T
he great composer Giuseppe
Verdi once said: “You may
have the universe if I may
have Italy.” The man who
wrote La donna è mobile” from Rigoletto
and “Va, pensiero” (The Chorus of the
Hebrew Slaves) is one of the greatest
artists in the history of music but he was
also born in Le Rencole, a village in the
province of Parma which is at the heart
of one of Italy’s most beautiful regions.
Parma is one of nine provinces in the
Emilia Romagna region, arguably its
most beautiful and one of its richest
sources of culture, architecture, gastronomy and history.
Not only does it offer beauty and
beaches as well as wonderful Renaissance towns and castles, but it also
boasts 25 superb golf courses and 24 fine
hotels – all at low and affordable prices
for the intrepid golf traveller looking for
something new and vibrant.
If you love Mediterranean cuisine,
the southern European lifestyle and the
beautiful weather, the Emilia Romagna
region in northern Italy is a must with
its long history of architectural beauty
and rugged landscapes.
Consisting of nine provinces — Bologna, Ferrara, Forlì-Cesena, Modena,
Parma, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggio Emilia and Rimini — the area stretches from
the Apennine Mountains that border
Tuscany in the east to the shimmering
Emília Romagna
A T R E AT F O R T H E S E N S E S
e x perien c e a n i ta l i a n pa r a d i s e t h at w il l d r aw
for more information and bookings,
l o v e r s o f g o l f, a r t, f o o d a n d d r i n k a l i k e
website: www.emiliaromagnagolf.com
by brian keogh
e-mail: [email protected]
122 IRELAND’S BIGGEST-SELLING GOLF MAGAZINE
please contact emilia romagna golf
tel: +39 0544 916280/72424
fax: +39 0544 972911
Adriatic Sea in the west.
For golf lovers it ticks every box. You’ll
find no fewer than 25 golf courses clustered here and with all coming at the
unbeatable prices, it’s almost too good
to be true.
Not only that, many of the courses offer specially discounted tourist packages
via Emilia Romagna Golf (www.emiliaromagnagolf.com), which means there’s
probably never been a better time to visit
a region that offers everything you could
possibly wish for from a holiday — great
golf, great weather, sensational food and
a rich cultural heritage.
Rates for seven nights hotel accommodation (B&B) plus five green fees start
at €605 (approximately £450) per person and includes tee time booking and
assistance by Emilia Romagna Golf’s
expert staff.
The region is highly accessible from
Ireland with Aer Lingus and Ryanair
both flying direct to Bologna several
times a week.
What more can you ask from a holiday than the choice of a wide range of
courses from Piacenza to Rimini in the
land that not only gave us the Ferrari,
the Lamborghini, the Maserati and the
Ducati, but the wonderful backdrop for
Bernardo Bertolucci’s epic movie 1900.
THE ADRIATIC C OAST
Away from the fairways, Emilia Romagna has plenty to offer including
Cervia and Rimini in the Adriatic Coast
area. Why not visit the UNESCO World
Heritage town of Ravenna, famed for
its incredible Byzantine mosaics and
splendid monuments or take the whole
family to the amusement and theme
parks of Mirabilandia, Aquafan and
Italia in Miniatura on the Adriatic coast.
Climb the road that leads to the top
of the Republic of San Marino and enjoy
the spectacular views that span from
the Valmarecchia Park as far as San Leo,
Torriana and Mount Carpegna.
Spend a day relaxing in the spa town
of Riolo after visiting the splendid fortress and medieval hamlet of Brisighella.
Visit the beautiful medieval town of
Bertinoro, famous for its many small
wine cellars, and take in a wine tasting before cooling off in the thermal
waters and in the Spa Center of Terme
della Fratta.
Cycle along one of the many routes
that explore the beauty of the Po Delta Park through the natural oasis of
Comacchio and Mesola Forest.
BOLO G NA & MODENA
Art lovers will adore Bologna and
Modena with Golf Club Bologna, designed by Henry Cotton and John Harris
in 1959, offering panoramic views across
the countryside.
As for Modena Golf and Country Club,
it’s located just a few kilometres from
the factory and test track of legendary
carmaker Ferrari.
Designed by another sporting legend
in former Masters champion Bernhard
Langer, it is a long, challenging course
that requires careful course management to return a good score.
A university city, Bologna has much
to offer and you may enjoy shopping in
the Galleria Cavour or a well-deserved
coffee at one of the outdoor cafes on
Piazza Maggiore.
PARMA & SALSOMAGG IORE
Those staying to the west around Parma will love the superb Golf del Ducato.
Established in 1985 and just shy of
6,700 yards, the course has a wonderfully mature feel despite artificial
lakes acting as its main defense.
In addition to Parma’s monuments
and museums, which are only 13 kilometres away, there are a number of
interesting places to visit such as the
15th century Torrechiara Castle or the
fortresses of Fontanellato, Colorno,
Soragna and Canossa.
Parma itself is a treasure trove of
wonderful architecture and museums
with a visit to the Cathedral and Baptistery thoroughly recommended.
Music lovers may enjoy a visit to the
birthplace of Giuseppe Verdi and the
house in Roncole di Busseto where he
was born on 10 October 1813. Indeed, you
can enjoy the magical world of classical
music at the Regio Theatre in Parma.
IRELAND’S BIGGEST-SELLING GOLF MAGAZINE 123
Italy’s
Veneto
VENICE G ARDEN
GOLF’S HIDDEN GEM
Enjoy the countryside surrounding Venice through its many different flavours
and the Prosecco wine, the traditional
cuisine and the unique atmosphere of
the antique Villas built by the Venetian
noble on the countryside, called the
Venice Garden.
All this is just a short drive from the
ancient Serenissima Republic of Venice.
With good reason, Arnold Palmer, John
Harris and Stan Eby are among the golf
architects to have designed some of the
most impressive courses here including
Asolo, Villa Condulmer, Golf Club Ca’
Amata, Ca’ della Nave Golf Club, Golf
Jesoloa and Venezia Golf Club.
I
t took seven years of hard work
and investment before the International Association of Golf Tour
Operators voted Golf in Veneto the
recipient of the prestigious Undiscovered
Golf Destination of the Year Award. When
2,200 golf tour operators agree on such
an important accolade, the first region
in Italy to ever receive the honour, it’s
certain that this is a special part of golf.
Forget for a moment the great cultural
attractions of a region that boast cities
such as Venice, Verona, Padua, Vicenza
and Treviso. Golf in Veneto offers visitors no fewer than 43 golf courses which
enjoy breathtaking views and spectacular landscapes.
VENE TO HILLS AND SPA
Veneto Hills Golf & Spa offers visitors
a series of jaw-dropping views, landscapes and panoramas which change
colour and aroma in the space of a few
kilometres, passing from the lagoon,
with its pungent aroma of brine, fishing
boats and sand, to the exhilaratingly
sweet and fruity fragrance of the hills,
and the earthy smell of undergrowth
and the riverbanks.
Padua, Verona, Vicenza, Venice and
the Villas and a plethora of tiny villages
conceal great treasures, while the cuisine of the Veneto region serves up an array of unique, exclusive flavours which
vary from place to place.
AS FOR THE GOLF: Golf Club Padova,
Golf Club Frassanelle, Golf Club Montecchia and Golf della Montecchia are all
well worth a visit.
THE D OLOMITES AND
VENE TO MOUNTAINS
it’s been three ye ars since it was voted the
b e s t u n d i s c o v e r e d g o l f d e s t i n at i o n i n t h e w o r l d
b u t g o l f er s h av e s t il l to b ec o me fa mil i a r w i t h
the charms of the vene to region by b r i a n k eo g h
They are located in an area stretching from the Dolomites to the sea, from
Venice to Vicenza, from Lake Garda to
the Abano and Montegrotto hot springs;
and feature well-equipped, elegant hotels
and charming relais (or stopping posts).
The group not only offers the chance to
experience great golf, but is also a wonderful opportunity to combine sports
with culture, history and gastronomy,
especially the wines (Prosecco, Raboso,
Amarone, Soave, to mention a few), raising the experience of sampling new flavours and pleasure to a new level.
Golf in Veneto features four individual
golf districts: Venice Garden (Venice and
Treviso); Veneto Hills and Spa (Terme
Euganee and Padua); Verona and Lake
Garda; and the Dolomites and Veneto
Mountains.
The north of Veneto boasts a breathtaking natural wonder: the Dolomites, a
paradise all-year long. Cortina, nicknamed the Queen of the Dolomites, offers perfect views of snowy peaks that
turn pink at sunset.
This natural show is called “enrosadira”, an expression in the local idiom
which means “the evening pink”: it is
a phenomenon caused by the peculiar
geological formation of these mountains, where the sunset provides a lovely
backdrop for what has become the local
custom of sipping an aperitivo while
enjoying the scenery.
Play a round at Asiago Golf Club and
you may well bump into Renato Paratore
or Edoardo Molinari, two of the biggest
young stars in Italian golf.
VERONA AND L AKE G ARDA
Known worldwide as the setting for
Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet, Verona is one of the most significant
historic cities in Italy. What is striking about Verona is the extraordinary
wealth of its art, history and culture,
from the Roman remains with the Arena
(the unique open air theatre where magnificent operas are staged), to Celtic,
Medieval and Renaissance masterpieces
of unrivaled value.
Golf Club Paradiso del Garda is just
part of the attraction of Lake Garda,
which is just a short distance from the
city and has enchanted visitors since a
first illustrious tourist and promoter,
Wolfgang Goethe, first visited in 1786.
You can explore the Veneto through
its vineyards or the treasures of its art
in history. What better way to enjoy
breakfast than on the boat in front of
Piazza San Marco in Venice, the ending the day sipping Prosecco on board
a fluvial yacht.
There can be no doubt that exploring
nature off the beaten path, discovering
lesser-known wonders and observing
the most popular places from a different perspective, riding a bike or walking
along the paths of faith, awakens new
sensations.
Every visit and every site tells a story
or celebrates an event and provides an
opportunity to diversify the holiday
playing golf on manicured courses from
the hinterland to the coast.
Playing the golf courses where Matteo Manassero and Costantino Rocca
launched their careers and where European Tour stars still play to this day.
Whatever you do and no matter where
you go, the experience is bound to be
an unforgettable one.
for more information
consorzio di promozione turistica marca
treviso, via venier 55, 31100 treviso – italy
website: www.golfinveneto.to
tel: +39 0422 54 10 52
fax: +39 0422 59 11 95
e-mail: [email protected]
IRELAND’S BIGGEST-SELLING GOLF MAGAZINE 125
Friuli
Venezia
Giulia
A FEAST FOR THE SENSES
t he regi on i s b ot h a d r e a m d e s t i n at i o n for
golfers as well as one of europe’s richest are as
f o r g a s t r o n o m y a n d c u lt u r e by brian keogh
ordering Austria to the north
and Slovenia to the east with
the Adriatic Sea to its south,
the Friuli Venezia Giulia of
northeast Italy is a dream destination in
the heart of Europe. Not only does it offer everything from sea, mountains and
hills to great food and wine, wonderful
cultural attractions in a host of great cities, it’s also a region where you can play
some great golf.
While it’s included in the name, Venice
is not part of the region. But with cities
such as Trieste, Gorizia, Udine, Pordenone,
Aquileia and Cividale del Friuli all nearby,
there is no shortage of cultural delights for
lovers of the arts. With flight connections
from Dublin to Treviso airport — just one
hour by car from the golf courses of Friuli
Venezia Giulia — it’s hard to believe that
green fees at the region’s seven 18-hole golf
flatter and includes a number of water
hazards and well-protected greens that
will test the most accomplished and experienced players.
A visit to Trieste, once home to James
Joyce, is a must and Golf Club Trieste
was the first club to be founded Friuli
B
courses cost an average €50.
Open all year round, Golf Club Castel
d’Aviano is located inside the prestigious
Natural Park at Villa Policreti while the
Golf and Country Club Castello di Spessa
in Giros is set in the magnificent surroundings of the 13th century Castello di Spessa.
Golf Club Grado, which is also in Gorizia, overlooks Grado Lagoon with its
herons, wild swans, flamingos and other
fauna while Golf Club Lignano in Udine
is just a stone’s throw from the sea and
the well-known beach resort of Lignano.
Nearby Golf Club Tarvisio, originally
a nine-hole course designed by Giacomo
Cabrini, was extended to 18 holes in 2003
by Canadian architect Graham Cooke and
offers two very different nines.
The first nine holes winds its way over
challenging terrain amidst the splendid
Tarvisio forest, while the closing nine is
126 IRELAND’S BIGGEST-SELLING GOLF MAGAZINE
Castello di Spessa Golf Club, credit: F. Gallina
Golf Senza Confini Tarvisio
Venezia Giulia, set up by allied troops
immediately after the Second World War.
The club, which celebrated its 50th
anniversary in 2005, lies just a few minutes away from the Slovenian border and
overlooks the delightful panorama of the
Gulf of Trieste.
Golf Club Udine, the nine-hole course
originally designed by architects John Harris and Marco Croze, was extended recently
to 18 holes and is now owned by the new
Villaverde Hotel & Resort Wellness Spa &
Golf, which opened in February 2016.
They club will host the European Senior
Tour at the end of October 2016 when it
stages the 2016 Senior Italian Open from
October 21-23.
If the golf is great, the cultural offering
is even better with Trieste, Udine, Gorizia,
and Pordenone all must-see destinations.
Trieste achieves a perfect balance of
styles in its architecture: art nouveau,
eclectic and Baroque buildings stand
cheek-by-jowl with Roman remains
and solid, self-confident 18th century
Habsburg piles.
But the real melting pot in the “Mitteleuropa” area is Gorizia, a favourite with
the Habsburg bourgeoisie, who enjoyed
the charming parks scattered at the foot of
the hill, at the top of which lie the medieval
Aquileia, credit: M. Crivellari
village and castle.
Udine also has a medieval core nestling
between ancient palaces and Venetian
squares, where the locals like to meet for
a classic aperitif after work in the early
evening: an excellent glass of white wine.
Pordenone is a smart town that has skillfully carved out a niche for itself as an important venue for sophisticated cultural
events. Its centre, with frescoed palaces,
elegant cafés and stylish shops, is ideal for a
stroll that combines both art and shopping.
Food and wine are part and parcel of
life in Italy and in Friuli Venezia Giulia,
the land and its cuisine are tied by an unbreakable bond.
The extraordinary biodiversity of this
area, which comes from an excellent
geomorphological and natural variety,
is also expressed in cultural elements,
from language to traditions to gastronomy. It is through cuisine where you can
truly sense the heritage formed by centuries of contact with different peoples
and cultures.
Here, products and flavours from the
Mediterranean blend with those from
the Balkans and Central Europe without eliminating local traditional cuisine,
with products such as Prosciutto di San
Daniele, Montasio cheese, Tergeste oil,
Brovada (pickled turnips) or traditional
sweets such as gubana or putizza sure to
delight the palate.
World Heritage sites abound such as
Aquileia, which was founded in 181 B.C.
and rose to become one of the biggest and
richest towns of the Roman Empire.
The wonderful Basilica of Santa Maria
Assunta was built over a fourth-century
building, which in the following centuries was subjected to several extensions
(mostly destroyed during the barbarian
invasions). In the temple, one can admire
the famous early Christian mosaics (fourth
century), which are a milestone in the
history of Italian art.
Cividale del Friuli, founded in 53 BC by
Julius Caesar and originally called Forum
Iulii from which the name Friuli is derived,
has a number of unique sights, such as
the Lombard Temple, one of the most extraordinary and mysterious works of Early
Medieval architecture in Western Europe.
for information on hotel and tee-time
bookings in the friuli venezia giulia region
contact: Civado Golf by Cividin Via
website: www.civadogolf.com
www.civadoitaly.com
tel: +39 040 3789340/348
e-mail: [email protected]
Golf Club Udine, credit: Fabrice Gallina