi nity in coastal woodland on a spit of land lapped built within the resort that will open in March RESORT? Bordes fame. The clubhouse food is run by emphasis on high-end style in 73 designer pool, and wonderful dining options – but by the gorgeous Adriatic Sea. Its wealth of 2017. In the meantime, you can stay at La the owner of a Michelin-starred restaurant. bedrooms and independent golf villas. Donnafugata is principally for golfers. facilties include Grado golf course. Tabaccaia and enjoy great green fee prices.

NW of Milan, close to Lake Maggiore, 30 O the E80 north of Rome, 90 minutes away Near Ragusa in the south-west corner of Near Monfalcone south of Udine, two hours’ Just over an hour’s drive south-west of WHERE WILL I FIND IT? minutes from . from the city’s Fiumicino airport. Sicily, 20 minutes from airport. drive east of Venice, close to Slovenia. Florence, close to Pontedera.

Baril rates the Del Conte highly, suggesting it An aesthetically-pleasing course designed There are two courses here, the Parkland It has echoes of the Florida everglades as a The Mountain course is close to 7,000 yards is the course where design intentions were by former European Tour player Baldovino and the Links. The former was designed by result of being routed among wetlands next and a strong strategic test laid out among WHAT KIND OF COURSE translated on site with most sophistication. Dassù and architect David Mezzacane. Its Gary Player and is a fi ne woodland-parkland to the coast. This exhilarating course is fairly mature woodland by Rainer Preismann and WILL I DISCOVER HERE? As well as the woodland Del Conte, the location on a chip of land almost completely track that hosted the European Tour. The fl at, so is a ected by wind and the fairways Wilfried Moroder. The Lake is just nine holes Bonora is a fi ne ‘second’ course – some like it surrounded by the Tyrrhenian Sea, gives it a Links by Franco Piras is spread over open, are not especially wide; it looks like holiday but is 3,500 yards and, while unquestionably every bit as much as the premier attraction. microclimate as well as uncommon beauty. crumpled terrain punctuated by water. golf, but fl ailing away will lose you balls... being picturesque, is also a proper test.

The brand-new hotel has 28 rooms, and four A 2,700m2 spa, a heated indoor swimming A spa and gym, a huge pool with views over You can choose to stay in the wooden cabins La Tabaccaia is a beautifully restored WHAT DOES IT OFFER suites overlooking the 18th, 50m from the pool, outdoor pools, a hi-tech gym and the Parkland course, four restaurants and of the campsite or in the swish marina suites. former tobacco-drying barn. There are OFF THE COURSE? clubhouse. There is a pool and a terrace with tennis courts. Dama Dama Restaurant o ers loads of style. There are lots of UNESCO The clubhouse’s food is sensational – and the swimming pools, tennis courts, guided (£240). a Jacuzzi as well as four villas to rent. Tuscan food using produce grown on site. World Heritage Sites to explore nearby too. non-golf leisure facilities are endless! trekking, bike rental, yoga and a spa.

Two nights in a double room and two green A three-night package with green fees, two spa We like €206 per room per night in the last Six stay in a cabin for £760 in July – or just All La Tabaccaia guests receive signifi cant WHAT DOES IT COST? fees (Del Conte & Bonora) for €310pp. treatments and a welcome dinner from €558pp. week August. Includes a daily hour in the spa. £265 in September (when it will be warm). green fee discounts at Castelfalfi .

Iles Borromées, Varese & Le Robinie are close Circolo de Golfe Roma, Sheraton Parco de Top 100 course Verdura East and its sister Lignano is 45 minutes back towards Venice, Several lower-key options: San Miniato by. Top 100 tracks Castelconturbia (10 mins), Medici Rome and 2022 Ryder Cup host course the West, a Top 200 course, are up which in itself has numerous and historic and Montelupo are closest to the north ARE THERE ANY OTHER Biella la Betulle (50 mins) and Royal Park (in Marco Simone are all in Rome while midway the coast while I Monasteri is to the east – courses as well as obvious non-golf appeal. while Dell’Ugolino is NW. La Bagnaia is GOOD COURSES NEARBY? Turin, 70 mins) are to the west while Villa between there and Argentario is highly- both are highly accessible from Donnafugata. Or cross the border to breathtaking Slovenia near Siena-Grosseto and Pelagone near d’Este is 50 minutes NE, near Lake Como. rated Golf Nazionale plus Terre dei Consoli. Il Picciolo is in the north-east corner. to Lipica and Trieste (60 minutes). Follonica to the south. Tirrenia is to west.

t: +39 0322 864137 t: +39 0564 810292 t: +39 0932 914200 t: +39 0431 896896 t: +39 0571 891000 CONTACT DETAILS w: bogognogolfresort.com w: argentariogolfresortspa.it w: donnafugatagolfresort.com w: golfgrado.com w: castelfalfi .com e: [email protected] e: [email protected] e: [email protected] e: [email protected] e: via website

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