Verdura Resort (East Links)

Hotelier Sir Rocco Forte’s Verdura resort occupies a stunning 570-acre site on the southwest shores of Sicily and golfing guests here luxuriate in a wonderful 45-hole golf complex that mirrors the 5-star status of the adjoining hotel and spa.

The East and West 18-hole layouts are complemented by a 9-hole par three course designed by American Kyle Phillips and if you think that his involvement is a sure sign of Verdura’s quality then you’ve guessed right.

When professional tournament play was first held at Verdura, a fantastic composite course was set up to include the best holes on each layout. Indeed, the layout used to stage the 2012 Sicilian Open (when Denmark’s Thorbjørn claimed his maiden European Tour victory) comprised a mix of East and West holes.

Unfortunately, severe storms in late 2018 caused an embankment to breach which resulted in flooding across fourteen holes, seven on the East and seven on the West). Kyle Phillips rearranged the routing to retain all of the damaged holes, along with four remodelled holes on the new East course configuration.

Highlight holes now include the par four 6th, where the Mediterranean Sea runs the length of the fairway on the right side and the approach plays over a saltwater inlet that was created by the flood. The short par three 13th is another feature hole, playing in the opposite direction to a green that lies right on the water’s edge.

The new par five 8th and par four 10th holes also share a large double green, a move that has pleased owner Sir Rocco Forte, a keen golfer who appreciates such a nod towards traditional links golf course design.

Verdura Resort, Rocco Forte's Sicilian Jewel