Poggio dei Medici - Central Italy - Italy

Modern Meets Medieval - Poggio dei Medici with its 16th century clubhouse is set in the heart of the beautiful Mugello Region, only 30 kilometers north of Florence near Scarperia. At 600 meters above sea level, the elevation is too high for growing grapes and olives but the sweeping terrain provides an incredibly natural layout for this championship links style course. Poggio dei Medici hosted the European Tour’s Italian Women’s Open from 1999 to 2003. When it opened in 1995 it was immediately recognized by the popular Italian magazine "Il Mondo del Golf" as the best new golf course in Italy. Recently Condé Nast Traveller Magazine recognized Poggio dei Medici as one of the best golf courses in the world, ahead of the likes of the K Club in Ireland and the Greenbrier in the USA. Designed by Italian Architect Alvise Rossi Fioravanti and Baldovino Dassu, its 18 holes are set over two ridges and three valleys. We started out in the early morning playing through a light fog that had settled overnight in the valle surrounded by the Appennino Tosco Emiliano Mountains making it an ideal photo opportunity. This par 72 Poggio dei Medici Golf Club stretches over 7,000 yards (6452 meters to be exact) and when the mist cleared the views from every vantage point were stunning. Fortunately there were 5 sets of tee blocks available to suit any caliber of player. The greens here are much larger than at the Florence Golf Club Ugolino and designed like a stadium course where you can hit it long but make sure you can hit it relatively straight as the fescue-lined fairways and well protected greens will definitely swallow up a few of your golf balls as I can attest. Be sure to take a few minutes to relax and take in the old world charm of clubhouse but if you are a race fan, you may want to head just outside Scarperia to the Autodomo del Mugello a 5.25 km/3.25 mile long car racing circuit featuring 15 bends. This is where the qualifying races for the European Formula 2 and world motorcycling championships are held. For a complete story on golf in Tuscany visit http://golftravelandleisure.com/2013/11/10/golf-tuscany-italy/

A very nice golf course, and definitely one for your list if you are planning a Tuscan golf break. I personally preferred Montecatini as it's a course in keeping with the Tuscan land, as is Ugolino, whereas Poggio is an American style course built in the Tuscan land.