Wherever you go in Italy, you are bound to find the inimitable blend of culture, climate and cuisine that has become synonymous with the country. Even crossing the border from France into Piedmont is enough to feel the difference; the character of the place practically drips from the walls. This is as true in the countryside villages as in ancient cities like Turin and Milan, while further south awaits Florence, Rome and Naples, Pisa by the west coast and Venice to the east.
The video below offers an in-depth view of what golf in Sicily has to offer…
In search of the perfect golf break, I went a little bit further, to the southern tip of the peninsula and over the Strait of Messina. To be more accurate, I cut the corner altogether with a flight from London to one of Sicily’s four international airports: Palermo. Over the years Italy has become arguably my favourite European nation for a golfing getaway, but this region had remained unvisited until now.
It did not disappoint. The cities were picture-perfect, the beaches were spectacular and the landscapes inland – most notably around Mount Etna – were extremely beautiful. That is without mentioning the golf.
The view from the plane window as you come into land on Sicily’s north coast fails to really convey the sheer size of the island. The drive from Palermo to my first stop alone was an hour and a half, with countless towns to stop in and some incredible views the whole way. So, it may come as a surprise that there are only a handful of golf courses spread out across the 25,000 km² – for reference, that’s not much bigger than Wales.
Quality over quantity is the name of the game here, and that is evident from the moment you pull up at Verdura Resort on the southern shoreline. It was my first time in Sicily, but this incredible destination has been on my bucket list since I started working in the golf industry over 12 years ago. While a lot has changed since then – including a significant update to both championship courses that was enforced by flooding in 2018 – Verdura remains one of the most impressive golf resorts in Europe and a must-visit for anyone who loves the sport.
An aerial view of the beautiful West Course at Verdura
(Image credit: Azalea)
If you have cash to splash, you would be hard pressed to find a better golf getaway anywhere on the continent than Verdura. The headlines are, of course, the two 18-hole tracks. Kyle Phillips (the man behind modern classic links courses like the…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Golf Monthly…