Golf Club Grado has capped a successful 2013 season, in which it hosted two professional championships, with praise from a renowned Italian Ryder Cup star.
The north eastern Italian resort hosted the Fruili Venezia Giulia Open on the Alps Tour in June and the Italian PGA Seniors Championship this month attracting praise from none other than three-time Ryder Cup player and five-time European Tour winner Costantino Rocca.
After taking part in the Fruili Venezia Giulia Open, Rocca, who lost out to American John Daly in a play-off at the 1995 Open Championship at St Andrews, said: “I am fortunate enough to have played many courses in Italy and around the world but this was my first visit to Grado. It is clearly a very good course with excellent practice facilities and a welcoming clubhouse. I look forward to visiting again and playing a round there in future. I would urge people coming to this part of Italy to visit and experience the course for themselves.”
Grado sits on the Adriatic Sea and is one and a half hour’s drive from the wonderful city of Venice. Part of the Tenuta Primero Resort, Grado is renowned for its warm climate and all-year-round golf. The challenging 6650 yard, par 72 Grado championship course sits on the beautiful Grado lagoon and its stunning par three first hole boasts an island green which has led to it being described as the “European Sawgrass” by the golf media.
Rocca, who was part of the winning European Ryder Cup teams at Oak Hill in 1995 and Valderrama in 1997, where he famously defeated Tiger Woods in the singles, added: “I was hugely impressed by Golf Club Grado on my recent visit. The course is challenging but fair and has a real linksy feel, being close to the sea and with the wind coming into play. It has some tough holes and some very memorable ones such as the par three first hole which plays to an island green. The course is suitable for all levels of ability though and would make for an enjoyable few rounds on holiday.”
Ivan Marzola, the President of Golf Club Grado, said: “It has been an excellent season for us and we are delighted to that Costantino was so impressed with Grado. The course is continuing to mature and improve from year to year and makes for a challenging but enjoyable championship venue. It attracted widespread praise from the competitors in both events and from visitors throughout the year. The fact that a player of Costantino’s stature was so impressed is really the icing on the cake for us. We are looking forward to continuing this momentum in 2014.”
To conclude the 2013 golfing season Golf Club Grado offers a wide range of great value holiday packages available from December 2, 2013 until January 6, 2014 and starting at 129 Euros per night in a suite and two green fees. Two nights in a suite and four green fees cost 219 Euros.
The Tenuta Primero resort boasts a private marina which can accommodate yachts of up to 25m in length, a private beach and facilities such as a heated swimming pool, tennis, volleyball and basketball courts and a selection of restaurants and bars. Among the many delights of the resort is also the gourmet restaurant Al Casone which offers authentic Italian fine dining experience ranging among the most highly regarded ones in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region.
Tenuta Primero resort www.tenuta-primero.com