Take Your Best Shot

Italy has 90 thousand golf players, not much if you consider other northern European countries, but still enough for the Country to have some of the best golf courses in Europe.

The top three are Royal Park I Roveri, in Fiano, north of Turin, Golf Club Le Betulle, in Valcarozza, northeast of Turin, and Circolo Golf Villa d’Este near Lake Como.

Designed by Peter Gannon in 1926, the latter is a Royal Retreat that hosted Kings and Queens. Although it may fall short compared to today’s standards, as some may say, Villa d’Este has a challenging course with several changes of pace; surrounded by birch, pine and chestnut trees, you will play on top of Como hills.

Le Betulle course dates back to the 1950s and it has 18 holes on hilly terrain built by J. Morrison. Giving the impression of being in an English moorland, it is one of the most serene and evocative spots in northern Italy.

Situated in the middle of La Mandria Regional Park, I Roveri was a hunting estate in the 16^th century, and now it is one of Turin’s most important conservation areas. It has 18 golf holes designed by legendary golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Senior; with dramatic bunkers, beautiful water hazards, undulating greens, and the Alpes in the distance it is quite understandable why it is considered the best of Italy.

Although the top three best are located in northern Italy, there are some amazing and incredible golf courses throughout the Country, fear not! For example, Robert Trent Jones Senior also designed two golf courses, other than I Roveri, that fall into the list of the best in Italy, La Bagnaia Golf Resort, near Siena, and Antognolla Golf in the province of Perugia. Not far away from La Bagnaia, you will find the notorious Castiglion del Bosco Golf Club, Europe’s finest golf experience place. Moving on, we cannot fail to mention the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club which hosted the 44^ Edition of the Ryder Cup, and the Olgiata, home of two World Cups, both located in Rome.  However, if you are a sea lover, you will be thrilled to play at the Verdura Resort in Sicily or at the Pevero Golf Club in Porto Cervo (Sardinia), each with stunning views of the sparkling sea waters.

The choice is quite vast, all you have to do is take your pick, Helitaly will take care of everything else on your behalf.