Sir Rocco Forte wanted a golf holiday in Sicily of the kind that, by his own admission, did not exist in Europe, and at Sciacca he got 45 holes without a single petrol engine. On Sicily's south-western coast, the architect of Kingsbarns designed 45 holes across 570 acres of orange groves, olive groves and sea.
Sir Rocco Forte wanted to build in Sicily the golf holiday that, by his own admission, did not exist in Europe. The result is Verdura, in Sciacca: a resort of 570 acres, with about 1.2 miles of private coastline, where Kyle Phillips, the architect of Kingsbarns Links and The Grove, designed two 18-hole championship courses and a par-3 nine-holer.
A low-density project, without engines
Verdura had its first full year of operation in March 2010 and presents itself as a low-density resort: few buildings, no houses along the holes, only orange and olive groves, according to the resort. Only electric vehicles circulate on the estate, and that applies to the course too. At launch, golf was run by Niall Cameron.
The estate takes its name from the Verdura family, the former owners of the land, and from the river that runs through it. The last duke was a cousin of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, which is why every room holds a copy of The Leopard.
The courses: seaside links, Muirfield inland
The style is that of the links by the shore. According to Phillips, inland the shapes recall Muirfield, with deep pot bunkers, well-spaced fairways and native Sicilian grasses. By the architect's measurements, the East is 7,221 yards from the championship tees and the West 7,474 yards.
According to the resort, the three courses today are as follows:
| Course | Features | Par |
|---|---|---|
| East Links | 18 holes, renovated under Phillips's supervision | 73 |
| West Shore | 18 holes | 70 |
| Executive | nine holes | par 3 |
On the East, the memorable holes are the short par 4 at the 3rd, the seaside par 4 at the 5th, the par 3 at the 6th, the par 5 at the 14th, where the course turns towards the sea, and the 18th, a par 4 running parallel to the coast and very close to it.
The 2018 flood and the rebuild
In 2018 a violent flood damaged the second 18 holes. Phillips returned to redesign many holes, above all along the coast, with new greens, bunkers and turf. Reopening was planned for summer 2021.
The Sicilian Open
Verdura hosted the European Tour's Sicilian Open: according to Wikipedia it was won by Raphaël Jacquelin in 2011, Thorbjørn Olesen in 2012, Álvaro Quirós in 2017 and Joakim Lagergren in 2018. Lagergren said, according to the resort, that at Verdura the sea can be seen "from almost every hole".
The state of the courses in October 2026
Here is the most useful fact for anyone booking. As of 3 October 2026, according to the resort, the East Links is open without restrictions; the West Shore is open, but the Bermuda grass is being introduced, so until spring 2027 some areas may not be in the best condition; the Executive remains closed for the same works until spring 2027. Before choosing your dates, it is worth asking the resort for the up-to-date state of the courses.
Playing and staying at Verdura
Tee times are booked online. 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 Trackman lesson. The resort does not publish the green fee for non-residents: an aggregator reports, without giving the year, 150 euros in high season, and it is worth asking the resort to confirm.
The academy has two PGA professionals and a junior programme for ages 6 to 16. The Performance Centre has two studios with Trackman, SAM PuttLab and club fitting; Rocco Forte presents it as the only one in Italy approved by the European Tour. The practice range, open on two sides, has new covered bays, and balls are free for guests.
For accommodation there is Verdura Resort: 203 rooms, including 15 junior suites and 35 suites, plus 20 private villas. The Irene Forte Spa covers 4,000 m² with four outdoor thalassotherapy pools. The best-known restaurant is Nagori, Japanese-Sicilian cuisine by Fulvio Pierangelini, in the old Saracen tower, open for dinner from June to October.
Other Sicilian courses to compare
Anyone wanting a second round in Sicily will find Il Picciolo, at the foot of Etna: an 18-hole par 72 dating from 1989, which according to the club was the first 18-hole par 72 built on the island. The resort is the Il Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa, with the green fee for guests at 90 euros instead of 110. For a comparison with big tournament golf, there is Marco Simone, host of the 2023 Ryder Cup.
Curiosities
- A links without houses. According to the resort, there is not a single building along the holes.
- Three courses, one composite. Besides the two 18-hole courses there is the par-3 nine-holer, and a composite layout of 7,458 yards combines holes from the two courses.
- The restaurant's name. Nagori, in Japanese, denotes the end of the season of a fruit or vegetable and the nostalgia it leaves behind.
- The wind. The Scirocco Bar takes its name from the wind that blows into Sicily from North Africa.
Frequently asked questions
How many holes does Verdura have?+
Forty-five: two 18-hole courses, East Links and West Shore, and a nine-hole Executive, all designed by Kyle Phillips.
Who designed the courses at Verdura?+
Kyle Phillips, the architect of Kingsbarns Links and The Grove. After the 2018 flood he returned to redesign many holes, above all along the coast.
Which Verdura courses are open today?+
As of 3 October 2026 the East is open, the West is open with works for the Bermuda grass, and the Executive is closed until spring 2027, according to the resort.
Can you play without staying at the resort?+
Tee times are booked online; green fees and conditions for non-guests must be requested from the resort.
How much does it cost to play at Verdura?+
Guests have the Golf Inclusive Offer with two green fees per room per night. For everyone else the resort does not publish a price; an aggregator reports 150 euros in high season, without a year.
Who won the Sicilian Open at Verdura?+
According to Wikipedia, Raphaël Jacquelin in 2011, Thorbjørn Olesen in 2012, Álvaro Quirós in 2017 and Joakim Lagergren in 2018.
How do you get around the resort?+
By electric vehicle: petrol-engined cars may not circulate within the resort.
