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We began our tour at the spa town of Abano from where there are three courses nearby and five others within a comfortable drive.
There was a spa here in Roman times and the long-established thermal pools began attracting major tourist business in the 1950s, when the first hotels were built. Now there are dozens, several of them five star and out of the top echelon, all offering the gamut of spa treatments and every luxury.
But it is the setting, the town itself, that is so memorable. Much of it is pedestrianised, with broad pavements leading to fountained piazzas, all hemmed by gardens and stylish shops, and with open-air restaurants in profusion. Take a stroll, then simply pick a table, sip on something cooling and watch the world go promenading by.
Both are favourite pastimes here, particularly at night when the world comes to dine al fresco and the air is filled with the gentle buzz of conversation and the clink of glasses. It’s quite magical.
Abano is tranquil and elegant but walk down the central thoroughfare for 15 minutes or so and you’ll become aware of a change. You’ll be in the neighbouring resort of Montegrotto. There’s no evident boundary but Montegrotto is chalk as to cheese.
Where Abano is serene, Monte leans the other way. You could say this place is the full Monte!
Street music from the bars and clubs, frowned upon up the street, is part of the scene here; the pavements are more crowded, as are the bars and restaurants that line them.
This is where the young, and the young at heart, hang out when the sun goes down. It couldn’t be more different and it’s a perfect foil to Abano. Indeed, for those with youngsters the latter becomes even more attractive.
GOLF NUTS will have other priorities, though, and when you’ve given the once over to the local courses (see the next page) you’ll doubtless want to look further afield. There’s no need to travel too far. Not an hour away to the north is one of the loveliest courses you’ll ever clap eyes on.
It's near the city of Verona, where the attractions will gainfully occupy the non-golfers for the day. It’s an ancient, gated city that oozes history: here stands the Roman amphitheatre, the venue for an open air opera season in July and August; nearby, in a tiny square reached via an arched gate, is the balcony Shakespeare made famous in Romeo and Juliet. It is a romantic city and the shopping and the restaurants are to die for. Your best beloved will be totally distracted, suitably impressed.
And then there’s Venice, the city of dreams and gondolas. Hands up all those who knew about the golf club in Venice. That many, uh? Smart alecs!
The Lido is a very social club, one where families go en masse at the weekend. And they couldn’t be more hospitable. We were there on a Sunday, the day of a major club competition. We were invited to play and later joined the club president and other members for drinks and lunch on the terrace. A most memorable day. But then, every day of our stay was unforgettable.
To paraphrase Douglas MacArthur: I shall return. You will, too.
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