Verdura Golf and Spa Resort

Although it’s never really been a country you would readily associate with golf, Italy’s reputation as one of the new go-to golf destinations continues to grow apace.

We know, of course, that they have had some great players over the years, from Costantino Rocca, through to the Molinaris and on to golf’s next big thing, Matteo Manassero, but now the nation’s courses are beginning to establish themselves among the elite as well.

Take Verdura, the first and, as yet, the only golf resort in Sir Rocco Forte’s glittering portfolio of hotels.

Situated on 1.8km of private coastline, 80 minutes due south of Palermo airport in year-round golf-friendly Sicily, Verdura has been busy picking up awards and accolades since it welcomed its first guests back in 2009; Condé Nast Traveller magazine, for example, named it as one the Best Five European Golf Resorts while the influential Rolex Top 1000 Golf Courses Guide declared to be the best in Italy.

It’s high praise indeed, but not at all unwarranted. It is, after all, a Rocco Forte resort and that means that you’re assured of all the finery and attention to detail you’ve come to expect from the past-masters of luxury. Multi award-winning spa? Check. Effortlessly-stylish hotel and accommodation? Check. Michelin-starred fine dining? But of course.

And then there are the golf courses, two 18-holers – the East and the West – and a nine-hole track, designed by no less a legend than Kyle Phillips, the man who brought us the likes of Kingsbarns, The Grove and the remodelling of Valderrama. Last year saw Verdura take centre stage for Thorbjørn Olesen’s Sicilian Open victory, the first of many high-profile events the resort expects to host.

While both courses enjoy the kind of spectacular sea views that can cause havoc with your take-away, they present very different and idiosyncratic challenges. The meandering and undulating East course, for instance, is a two-loop route that puts a premium on accuracy, especially on the cliff-tip closing hole, while the out and back West course is one of those courses that will live long in the memory, irrespective of the damage inflicted on the scorecard.

Its final four holes, set along this gorgeous stretch of Mediterranean coastline, are among the best not just in Europe but in the world itself. Put simply, it’s a must-play for any serious golfer.

Play and stay here for under £300…

• Three nights’ Bed & Breakfast
• Three rounds of golf (East or West Courses)
• For £295pp – valid April 7-22, 2013
Package is based on two people sharing a twin or double, for groups of 8 or more.

Off the course

Whether it’s visiting Mount Etna, taking a boat trip to Favignana island, exploring by jeep, horseback or quad bike or savouring the food, there is lots to do (see left for more details)

Website: www.yourgolftravel.com/verdura-golf-resort
Telephone: 0808 163 3789.