Sicily’s deluxe Verdura Resort is ready to take its golfing experience to new heights after implementing a six-month winter golf course improvement programme.
Already recognised as one of Europe’s elite golf and luxury lifestyle destinations and named ‘Best Golf Hotel in Italy’ at the 2015 World Golf Awards, the venue is carrying out significant maintenance work on all three of its Kyle Phillips-designed courses as it continues to improve the overall playing experience for its guests.
As part of the latest upgrades, Verdura’s team of greenkeepers is in the process of finishing a major bunker reconstruction programme to improve drainage, playability and presentation, with the work due to be completed by the end of May.
In addition, a schedule of micro and hollow-coring and top dressing has been undertaken to improve the surfaces on and around the greens and tees, unwanted grasses have been removed from the tees and fairways, areas of all three courses have been re-seeded and the soil around the resort’s numerous olive and citrus trees has been turned to improve their management, maintenance and appearance.
David Waters, Golf Manager at Verdura Resort, said: “Verdura is such a special place to play golf and the maintenance being carried out over the winter will further enhance the resort’s reputation as one of the best, and most beautiful, places to play golf anywhere in Europe.
“We’re particularly excited about the reconstruction work that is taking place on the bunkers and we believe that this will greatly improve the five-star golfing experience that we offer to our guests.”
The improvement programme is the latest to be carried out at Verdura as the resort – a Rocco Forte hotel and host of the 2012 Sicilian Open – continues to deliver on its long-term commitment to providing the best luxury experience possible for its customers.
Included in the maintenance work undertaken in 2015 was a major conversion programme on the teeing ground from rye grass to Bermuda grass on all 36 holes of the East and West courses to reduce the amount the amount of water used on the two championship layouts.
Set next to the Mediterranean in 230 hectares of stunning landscape, Verdura’s three links-style courses – the East, West and par-three nine-hole course – have all been built to the highest specifications, with starting times 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.
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 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.