Verdura (West)

No expense was spared during the construction of the 5-star Verdura resort on the south west coast of Sicily and the 45-hole golf complex at its centre is one of the best sporting facilities to be found anywhere in the Mediterranean region.

Designed by the esteemed American architect Kyle Phillips, the two championship 18-hole layouts – East and West – are the golfing stars of the show at Verdura and they are well supported by a 9-hole par three course, a driving range and practice area.

When the first professional tournaments were hosted at Verdura, a wonderful composite 18-hole layout was set up to include the best holes on each course. Indeed, the track that staged the 2012 Sicilian Open (when Denmark’s Thorbjørn claimed his maiden European Tour victory) comprised a blend 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.

Measuring 6,547 metres from the back tees and playing to a par of 70, the slightly shorter West is no pushover, especially with three lengthy par four holes to start the round, before the first of five par three holes is played. A tough finish also awaits, with the outstanding closing holes all hugging the spectacular coastline.

Verdura Resort, Rocco Forte's Sicilian Jewel