Rocco Forte's Verdura Golf & Spa Resort to host the 2012 PGA Sicilian Open

Sicily, 28 November 2011 - Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, Rocco Forte Hotels' Sicilian 'jewel', has been selected as the preferred course for the prestigious 2012 Sicilian Open. The tournament, part of the PGA European Tour will be held at the resort from March 29th to April 1st 2012 and looks set to welcome more than 140 European professional players.

The first major golf tournament to be played at Verdura, players will take to the Kyle Phillips designed Links-style course to compete for the honour of being named the 2012 Sicilian Open Champion as well as to gain much coveted Ryder Cup points and Race to Dubai Euros. The Championship course will be played to a distance of 6,700 metres and to a Par of 72.

Sir Rocco Forte, chairman and CEO of Rocco Forte Hotels, comments: “We are pleased that only two years after its opening Verdura Golf & Spa Resort was chosen by the European PGA Tour to host the 2012 Sicilian Open. It is a testament to the Resort team and the work they have done in such a short time. There also couldn’t be a more appropriate destination than the beautiful Island of Sicily to officially tee off the European Tour and the tournament looks set to further cement the island’s reputation as the ideal place for golf holidays. As a golfer myself, I can testify the course at Verdura is challenging and I look forward to seeing professionals play it.”

Verdura Golf & Spa Resort offers a unique experience to players and spectators alike. The resort features two exciting 18-hole Championship seaside courses and a nine-hole course that meander around indigenous orange and olive groves, using terrain that undulates from mountain foothills down to the Mediterranean seashore and making for a memorable golf experience.

Those wishing to tread the golfing footsteps of the future Sicilian Open Champion, can now practice their swing on the Championship course with the resort’s Sicilian Celebration Package. Valid until 15 March 2011, the package starts at €190 per night and includes accommodation for two in a Deluxe Room inclusive of breakfast, complimentary green fees or a complimentary spa treatment.

Golfers wishing to experience the exclusive event can do so with the resort’s Sicilian Open Package. Available from 23 March to 1 April 2012, the offer starts at €330 per night and includes accommodation for two inclusive of breakfast and daily golf on the available holes.

Verdura Golf & Spa Resort is located on the south coast of Sicily near the seaside town of Sciacca and offers discreet exclusivity that few places can match. It is set over 230 hectares of stunning landscape with 1.8km of private coastline, yet has just 203 rooms and suites, giving a true sense of space and privacy. All rooms have private terraces and sea views and the Olga Polizzi-designed interiors combine modern luxury with authentic Sicilian motifs. There are six tennis courts, a 60m infinity swimming pool; a fully-equipped gym and running trails which meander through the olive and lemon groves. The resort's restaurants and bars celebrate Sicilian cuisine with menus created from fresh organic ingredients complemented by a superb wine list. For those seeking deep relaxation the Verdura Spa is exceptional - with four thalassotherapy pools, an extensive treatment menu and personalised well-being programmes.

To book or for more information, visit www.roccofortehotels.com  or telephone: +39 0925 998 180

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Notes to Editors
Sicilian Open Package
Complimentary upgrade to as Classic Suite when booking a Junior Suite or to a Grand Suite when booking a Classic Suite also included. Subject to availability.

Rocco Forte Hotels

Rocco Forte Hotels is a family of 13 individual hotels and resorts. Each property has a unique style, reflecting its nationality and location, but all share Rocco Forte Hotels’ trademark attention to detail, high quality and immaculate service.
 
Established by Sir Rocco Forte in 1996, Rocco Forte Hotels comprises: Hotel de Russie, Rome; Hotel Savoy, Florence; The Balmoral, Edinburgh; The Lowry Hotel, Manchester; Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg; Hotel Amigo, Brussels; Brown’s Hotel, London; Villa Kennedy, Frankfurt; Hotel de Rome, Berlin; The Charles Hotel, Munich; Augustine Hotel, Prague; Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, Sicily; Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi. Future openings: Jeddah 2013; Marrakech 2014; Cairo 2014; Luxor 2014.

www.roccofortehotels.com

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