Bergamo-L'Albenza (Blue and Yellow)

The original eighteen holes at Bergamo-L’Albenza Golf Club were formed by C. K. Cotton in the early 1960s and this course was just one of several Italian layouts that he designed or restyled around that time. Another 9-hole circuit was added in 1987 to give members a wonderful 27-hole complex that allows them to play three different 18-hole courses.

This is fine golfing country in the Orobic hills above the town of Bergamo as Milano and also Villa d’Este is located 35 kilometres to the west of here. The Blue and Yellow nines of the original 18 holes are laid out over challenging forested terrain that rises and falls with regularity over the course of the round.

Bergamo Golf Club L’Albenza has hosted many top competitions over the years and one of the most prestigious of these in recent times was the 53rd Italian Open in 1996 when Englishman Jim Payne claimed the trophy – one of two victories he managed to achieve in a 9-year career on the European Tour.

Another famous professional with fond memories of this course is local lad Costantino Rocca, a one-time caddie at L’Albenza, and he still pops in for a game from time to time.