Verdura Resort in Sicily is to host and sponsor Golf for Autism from November 13-15, offering children and young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) an introduction to golf, both as an inclusive sport and as a therapeutic tool.
Eighteen young golfers from areas of Italy where the Golf4Autism project is currently active will travel to Verdura Resort to take part in the initiative, accompanied by their respective parents, instructors, and support staff.
The three-day event is being organised by the International Golfing Fellowship of Rotarians Italia and follows several years of work between Verdura Resort and Dr Filippo Alessi, through which children with autism have been playing golf at the resort on dedicated programmes.
Participants will take part in four golf sessions across the weekend: Friday afternoon, Saturday morning and afternoon, and Sunday morning. Coaches and organisers will use the sessions to compare different teaching methods and to assess how golf affects the participants’ social skills. They will also look at whether playing alongside one another helps the young golfers improve.
Golf suits children with autism in ways that many sports do not. Players move at their own pace, there is no clock and there is little pressure. Each shot is taken individually, so time spent with others happens naturally rather than depending on complex conversation. Setting up and playing a shot follows the same pattern each time, a predictable structure that can help ease anxiety. The open, quiet space of a golf course helps with concentration and offers a calm sensory experience.
Families are an important part of the weekend with parents and siblings encouraged to join in next month, giving them time together as well as letting them see each child’s progress for themselves in a safe and encouraging setting. Their stay also gives them the chance to experience Verdura Resort itself.
Dr Filippo Alessi said: “Golf gives these children a structure they can rely on and a reason to spend time with other people. Over the past few years at Verdura Resort, we have seen what a difference that makes. Bringing young people together from different parts of Italy lets us compare how they are taught and how they progress. What we learn will help more clubs open their doors to children with autism.”
Donato Di Ponziano, golf development supervisor for Rocco Forte Hotels, said: “Golf for Autism has become one of the most rewarding things we do at Verdura Resort. The game asks for patience and attention rather than speed, and the way the children respond to it has been remarkable. We are delighted to welcome the participants and their families this November. With our courses now open all year, we look forward to welcoming many more golfers through the winter.”
The event comes as Verdura Resort confirms that its golf will now be open year-round. Last winter, the resort opened its golf facilities at weekends for the first time. From this season, golfers will be able to play throughout the year. The Clubhouse Lounge will also remain open for the 2026/27 winter season. Players will have access to the championship courses, pro shop and private or group lessons with Verdura’s professional coaches.
Verdura Resort’s East Links and West Shore courses, together with a nine-hole par-three course, were designed by Kyle Phillips. The courses are recognised for their conditioning, playability and views along the Mediterranean coast. They are supported by a golf academy and Italy’s only European Tour-approved Performance Institute. Verdura Resort is recognised among the World’s Top 100 Golf Resorts 2026 and was named Europe’s Best Golf Hotel at the 2025 World Golf Awards.
Away from the course, guests can make use of the 4,000m² Irene Forte Spa and the resort’s private coastline. Dining is offered across seven restaurants and four bars that draw on Sicily’s culinary heritage.