At the 5th hole of Il Picciolo you tee off from boxes set into lava; 258 kilometres away, on the south-west coast, Verdura has, according to the resort, a links with not a single building along the holes. One week, two resorts, two opposite ways of playing in Sicily.
Sicily for golfers has two poles at opposite ends of the island. In Sciacca, on the southern coast, stands Verdura, with three Kyle Phillips courses overlooking the Mediterranean. In Castiglione di Sicilia, on the northern slope of Etna, stands Il Picciolo, the Luigi Rota Caremoli course opened in 1989 where lava stone comes into play. Between the two lie about 258 kilometres and, by car, about 3 hours 48 minutes without traffic: enough to build a week in which the scenery changes halfway through, with a stop at the Valley of the Temples.
The week is built around these two resorts. The island's third big name, Donnafugata, in Ragusa, which hosted the European Tour's Sicilian Open in 2011, is not currently presented as an open facility: the owners, in a statement of 15 June 2026, describe it as a "future development" that will enrich the destination in 2027. Driving times are estimates without traffic.
7-day itinerary: the programme at a glance
| Day | Programme | Travel |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival in Palermo, transfer to Verdura | about 80 minutes (according to the resort) |
| 2 | East Links | at the resort |
| 3 | West Shore, spa, Sciacca | at the resort |
| 4 | Free: lesson at the Performance Centre, or Valley of the Temples | 66 minutes |
| 5 | Verdura, Valley of the Temples, Etna | 66 + 163 minutes |
| 6 | Il Picciolo, 18 holes | at the resort |
| 7 | Etna or Taormina, departure from Catania | about 25 minutes to Taormina |
Days 1–4: Verdura, three Kyle Phillips courses by the sea
The resort. Verdura Resort opened in 2009 with interiors by Olga Polizzi and has 203 rooms, plus 20 private villas. The name comes from the family that owned the land: the last duke was a cousin of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, which is why every room holds a copy of The Leopard. From Palermo airport it takes about 80 minutes, as from Trapani; from Catania about three hours.
The three courses. Verdura Golf has three Kyle Phillips layouts: the East Links, a par 73 of 6,763 metres renovated under Phillips's own supervision; the West Shore, a par 70 of 6,547 metres; and the Executive, a nine-hole par 3 course. The resort spreads over an estate with almost two kilometres of private coastline and, according to the hotel, not a single building stands along the holes, only orange and olive groves. Here the European Tour played the Rocco Forte Sicilian Open, won in 2018 by Joakim Lagergren, who said the sea is visible "from almost every hole".
Course status in October 2026. This is the point to check before booking. According to the resort, as of 3 October 2026 the East Links is open without restrictions; the West Shore is open, but Bermuda grass is being introduced and until spring 2027 some areas may not be in the best condition; the Executive is closed for the same works until spring 2027. Anyone travelling in autumn will therefore mostly play the East Links.
Day 2: East Links. The main round of the stay, on the course the resort renovated under Phillips's supervision. The academy has two PGA professionals and a junior programme for ages 6 to 16, useful for those travelling with teenagers.
Day 3: West Shore and Sciacca. Morning on the West Shore, bearing in mind the note above; afternoon at the Irene Forte Spa, 4,000 square metres with four outdoor seawater thalassotherapy pools. Alternatively, head into the town of Sciacca: it is, according to Wikipedia, the oldest spa town in Sicily, with a fishing port, a ceramics tradition and a historic carnival.
Day 4: free. The resort's Performance Centre, which Rocco Forte presents as the only one in Italy approved by the European Tour, has two studios with Trackman, SAM PuttLab and club fitting. Or devote the day to the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento: it is about 66 minutes (50 kilometres) by road from the estate, and the park, a UNESCO site since 1997, preserves among others the temples of Concordia and Juno.
Where to dine. The best-known name is Nagori, the Japanese-Sicilian cuisine of Fulvio Pierangelini housed in a Saracen tower, open for dinner from June to October. The other venues range from Zagara, with a sea view, to Amare for fish.
The golf package. The Golf Inclusive Offer includes two green fees per room per night on the Links or the Shore, use of the practice range and a 30-minute lesson with Trackman.
Day 5: from Sciacca to the Valley of the Temples and Etna
The transfer leg is long, but it breaks up well. From the Verdura estate to the Valley of the Temples it takes about 66 minutes: the archaeological park, on the plateau at the foot of Agrigento, has eleven Doric temples built between the 6th and 2nd centuries BC. From the Valley to Il Picciolo it is about 163 minutes (209 kilometres): an afternoon's drive that leads to the flank of Etna, the volcano that UNESCO added to the World Heritage List on 21 June 2013 and whose summit, according to measurements from September 2024, exceeds 3,400 metres (it changes with every eruption). Those who prefer to skip the stop can drive straight through: from Verdura to Il Picciolo it takes about 228 minutes (258 kilometres).
Days 6–7: Il Picciolo, a lava course and resort on Etna
Il Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & SPA, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, has 100 rooms. The "Etna" rooms have a balcony facing the volcano and the vineyards, almost all the others look onto the course; there are no sea-view rooms, because the coast is about 25 minutes away. It has a 940-square-metre spa and two restaurants: La Ghiandaia and, for Etna DOC wines, Olio & Vino. There is no kids' club for families.
The course. Picciolo Golf Club is a par 72 of 5,870 metres on 44 hectares of rolling terrain. Lava is part of the game: the tee boxes on the 5th are set into the stone, the 7th is a par 5 with a double uphill dogleg and the green guarded by an ancient lava flow, on the 14th anyone who comes up short with the drive plays a blind approach, over a stone field, with the lake just behind the green. The 15th is the respite: a par 3 in a natural amphitheatre with Etna in the background.
How to play. The green fee is reserved for those with a certified handicap or a green card. The price list published in 2026 provides for 110 euros for 18 holes for outside players and 90 for resort guests; the golf cart costs 50 euros and the hand trolley is included. The Golf Escape package, on sale from 28 March to 9 November, combines stays of 3, 5 or 7 nights with breakfast and discounted green fees.
Day 7: Etna and Taormina. Before the flight there is time for the coast: Taormina is about 25 minutes away, Linguaglossa 8. About 100 metres from the hotel there is a stop on the Circumetnea, line A1 Randazzo–Catania, which makes it possible to reach Catania without a car. Catania airport is about 60 kilometres away (the hotel transfer starts at 140 euros depending on the number of people).
When to go and what changes in the programme
Il Picciolo publishes opening hours for the whole year: from 8 am to 5 pm in winter, from 8 am to 7 pm in summer; the Golf Escape is on sale from 28 March to 9 November. Verdura keeps the clubhouse and all golf services open even in winter, but the turf replacement works until spring 2027 suggest focusing on the East Links for that period. For a week after spring 2027 it is advisable to ask the resort about the status of the courses.
Curiosities about Sicilian golf
- No engines at Verdura. The resort is low-density: guests get around in electric vehicles.
- Tees in the lava. At Il Picciolo, on the 5th hole, you tee off from boxes set into lava stone.
- The Leopard in your room. At Verdura every room has a copy of the novel.
- Five opens. In little more than twenty years Il Picciolo has hosted five opens, among them the Ladies Italian Open and the European Senior Open.
Frequently asked questions
Which courses can a week of golf in Sicily be built around?+
The two resorts at opposite ends of the island: Verdura in Sciacca and Il Picciolo in Castiglione di Sicilia. They are about 258 kilometres apart (3 hours 48 minutes, an estimate without traffic).
Are all the Verdura courses open in 2026?+
No. According to the resort, as of 3 October 2026 the East Links is open, the West Shore is open but with turf works until spring 2027, and the nine-hole Executive is closed until spring 2027.
How much does it cost to play at Il Picciolo?+
The 2026 price list provides for 110 euros for 18 holes for outside players and 90 euros for resort guests. A certified handicap or green card is required.
Which airport is the most convenient for Verdura?+
Palermo and Trapani are about 80 minutes away, Catania about three hours, according to the resort.
How far is Il Picciolo from Catania airport?+
About 60 kilometres according to the hotel; the transfer starts at 140 euros depending on the number of people.
Do you need a car for the week?+
For the transfer from Sciacca to Etna a rental car is advisable. Once at Il Picciolo, the Circumetnea has a stop about 100 metres from the hotel.
