Verdura Golf Club

Verdura grew out of an idea of Sir Rocco Forte: to build in Sicily the golf holiday that, by his own admission, did not exist in Europe. The project was entrusted to Kyle Phillips, the architect of Kingsbarns, who laid out two 18-hole championship courses, East and West, plus a nine-hole par 3 and a full practice area. The resort extends over 570 acres, with 1.2 miles of private coastline.

The style is that of links close to the shore, with shapes that Phillips compares to Muirfield inland, deep pot bunkers, well-spaced fairways and native Sicilian grasses. According to the architect the East measures 7,221 yards from the championship tees and the West 7,474; the aggregator Where2Golf gives par 72 for both. On the East, people remember the short par 4 of the 3rd, the seaside par 4 of the 5th, the par 3 of the 6th, the par 5 of the 14th, where the course turns toward the sea, and the 18th, a par 4 running parallel to the coast and very close to it.

In 2018, a violent flood damaged the second 18 holes: Phillips returned to redesign many holes, especially along the coast, with new greens, bunkers and turf; reopening was planned for summer 2021.

The course is part of a five-star resort and bookings go through the Rocco Forte website or the resort. The group's website could not be consulted at the time of research, so green fee, required handicap and closing days are not confirmed: they should be asked of the resort directly. Where2Golf reports, without giving the year, 150 euros for 18 holes in high season, but this is a figure to be verified.

One rule always applies: in the resort only electric vehicles circulate, so on the course too you get around this way.

The first full year of operation is 2010: the resort combines a five-star hotel and spa, 36 holes and a par 3, in a low-density concept designed not to burden the landscape. Directing the golf at launch was Niall Cameron.

Verdura has hosted the Sicilian Open of the European Tour: according to Wikipedia it was won by Raphaël Jacquelin in 2011, Thorbjørn Olesen in 2012, Álvaro Quirós in 2017 and Joakim Lagergren in 2018. The resort also has a full practice area, in addition to the nine-hole par 3.

• No engines. In the resort only electric vehicles circulate.
• Three courses in one. Besides the two 18-hole courses there is a nine-hole par 3, and a composite 7,458-yard layout joins holes from the two courses.
• The 2018 flood. After the damage, Kyle Phillips rebuilt greens, bunkers and fairways along the coast.
• An architect from Kingsbarns. Kyle Phillips also designed Kingsbarns Links and The Grove.