Sicily’s Verdura Resort has confirmed its place at the forefront of Italian golf after winning one of the top honours at the 2015 World Golf Awards.
The deluxe resort was one of 13 venues to be nominated for ‘Italy’s Best Golf Hotel’ and collected the accolade at a glittering awards ceremony in Quinta do Lago, Portugal, at the weekend. (Saturday November 7).
The award is the latest honour to be bestowed in recent months on Verdura – host venue for the 2012 Sicilian Open and a Rocco Forte hotel – which have included its East Course retaining its place among the top 100 courses in continental Europe and the West Course being named ‘Best Modern Course in Italy’ by leading Italian magazine ‘Il Mondo del Golf’ .
Marcello Della Vecchia, Director of Golf Sales at Verdura Resort, said: “We are very proud to be the recipient of this award. To be named as Italy’s best golf hotel is a clear indication of how highly Verdura is regarded in Europe and the accolade is a fitting finale to what has been a fantastic last 12 months for the resort.
“The popularity of Sicily as a golf destination is growing all the time – the island was shortlisted at this year’s IAGTO Awards for the ‘Undiscovered Golf Destination’ prize – and we’re expecting the trend to continue in 2016 with new flight routes being announced all the time.”
Verdura was also shortlisted for two other awards, ‘Europe’s Best Golf Venue’ and ‘Best Golf Course in Italy’ at the event in Portugal, which featured leading golf industry figures from around the world.
Situated adjacent to the Mediterranean in 230 hectares of stunning landscape, Verdura offers three links-style courses – the East Course, West Course and a par-three nine-hole course – all designed by world-renowned golf architect Kyle Phillips and built to the highest specifications.
Tee times are arranged at 12-minute intervals to ensure free-flowing play, five sets of tees make the courses playable for golfers of all abilities and one of its courses is dedicated daily to two-ball play only – a refreshing change amongst modern golf resorts.
Complementing its golf courses are extensive practice facilities including a double-ended driving range and excellent golf academy, while players can also take advantage of the latest state-of-the-art TaylorMade equipment when they hire clubs at the resort after a significant recent upgrade of its rental service.
Set on Sicily’s southern coast between Agrigento and the fishing city of Sciacca, an 80-minute drive from Trapani and Palermo airports, the resort features 203 rooms and suites – all with a sea view. Away from the fairways, guests can enjoy numerous other sports and leisure facilities including six tennis courts, a 60m two-tiered infinity pool, a 170sqm fully-equipped gym and an award-winning 4,000sqm spa complex.
For more information on Verdura Resort, visit www.roccofortehotels.com
Verdura Resort
Since opening in 2009, Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte Hotels resort, (www.roccofortehotels.com) has quickly established itself among Europe’s premier contemporary luxury golf and lifestyle destinations.
The resort is set in 230 hectares of stunning landscape overlooking the Mediterranean with 1.8km of private coastline, and offers golfing guests and families an unparalleled modern five-star experience on the largest island in the Mediterranean. The resort is located on the southern coast of Sicily between Agrigento and the fishing city of Sciacca, a 80-minute drive from Trapani and Palermo airports.
Verdura features 203 rooms and suites, all with sea view, and is a paradise for golfers, with its outstanding facilities. Golfers from all over the world come to enjoy the two 18-hole championship courses and a nine-hole par-three course, all designed by world-renowned golf architect Kyle Phillips and playable all-year-round. Verdura was the host venue for the European Tour’s 2012 Sicilian Open and its three links-style layouts have been built to the highest specifications. The resort’s East Course is ranked as one of the finest in continental Europe while its beautiful West Course, also a par-72, provides the ideal complement and features one of the most memorable finishes anywhere in the world with the final four holes set alongside the Mediterranean. The courses are matched by outstanding practice amenities including a double-ended driving range and excellent golf academy.
Verdura’s other sports facilities include six tennis courts; a 60m two-tiered infinity pool; numerous watersports, one football pitch; a 170sqm fully-equipped gym and a collection of running trails through olive and lemon groves. The resort’s award-winning 4,000sqm spa complex includes 11 treatment rooms, gym, yoga studio, a 25-metre indoor lap pool, four outdoor Thalassotherapy pools, a double-height steam room, male and female saunas and a spa bar for healthy alternatives.
Guests can sample an authentic taste of traditional Sicily with an array of dishes at one of the resort’s four restaurants and five bars – with fresh, organic produce sourced straight from Verdura’s own garden. In addition, visitors can enjoy an array of cultural and culinary experiences where they can discover the secrets of Sicilian cooking, with menus inspired by celebrity chef Fulvio Pierangelini, and taste the many famous wines of the region. There is also plenty to keep the younger members of the family entertained with dedicated kids and teen clubs providing a variety of fun-packed activity programmes throughout the year.
Verdura Resort has received widespread recognition through numerous awards including a ‘Golden Award for Golf’ at the 2015 Voyages & Hôtels Readers Awards and named ‘Best Family European Golf Resort‘ by the 2011 Tatler Travel Guide.