Sicily Golf Courses - Rocco Forte Verdura Golf and Spa Resort

Verdura Golf and Spa Resort has been rated as Italy's best by Rolex Top 1000 Golf Courses Guide.

Rocco Forte Verdura East Course is more undulating than the West Course, set on an exposed landscape creating a true links style challenge with prevailing sea breezes, undulating greens and fairways.

Its finishing holes don't quite have the glamour of the West's and the front nine par fives that link the central area to the southern beach holes are a little underwhelming, but there are more directional changes here and plenty of design surprises as well.

Highpoints include the short sixth which will become one of the most photographed holes in Europe. Club selection will vary greatly depending on the strength and direction of the wind. This is Verdura’s “Postage Stamp”. From the 13th the course turns seaward, both the 14th and 15th are long holes that plummet across linksy ground while the 16th is a delicious short hole played into a wickedly shallow target.

The finishing duo are also really strong; the penultimate hole rising gently into the foot of a Sicilian hillside, and the fabulous par four closer crashing from an elevated tee right along the craggy coastline.

Verdura Golf and Spa Resort has been rated as Italy's best by Rolex Top 1000 Golf Courses Guide.

Verdura’s Championship West Course plays along the coastline with dramatic beachside holes.

The West Course actually incorporates more coastal land than the East Course, but a number of its early holes stretch consecutively along inland and a few fairways are a little tight given the exposed nature of the site. The beachside holes are its star attraction, golfers get their first glimpse of the sea at the 8th and 9th before returning for a four hole encore from the 15th.

The West’s final four holes are considered the best with spectacular backdrop views over the Mediterranean. The final two holes hug the cliff tops and the threatening 18th tee is reminiscent of the final hole at Pebble Beach!