The last Duke of Verdura was a cousin of the author of The Leopard, and every room in the resort holds a copy of the book. On the other side of the island, at the foot of Etna, the tees of one hole are set into the lava. Two five-star golf hotels, on opposite sides of the island.
Sicily has a great deal to offer the traveller, and for golf two addresses stand out: in both, the course lies within the grounds of a five-star hotel, on opposite sides of the island. The state of the courses changes through the season: the Verdura information given here is up to date as of 3 October 2026.
Verdura and Il Picciolo compared
| Verdura Resort | Il Picciolo Etna Golf Resort | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | Sciacca, south-west coast | Castiglione di Sicilia, at the foot of Etna |
| Course | 45 holes by Kyle Phillips | 18 holes, par 72, Luigi Rota Caremoli, 1989 |
| Character | Seaside links and an inland course with pot bunkers | Hilly, with lava as the hazard |
| Rooms | 203, including 50 suites, and 20 villas | 100 rooms and suites |
| Airports | Palermo and Trapani 80 minutes, Catania about 3 hours | Catania about 60 km |
| Sea | On the estate, with almost two kilometres of private coastline | About 25 minutes by car |
Verdura Resort: 45 holes and a resort without engines
Verdura Resort opened in 2009, with interiors by Olga Polizzi, and is Rocco Forte's Sicilian resort. Golf is the reason many people come: three courses designed by Kyle Phillips, the architect of Kingsbarns, across 570 acres with more than a mile of private coastline. There are two 18-hole courses, East Links and West Shore, plus a nine-hole executive course. Motor vehicles are banned across the whole estate: guests get around only in electric vehicles, on the course as well.
The state of the courses on 3 October 2026 is something to know before booking. 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 remains closed until the same date. The resort states that this winter the clubhouse and all golf services remain open.
Tee times are booked online. The Golf Inclusive Offer includes two green fees per room per night on the Links or the Shore, the practice range and a 30-minute lesson with Trackman. The 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; the academy has two PGA professionals and a junior programme for ages 6 to 16. The European Tour's Sicilian Open was played here, won in 2018 by Joakim Lagergren.
Off the course, the Irene Forte Spa covers 4,000 m² with four thalassotherapy pools, and the Nagori restaurant, Japanese-Sicilian cuisine by Fulvio Pierangelini, is open for dinner from June to October. The resort also has a heliport, and for airports it states about 80 minutes from Palermo and from Trapani, and three hours from Catania.
Il Picciolo: the course on the lava
At the foot of Etna, Il Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa has its 100 rooms spread across seven types: the "Etna" rooms have a balcony facing the volcano and the vineyards, and almost all the others look onto the course. There are no sea-view rooms, and the hotel has no beach of its own.
The Picciolo Golf Club is an 18-hole, par-72 course of 5,870 metres on 44 hectares, opened in 1989 and, according to the club, the first 18-hole par 72 built in Sicily. It is short on paper and anything but docile: narrow fairways, greens on two or three levels, wind that changes the reading of the par 3s. On the 7th, an uphill double dogleg leads to a green defended by a lava flow, the 11th is the number 1 handicap hole, and the 15th is a par 3 in a natural amphitheatre with Etna in the background. The club hosted the Sicilian Ladies Italian Open from 1995 to 1997 and in 2011, as well as a stage of the European Senior Open in 2010.
The 2026 price list sets 110 euros for 18 holes and 60 for nine; those staying at the resort pay 90 and 55. To play you need the Italian Golf Federation card with a certified handicap, or the green card; the pull trolley is included, and a golf cart costs 50 euros for 18 holes. The Golf Escape package, on sale from 28 March to 9 November, combines stays of 3, 5 or 7 nights, 2, 3 or 5 discounted green fees and 90 minutes of spa a day; anyone accompanying a golfer without playing can spend the value of the green fees on treatments.
When to go
At Verdura the clubhouse and golf services remain open this winter too, but it is worth checking the state of the courses before choosing a period: for the West Shore and the Executive the works finish in spring 2027, and the Executive will reopen only then. The Nagori is open from June to October.
At Il Picciolo the club publishes opening hours for the whole year: from 8 am to 5 pm in winter, from 8 am to 7 pm in summer. The outdoor pools open between late May and early July and close between late September and early October, depending on the weather. The golf package is on sale from late March to early November.
Can you see both?
In a week, yes, but with a long transfer. The Verdura resort reckons about three hours from Catania, and Il Picciolo is about 45 minutes from Catania, on the two opposite sides of the island. Anyone wanting to see both can land at Catania for Il Picciolo and fly out of Palermo or Trapani, which are about 80 minutes from Verdura, avoiding retracing the same road.
Curiosities
- An Etna stop. About 100 metres from Il Picciolo there is a stop on the Circumetnea railway, line A1 Randazzo-Catania.
- A biologist teacher. Il Picciolo's head pro, Giuseppe Marra, has a degree in Biology and is a certified TrackMan and AimPoint instructor.
- A bar named after the wind. Verdura's Scirocco Bar makes cocktails with herbs grown in the resort.
Frequently asked questions
Where can you play golf at a resort in Sicily?+
At Verdura, in Sciacca, with 45 holes, and at Il Picciolo, in Castiglione di Sicilia, with 18 holes: both courses lie within a five-star resort.
Are all the Verdura courses open in 2026?+
No. On 3 October 2026 the East Links is open, the West Shore is open with Bermuda grass works until spring 2027, and the nine-hole Executive is closed until the same date.
How much does it cost to play at Il Picciolo in 2026?+
110 euros for 18 holes and 60 for nine; resort guests pay 90 and 55. The pull trolley is included, and a golf cart costs 50 euros for 18 holes.
How far is the airport from Verdura and Il Picciolo?+
For Verdura the resort states about 80 minutes from Palermo and from Trapani and about three hours from Catania. Il Picciolo is about 60 km from Catania, according to the hotel, and the transfer is booked through the hotel.
Do you need a handicap to play?+
At Il Picciolo, yes: you need the federation card with a certified handicap or the green card. Beginners can take lessons, 70 euros an hour, and are provided with equipment.
Are these hotels suitable for children?+
Verdura has a programme for ages 0 to 16, a free kids club and a Junior Golf Academy for ages 6 to 16. Il Picciolo has family rooms, but offers neither a kids club nor babysitting.
