Verdura Resort has confirmed its status as Italy’s number one golf venue after being named in the top 20 of a new industry list of the world’s top 100 golf resorts.
The luxury destination in Sicily was rated 19th in Golf World magazine’s inaugural ranking following another outstanding 12 months which included the return of the resort to 45 holes following the reopening of its acclaimed East Course after a major redesign.
Assessed over four categories – its golf courses, accommodation, amenities and setting – Verdura Resort won widespread praise from the judging panel for the quality of its golf and lifestyle facilities, as well as its spectacular location adjacent to the Mediterranean.
Announcing its verdict, the panel said: “Kyle Phillips-designed golf courses and a Rocco Forte hotel sounds like it should be pretty impressive – and the reality truly is. Add in a cliff-edge and beachside setting and Verdura’s allure is pretty obvious”.
“(The East Course) is really, really good. Phillips is one of the world’s great architects and he has made the most of the cliff-edge stretch while creating memorable holes on the less dramatic ground inland”.
“The hotel more than matches the golf, with accommodation set down in a succession of low-rise apartments, all with course or sea views. It is all done incredibly tastefully, as luxury meets elegance and comfort at every turn …. There is an appealing, relaxed vibe to Verdura, illustrated by the fact you get about the resort on vintage cycles. And guess what, it’s Italy, so the restaurants serve food to die for.”
Phillips returned to the site of his original creation to upgrade the 18-hole East Course and spent the last three years reworking his magic at Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte Hotel. The extensive renovation has seen a number of new features added and modifications made to the routing of the East Course and the neighbouring West Course, allowing for the restoration of former favourite holes and bringing exciting new additions.
Giacomo Battafarano, General Manager at Verdura Resort, said: “To be rated among the world’s elite golf resorts and Italy’s best is an outstanding achievement for the resort and something that makes us all very proud”.
“The global reputation of Verdura for delivering excellence and outstanding service on and off the golf course continues to grow every year and, with the recent reopening of the East Course, we’re confident that further exciting times lie ahead in 2022 and beyond.”
The reopening of the new East Course adds to the extensive selection of exceptional facilities available at Verdura Resort. Home of the European Tour’s Rocco Forte Sicilian Open, Verdura Resort is nestled in 230 hectares of stunning Mediterranean landscape on Sicily’s southern coast. The courses and facilities combined have established the venue as one of the world’s elite golf and lifestyle destinations.
A member of the exclusive European Tour Destinations network, the resort is famous for offering guests an unforgettable five-star golf experience in one of the most beautiful settings in world. Verdura Resort was also named as a recipient of Golf Digest magazine’s coveted ‘2021 Editors’ Choice Award for the Best Resorts in Continental Europe’ for the sixth successive year.