Golf Club Monticello

The Red Course, a par 72 of 6,410 metres, has according to the club always been at the top of the Italian rankings and has hosted seven editions of the Italian Open, with winners such as Billy Casper, Sam Torrance, Sandy Lyle and Greg Norman. Norman still holds, together with Costantino Rocca, the course record: 63 strokes.

The hole descriptions on the website are by the teacher Alberto Binaghi. On the Red, the 7th is presented as one of the hardest par 3s in Italy: long, with the green defended by water, where firm ground on the left sends the ball sliding into the lake. The 6th is the shortest par 4 but also the most delicate, with a lake running along the hole for the first 220 metres and thick woods on the right. The 11th is a par 5 cut into three sections by a stream.

The Blue Course is a parkland that the club calls technical, able to test different skills. What makes the difference here are the low-branched cypresses on the 2nd and 11th holes, which leave no chance of recovery to anyone ending up on the left, and the small greens split in two by steps, as at the 3rd.

The club publishes a green fee price list for guests, without stating the year. For 18 holes on weekdays the standard price is 90 euros for FIG card holders and 100 for others; on public holidays and weekends it rises to 120 and 135 euros. Nine holes cost 50 and 60 euros on weekdays. Guests of a member pay less (70 and 80 euros on weekdays), and there is an option with a teacher from the Eagle Academy, at 50 and 60 euros plus the lesson.

A golf cart costs 35 euros for nine holes and 55 for 18 for FIG card holders (45 and 60 for others), a hand trolley 6 euros, an electric one 20 and a bag 50. Before booking it is wise to confirm prices and availability with the secretary's office, since the price list is undated. The number is 031 928055.

Monticello has more than fifty years of history, over 1,500 members and 630 apartments with gardens and terraces overlooking the courses: the club speaks of “Residential Golf”. Security is entrusted to a team of twelve guards with trained dogs.

The clubhouse was designed by the architect Luigi Caccia Dominioni and has a lounge, a bistro, a terrace over the courses, a card room for bridge and burraco, a bag room with club-washing and changing rooms with an area reserved for guests. The pro shop is run with Golf'us.

The Eagle Golf Academy was founded by Alberto Binaghi, who played on the European Tour from 1986 to 2004 and has coached the national team since 2007. The club calls it a “university of golf”: Matteo Manassero chose it for training with his coach.

• A shared 63. The course record is held jointly by Greg Norman and Costantino Rocca.
• Seven Italian Opens. The first, in 1975, was won by Billy Casper.
• A course with 630 homes. The apartments of the estate overlook the courses.
• Descriptions by an insider. The notes on the holes are signed by Alberto Binaghi, a former European Tour player.