The position of Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa in European golf continues to soar after receiving new recognition from one of the continent’s top course-ranking websites.
For the first time in its brief history, the five-star Sicilian venue has been included in the updated list of the ‘Top 30 Courses in Italy’ from popular website www.top100golfcourses.co.uk – with both its 18-hole championship courses making debuts in the new standings.
Leading the way was The Links with the par-72 layout – designed by Franco Piras – being rated 19th best in Italy, three places ahead of the Gary Player-designed Parkland course, which hosted the 2011 Sicilian Open.
Donnafugata has won widespread acclaim throughout the golf industry since opening in 2010 and, acknowledging its new position in the standings, The Top 100 Courses website comments: “Sicily may well be the largest Mediterranean island but, up until recently, Sicilian golf courses were in short supply.
“The introduction of the Gary Player-fashioned course that ably supports the contrasting Franco Piras-designed Links course at Donnafugata has (helped) completely raise the golfing bar on this charming island. The two championship courses at the luxury five-star Donnafugata Resort in the south of Sicily offer golfers a rather splendid 36-hole golf experience.
“The Links layout is routed around a couple of lakes that lie within two valleys while the Parkland course winds through a typical Ragusan landscape of olive and carob trees.”
Guy Roberts, Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa’s director of golf, said: “We were particularly keen to be recognised in the new list and for both courses to have been included is fantastic news for the resort.
“The two courses may both be comparatively new but everyone who plays them comments on how good and well-established they are. They are also so incredibly varied that they complement each other very well.
“Having respected ranking sites likes this one endorse their views is further proof of how highly both have come to be regarded in a relatively short space of time.”
After hosting the 2011 Sicilian Open, Donnafugata has enjoyed an outstanding period of success including becoming the first course in Italy to join IMG Prestige, an exclusive collection of some of the world’s most celebrated golfing venues, and both its courses being named in Golf World’s latest biennial list of the ‘Top 200 Courses in Continental Europe’.
Located just 20 minutes away from Comiso airport and set in the beautiful area of Donnafugata, a natural reserve and famous tourist destination known for the imposing castle which bears the same name, the resort also boasts a number of fantastic historical cities nearby. These include Val di Noto, the heart of Sicilian baroque: Ragusa Ibla, Modica, Noto and Scicli. All of them are deemed fitting of UNESCO World Heritage status.
Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa has 202 rooms, an award-winning spa and health club, swimming pools and three restaurants offering a broad selection of gastronomic delights, well accompanied by perfect Sicilian wines to enhance flavour.
For more details on the latest ‘Top 30 Courses in Italy’ list, go to http://www.top100golfcourses.co.uk/htmlsite/story.asp?id=491
Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa www.donnafugatagolfresort.com