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1. ABANO REGION
MONTECCHIA is one of three clubs only a short drive from Abano. Here you’ll find “millionaire’s golf” at a wealthy private club with every facility and luxury in a glorious setting. The course, designed by Ireland’s Tom McAuley, was the venue last year for a Challenge Tour event, so the pedigree is obvious on two counts.
The course has 27 holes and is set in a wooded valley with several lakes, a pointer to the high water table and pristine conditioning. If this is your introduction to Italian golf you’ll be goggle-eyed. And there’s more to come.
The clubhouse, a mediaeval building that was once a tobacco warehouse, typifies the sense of style that is essentially Italian. History and elegance permeate the high timbered ceilings, sweeping stairwells and expansive public areas. The dining room, the social centre of the club, is opulent and romantic. There’s also a terrace for ‘tween round lunches.
www.golfmontecchia.it/
PADOVA GC was designed by Britain’s John Harris in 1964 and is regularly listed in Italy’s Top 20. Somewhat tighter than Montecchia, this one has narrow, tree-lined fairways and lots of dog-legs. The glorious setting distracts from a course of considerable challenge and immaculate presentation.
Again, hills form the backdrop and an imposing clubhouse presides over the valley, so green it could be Ireland, in which the course reclines. Try not to become blasé about all this beauty, won’t you? You’ll want to play this more than once, but that will become a common refrain!
http://www.golfpadova.it
FRASSANELLE GC is another John Harris creation, and the venue for the 1992 Italian Ladies’ Open won by Laura Davies. It bears the Harris hallmarks; wide fairways but with judiciously placed bunkers, expansive greens with large saucer bunkers in the approaches. Ingenious design and a lovely tempo disguise a course of considerable challenge. This is a real beauty, heavily wooded and with lots of water.
Every hole is memorable: the short holes are a joy to behold, there are a some demanding par 4s and the par 5s are everything a three shotter should be. It’s easy walking and the clubhouse will leave you green with envy.
www.golffrassanelle.it
2. FURTHER AFIELD
VERONA GC is a golfing treasure, one of the most scenically endowed courses in Europe and with flawless conditioning, of a standard usually found only at Valderrama. Wooded, voluptuously undulating and with the snow-capped Dolomites forming the backdrop, a round here is a succession of visual delights as one gorgeous hole follows another.
A couple of climbs will have you puffing, although golf carts are available for the venerable. But the averagely fit golfer will take it in his stride.
The stiffest climb comes at the one hole that disappoints: the 9th is 160 yards, all up-hill to a hidden green on which only the top half of the flag stick is visible. It looks unfinished but it could be easily improved.
This aside, Verona will bring an unforgettable day out, enhanced by a clubhouse of rustic charm with every service. It is an exclusive club with a strong junior section and well-used tennis and swimming facilities. A day here will be a delight to experience.
www.golfclubverona.com
VENICE LIDO GC is one of the oldest in Italy. Its course began as a nine holer in 1928 and was extended by John Harris circa 1960. Part of an island a short boat ride from St Mark’s Square, it is on a compact site that touches the famous Lido beach on the Adriatic coast.
It is another intimate family club with an emphasis on social life in a charmingly rustic clubhouse. But visitors are made most welcome and are even invited to play in the competition of the day.
The course is another beauty with the emphasis on the shot to the medium-sized greens. There are dog-legs of varying severity and it is heavily wooded, too, so although the fairways are generally expansive some accuracy is required. Good drivers will love it.
The holes are an agreeable mix of shot value, which affords a pleasing tempo, and some are memorable and bring considerable challenge.
Naturally, considering its location, there are several lakes and several water carries, so it plays to its full length of 6,600 yards, par-72.
This is a gem, enhanced by the novelty of its setting and the means of access, a 35 minute trip from the city’s ferry terminal that brings some of the world’s most spectacular sight-seeing. A word of warning: beware the hospitality less you miss the last ferry, a not uncommon occurrence!
www.circologolfvenezia.it
ASOLO GC is in the north of the region, in grappa country, about 90 minutes by road from Lake Garda. It’s a stylish and elegant resort, owned by the Benetton group, that nestles in the foothills of the Massiccio del Grappa mountains.
The setting is picture book pretty and utterly serene. The silence is broken only by bird song and the bells in the church towers that punctuate the surrounding hill sides.
There is a swimming pool, tennis and a spa-health club in the large and opulent clubhouse, built circa 1992. There is no hotel as such, but accommodation is available in apartments and townhouses or villas, all on high ground overlooking the 27 holes.
The latter, opened in 1995, is a real test from the back pegs, although there’s a choice of tees. Don’t be too ambitious is sound advice! This is a big course with large targets and equally expansive hazards: lakes, bunkers and ditches abound. It is lush, impeccable in presentation but it plays long.
Asolo is ideal for a short break and remarkably good value from about £45 per person per night to include golf but not food, which may be taken in the clubhouse dining room. (Buffet breakfast from about £5, a three course dinner from about £15.) There are several restaurants in the nearby villages and Treviso airport is 30 minutes away.
www.asologolf.it/
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