The long game: Embracing golf the Sicilian way

The sound comes first - the soft thud of a well-struck ball, rising into a clear blue Sicilian sky. Ahead, fairways unfold in undulating greens towards the blue calm of the Mediterranean. The air is warm, perfumed with orange blossom and sea salt. There’s no rush, only a meditative rhythm: swing, step, breathe and repeat, interrupted only by the sound of waves.

That kind of peace, and this kind of paradise, are rarely found anywhere - but Verdura Resort carves space for both. Recently named Europe’s Best Golf Hotel 2025 at the World Golf Awards, it is a place where the game and the landscape move in perfect harmony.

The course

An early tee-off here is quietly profound - the course empty, and the spring sun already warming the fairways as wildflowers scatter across the countryside.

Set across 230 hectares of unspoiled coastline, the resort’s East and West Courses, designed by Kyle Phillips, follow the island’s natural contours. While each hole offers a subtle change in mood and terrain, the 13th - a short par three beside the water - remains a favourite: a small but testing hole that rewards focus, yet even a missed shot comes with the consolation of extraordinary views. 

For those inclined to look more closely at their game, the performance centre offers personalised insight, with PGA-qualified professionals and a range of hi-tech evaluation tools, including SAM PuttLab and Trackman, on hand. 

Between rounds, the Club Lounge is the place to be – a refined yet relaxed space overlooking the 18th green. Set beside the 16th-century Verdura Tower, it’s the perfect spot for a morning espresso, a sandwich between holes, or a celebratory drink after a game well played.

A mediterranean state of mind

By early afternoon, the pace naturally shifts. Hours spent walking fairways by the sea quieten the mind. Shoulders soften, breath deepens, and the rhythm of the game creates space for stillness — one of golf’s rare and enduring pleasures.

From here, the day unfolds without urgency. Some are drawn back to the course and the promise of another nine holes. Others pause for a light, seasonal lunch — food shaped by the land that feels instinctively right after time outdoors. And for many, the next chapter is restoration.

At the Irene Forte Spa, recovery is treated as a continuation of the day rather than a pause from it. Treatments draw on botanicals grown in the resort’s organic garden, easing tired muscles and restoring balance after time in the open air. It reflects a distinctly Sicilian understanding of wellbeing — natural and quietly effective.

A place for every player

Golf here is as much about shared experience as individual play. For younger players, the introduction to the game at the Golf Academy is gentle and encouraging. There is pride in the first clean strike, and confidence that grows with each attempt. Parents watch from nearby, sharing in those small victories that often become lasting memories.

Life here mirrors this sense of ease. The resort’s Private Villas offer space to enjoy the rhythm of the day — mornings on shaded terraces, afternoons drifting between pool and fairways, evenings shaped by stories retold over dinner. Direct access to the fairways and a personal buggy for exploring the resort are the perfect accompaniment.

At Verdura Resort, golf is woven into a broader philosophy of living well — open air, gentle movement, good food and time shared with others. In spring and summer, when days are long and unhurried, it becomes more than a sport — it becomes a way of inhabiting Sicily.