Italian golfers from now on will have an extraordinary short-haul opportunity at Sicily’s Verdura Resort, part of Rocco Forte Hotels, following a new partnership with the PGA of Italy.
As part of the new agreement, the award winning five-star resort – home of the European Tour’s Rocco Forte Sicilian Open – will offer professional-led coaching breaks to members of the Italian PGA. Amateurs travelling with them will be able to take advantage of benefits such as five green fees included when staying for seven nights, plus unlimited range balls and buggies for the low season.
It means guests from Italy can enjoy the world-class facilities at Verdura with additional opportunities and will also be among the first golfers to test out the latest developments to the resort.
Aside from the superb Kyle Phillips-designed Championship course and the nine-hole par-three Executive course, the redesigned second layout reopens later this year following a major renovation programme. As the final preparations take place over the next few months, the first new nine holes will be open in August with the full 18 ready for play from October.
In addition, the practice facilities are the envy of many European resorts with a double-ended driving range and first-class academy. The venue also features Italy’s only European Tour-approved Performance Institute, where players of all abilities can hone their swings using cutting-edge technology.
Sir Rocco Forte said: “I am very happy to announce the partnership between Verdura Resort and PGA Italiana which takes place at a time when the world of sport is penalized, like many other activities, by the ongoing health emergency.
“This partnership is intended as a strong signal of Rocco Forte Hotels' willingness to restart and - on a more personal level - a testimony of my passion for golf and confidence in the growth of this game in Italy, especially in anticipation of the Ryder Cup 2023.
“The collaboration with PGA is a certificate of excellence that makes me particularly proud of what we have achieved at Verdura Resort, where professionals will be able to help students improve their technique and allow them to experience the game of golf in an absolutely unique setting.”
A spokesperson for PGA of Italy , said: “Verdura Resort is an exceptional location with world-class golf and leisure facilities. It is five-star quality throughout and it makes perfect sense to build this partnership.”
Nestled in 230 hectares of stunning Mediterranean landscape on Sicily’s southern coast, Verdura is 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 golf, and was recently named as a recipient of Golf Digest magazine’s coveted ‘2020 Editors’ Choice Award for the Best Resorts in Continental Europe’ for the fifth year in a row.
Verdura Resort features 203 rooms and suites, all with a sea view, which offer a perfect solution for family holiday. In addition, the venue is set to add to its luxury accommodation portfolio with 20 new modern and spacious private Rocco Forte Villas open on April 1, each with its own private swimming pool and affording unparalled panoramic views of the Sicilian coast and Mediterranean.
Away from golf, guests can enjoy an extensive array of other luxury sports and lifestyle facilities, as well as the opportunity to sample a wide variety of gastronomy, wine, history and culture.
ENDS
High-resolution images of Verdura Resort may be downloaded for editorial purposes from Verdura Resort
For more information on Verdura Resort contact Luke Frary on 01730711920 - luke@theazaleagroup.com or Sofia Francesca Polla at sfpolla@roccofortehotels.com
For more information on the PGA of Italy, contact Silvia Audisio, media & comms manager, on +39 333 4751787 or email ufficiostampa@pga.it
About Verdura Resort
Part of Rocco Forte Hotels and member of The Leading Hotels of the World, Verdura Resort overlooks the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean from the southern coast of Sicily. Immersed in a 230-hectare park, it has 203 elegant rooms and suites as well as 20 new Rocco Forte Private Villas, nestled on the hillside that gently slopes towards the resort’s private coast, which is over 1.8 km long. The resort's restaurants and bars celebrate Mediterranean cuisine using seasonal ingredients typical of the island, accompanied by an extensive wine list. The Verdura Spa is an exclusive refuge with a holistic approach to health and well-being: 4,000 m2 with four thalassotherapy pools, two saunas, a hammam and a wide range of personalised treatments and programmes. The resort also has a 4,000 m2 convention centre. On site there are championship golf courses, designed by Kyle Phillips and leading figures of the Rocco Forte Sicilian Open in 2017 and 2018 (European Tour stage), making Verdura the golf destination par excellence in the Mediterranean. The sporting offer is further enriched with six tennis courts, a 60-metre infinity pool, a football pitch, an equipped gym offering a full programme of fitness and meditation activities, as well as jogging paths that wind through the estate's olive and citrus groves.
About Rocco Forte Hotels
Founded by Sir Rocco Forte and his sister Olga Polizzi in 1996, it is a collection of 15 luxury hotels and resorts with a unique character. All hotels are iconic addresses, both historic and modern, carved out of magnificent buildings in exceptional locations. Run by a family that has been involved in hospitality for four generations, the hotels are characterized by a distinctive approach to service, which ensures guests experience the best of the destination and surrounding areas. Rocco Forte Hotels includes: Hotel de la Ville, Hotel de Russie, Rocco Forte House, Rome; Hotel Savoy, Florence; Verdura Resort, Sicily; Masseria Torre Maizza, Puglia; The Balmoral, Edinburgh; Brown’s Hotel, London; The Charles Hotel, Munich; Villa Kennedy, Frankfurt; Hotel de Rome, Berlin; Hotels Amigo, Brussels and Hotel Astoria, St. Petersburg.
Next openings: Villa Igiea in Palermo and The Westbund Hotel in Shanghai in 2021, The Carlton Milan in 2023.
About The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. (Leading Hotels)
Comprised of more than 375 hotels in over 75 countries, Leading Hotels is a collection of uncommon luxury hotels. Rooted in the locations in which they are found, members embody the very essence of their destination. Through varied styles of architecture and design and distinct cultural experiences enhanced by passionate people, the collection is for the curious traveler looking for their next discovery. Established in 1928 by several influential and forward-thinking European hoteliers, Leading Hotels has an eight-decade-long commitment to providing remarkable, authentic travel experiences. The company selects only hotels that meet its high standards for quality and distinctiveness, resulting in a curated portfolio of hotels united not by what makes them the same, but the details that make them different. Leaders Club is the company’s exclusive two-tiered guest loyalty program, consisting of like-minded travelers seeking uncommon travel experiences. The program provides its members with personalized service and exclusive travel benefits to enhance their stays at any Leading Hotel around the world. For more information visit: www.lhw.com, Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LeadingHotels and Instagram @leadinghotelsoftheworld
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