Arzaga (Jack Nicklaus II)

The 27-hole golf complex at this Lombardian retreat lies close to Lake Garda, in a beautiful parkland estate that’s served by a 15th-century manor house which acts as the focal point for the Palazzo Arzaga Hotel Spa & Golf Resort. Jack Nicklaus II designed Arzaga’s 18-hole course and it opened in 1998, with Gary Player later adding a 9-hole layout.

Set within a sprawling, 360-acre property the fairways of the Nicklaus course are wide and generally forgiving, though water comes into play at several holes, most significantly at the 156-metre 7th, where a pond runs all along the left of the fairway, and at four other holes (10th, 14th, 15th and 18th) on the back nine.

The 396-metre 4th offers probably the stiffest test on the outward half, playing to a two-tiered green that’s protected by sand to the left of the putting surface whilst, on the way home, the enormous bunkers fronting the short par three 17th have the potential to derail a good score late in the round.