Verdura

The Verdura Resort is one of the southernmost golfing resorts in the continent of Europe. Situated on the isle of Sicily, Verdura boasts two championship level golf courses in 230 hectares of Mediterranean coastline and countryside.

 

As a keen golfer, Sir Rocco Forte had always wanted to build a five-star golfing experience. With the help of Californian golf architect Kyle Philips, Verdura Resort now offers three world-class links championship courses in a beautiful Mediterranean climate. Forte is now the owner of several resorts and hotels around Italy.

 

Two championship golf courses, the East and West, are a nod to traditional links course, in a much different climate. Following severe storms in the area in 2018, several holes at the venue were damaged. Once repaired, golf course designed Kyle Phillips rerouted the two courses, and even added a wonderful double green on the West Course. The two championship courses are complimented by the 9-hole Short Course, driving range and practice facilities.

 

Verdura has played host to the DP World Tour on four occasions, with both championship courses being used for the competition. Frenchman Raphael Jacqueline, Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen, Spain’s Alvaro Quiros and Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren have all tasted success here.

 

Accommodation at Verdura is world-class. Rooms run from entry-level Deluxe (which are vast) all the way up to four-bedroom family villas, All rooms have a private balcony or terrace, most with spectacular sea views. Add to that the stunning Irene Forte Spa, so tranquil and zen that you feel your heart rate drop instantly upon entering, and you have one of the most exceptional resorts in Europe, and the perfect place to visit if you’re a lover of golf in the Mediterranean.

 

Visit Verdura’s website here.

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The golfing landscape at Verdura is stunning. There are views of the Mediterranean Sea from each of the three courses, and the ocean breeze will affect your golf ball more than you think. The resort is an ode to links golf, created by Sir Rocco Forte and golf course architect Kyle Phillips. Its three courses - the East, West and Short - are all sublime.

 

Both the East and West Courses are 18-hole championship level courses, and a configuration of the two was used to host the Sicilian Open on the DP World Tour. The event was played four times, most recently in 2018 when Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren took the spoils.

 

The East’s signature hole is the 6th. At just 120 yards, is is a wonderful short par-3 that makes you play right towards the Mediterranean. The sea is on your left and behind the green, so you cannot go long! The West Course at Verdura features a double green, as another nod to the links style golf course that Forte dreamed of creating.

 

As well as the two championship golf courses, the 9-hole Short Course is good fun, and excellent for beginners to the game. The par-3 course is a blast, and again provides incredible views of the Mediterranean during your round.

 

The Irene Forte Spa is a state-of-the-art wellness facility at the heart of Verdura. The 4,000 square metre space offers up a supremely relaxing stay, with both indoor and outdoor relaxations areas.

The spa includes more than ten treatment rooms, including a double treatment suite for couple’s massages. There are four outdoor thalassotherapy pools, an indoor pool, multiple saunas, a double-height steam room and a relaxation area, along with a hair and beauty salon. 

If guests feel like working out during a trip to the Irene Forte Spa, then there is also a gym and fitness studio, equipped with the latest technology from Technogym. There are fitness classes from qualified instructors throughout the week as well. 

The accommodation at Verdura Resort has undergone a small makeover in the last decade, with the changes completed in 2023. Each and every room, suite and villa is spacious, stylish and makes the most the resort's coastal location with balconies and terraces offering panoramic views.

 

There is accommodation to suit all needs and all travelling parties. From double rooms to interconnecting family rooms, from suites to villas. The majority of rooms have both standing bathtubs and walk-in showers, and come with toiletries courtesy of Irene Forte.

 

Where is Verdura located? 
Verdura is located on the south coast of Sicily, and is one of the southern most resorts on our Europan Resorts list. Sciacca and Ribera are the nearest towns to the resort, which is around 70 miles from Palermo, Sicily’s capital city.

What is the nearest airport to Verdura? 
There are two major airports on the island of Sicily. Palermo Airport is based around 80 miles from the Verdura Resort, on the northern coast of the isle. Vincenzo Bellini Catania Airport is larger, and has more daily flights, but it is almost twice the distance away.

What are the green fees at Verdura? 
The price of a green fee at Verdura changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. 

 

For more information on current green fees at Verdura, visit their website here. 

What golf facilities does Verdura offer? 
Along with 45 incredible holes of golf, Verdura also features a driving range where you can have unlimited balls free of charge. There is also a world class short game area for you to hone your skills before your round.

 

The golf clubhouse offers everything from rentals, bag storage and shoe and club cleaning, to overnight re-gripping of clubs and changing facilities.

Does Verdura offer golf lessons? 
Led by a team of PGA-qualified professionals, the Verdura Golf Academy provides everything you need to enhance your golfing experience, including tuition, dedicated children’s programmes and outdoor lessons with state-of-the-art equipment.

Is Verdura suitable for families? 
As part of the Rocco Forte Group, Verdura has a great kids club, known as Rocco Forte Kids. Programmes are tailored for babies (0-3 years), kids (4-12 years) and teenagers (13-16 years).

 

Not only are there fun activities, but there are also educational programmes  for kids during their stay. Children can learn about astronomy, gardening, history, languages, mythology, recycling and much more. There is also a culinary department that can help gets children into the kitchen and learn about making food. 

What accommodation is on offer at Verdura? 
Rooms, suites, villas. The accommodation at Verdura is wide-ranging and caters for all needs. There has been a small renovation to the accommodation at the resort, which was completed in 2023, with all rooms and suites now looking sublime.

 

Even the most basic of rooms at Verdura still comes with all the amenities and mod-cons that you would expect. If you’re looking to spend a bit more on your accommodation, then the resort is home to suites that have their own pools, and villas that have either three- or four-bedrooms apiece.

 

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: European Resorts venues nearby? 
Verdura is one of several Italian venues on the NCG Top 100s: European Golf Resorts list. However, it is one of only two venues sitting on the island of Sicily. The other - Picciolo Etna - is around 270km to the northeast. San Domenico is the nearest on the mainland, while Is Molas - on the island of Sardinia - is closest by air.

 

Visit Verdura’s website here.

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.