North-west ItalyIn Lombardia, Piedmont and Liguria, you can find most of Italy’s top-ranked courses.

ith close to 10 courses having been ranked in Golf World’s Continental European Top 100

Courses among their number, the three golfing regions of North-west Italy comprise arguably the strongest in the country. Piedmont, Lombardia and Liguria boast Italy’s highest-profile courses, making it especially easy to intertwine a holiday of high-calibre courses with the other aspects that make a break in Italy so appealing.

***LOMBARDIA***Rich in history, culture and beauty, Lombardy is the Italian region with the highest number of UNESCO sites. It is also known as the region of the great lakes and mountains, the capital of good food and the home of innovation and creativity in fashion, art and design. It has all the splendour of renowned boutiques in

Milan’s fashion district, Leonardo da Vinci’s genius and the La Scala theatre, an authentic Opera temple. And more than 60 courses scattered across the area – 28 of which feature 18, 27 and 36 holes – make it Italy’s most well-endowed golfing region.

Around Lake ComoHistorically exclusive venues with amazing views of the lake, Lake Como’s courses have hosted some of the biggest international golf events. Luxury hotels, historical villas surrounded by nature parks and gardens, quiet scenes of unparalleled beauty – Lake Como is this and more. A few examples...

Barlassina Country Club is located at the Groane Park between Como and Milan, designed in mature forests by John Morrison in 1956. Golf Brianza Country Club was created in the late 1980s by Venetian architect Marco Croze in rolling

wide variety of world-class golf resorts. It is possible to play all-year round here thanks to its warm, temperate climate.

The Jack Nicklaus Jnr-designed Arzaga Golf Club is located inside Palazzo Arzaga, a 15th Century mansion which is now one of Europe’s leading golf and spa resorts.

Between Sirmione and Desenzano, amid the splendour of Lake Garda, sits Chervò Golf Hotel Spa & Resort, a 36-hole venue with large water hazards while Gardagolf Country Club was designed by Englishmen Cotton, Pennink, Steel and has three loops of nine. It’s hosted two Italian Opens.

A huge lake dominates Franciacorta Golf Club while Golf Club Bogliaco, close to the western hills of Lake Garda, has super views of the water, notably at the 5th.

Around MilanA treat awaits golfers just a few kilometres from Milan, where country clubs are reminiscent of many clubs in England.

It has some of the oldest and most prestigious courses in Italy. Golf Club Milano for example was founded in 1928, and is now in the Monza Park’s 685 acres of forest of 100,000 tree types. It hosts the Italian Open for the eighth time in 2016.

Golf Club Ambrosiano was founded in 1995 and designed by Daniel Silva in the

countryside with four ponds. Golf Club Carimate sits among the hills of the Brianza between Milan and Como, a 1962 course surrounded by vegetation. It has an acclaimed restaurant, too. Lecco lies in the foothills of Monte Resegone and the Grigne, and is now immaculately groomed.

Menaggio e Cadenabbia opened in 1907 and is the second oldest golf club in Italy. Its elevated location allows for privileged views of Lake Como. You might see George Clooney here too…

The pride of Lombardy, though, is Golf Club Villa d’Este, a Continental European Top 100 Course combining beautiful scenery with classic architecture features amongst chestnut, birch and pine forests.

Around Lake GardaLake Garda boasts beautiful scenery, typical Mediterranean vegetation and a

heart of Pavia’s plains while Golf Club Castello di Tolcinasco’s 27 holes were designed by Arnold Palmer and hosted the Italian Open five years running from 2004.

Molinetto Country Club is a a green oasis a short distance from the centre of Milan, Le Rovedine Golf Club, built in 1976, is the country’s only venue to have hosted both the Italian Open (1995) and Ladies Italian Open (2009) while Franco Piras’ Villa Paradiso Golf Club sits in the alluring scenery of the Adda Natural Park.

Cotton and Sutton designed Golf Club Bergamo l’Albenza in 1961 in centuries‐old forests. Zoate Golf Club, Golf Vigevano, and Crema Golf Resort indicate the depth.

Around Lake MaggioreLush forests, water streams and ponds are part of what makes Lake Maggiore perfect for golf. Each course is in a charming landscape around the lake and the nearby Monte Rosa range. Highlights include Golf dei Laghi’s forests, water streams and ponds, the superb resort of Le Robinie Golf Club – with its Jack Nicklaus design – and Golf Club Varese, with a view of rare beauty that reaches Varese’s Sacro Monte, Lake Maggiore and Monte Rosa Range.• For more information, including a golf section, visit www.in-lombardia.com

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LombardyFrom magnificent artistic cities such as Bergamo, Varese and Como to UNESCO Heritage Sites (it has 10, the highest in Italy such as Santa Maria delle Grazie and Da Vinci’s The Last Supper), there is much to see and do. Fashion capital Milan, clearly, offers amazing shopping. Visit in-lombardia.com for more details.

PiedmontTurin was for many years Italy’s capital so you can visit the symbols of power. There is artistic and architectural heritage, restaurants and shops to enjoy, and Serie A football clubs to visit. Or look to Saluzzo’s antiques, Asti’s medieval mansions and Alessandria’s well-preserved ‘Cittadella’ walls.

LiguriaStrands of golden sand in Alassio and Varigotti, the wild atmosphere of the beach of Punta Corvo and the rocks of Punta Chiappa which dive into the crystalline waters of San Fruttuoso – Liguria is all about its majestic coastline. Elsewhere, Genoa is a city of art and Europe’s biggest medieval centre.

more than golf

xxxxxing and tranquil Modena.

xxxxxrenity of Asiago GC.

Golf Club Milano will host the Italian Open in 2016.

Isole Borromee overlook four lakes.

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Wa n t more inform at ion ? V isi t W W W.i ta ly gol fa ndmore .com a nd doW nl oa d t he brochure t o l e a rn more a bou t t he regions

Another Top 100 course is Castelconturbia, just five minutes’ drive from Bogogno and with a modern course of 27 holes with nice little architectural touches by Robert Trent Jones Sr.

Golf Club Des Iles Borromees offers lovely views over the Sempione and Val Grande mountains as well as four lakes: Maggiore, Varese, Monate and Comabbio, all against the backdrops of the Canton Ticino Alps. Architect Marco Croze has carefully designed the course to make full use of the natural contours of the land.

Feudo D’Asti by architect Graham Cooke (who also created Boves in the region), Luciano Roccia and Piero Bruno’s I Girasoli, Le Fronde – designed by John

Harris in 1973 – are among the other highlights in Piedmont.

Sestrieres was founded in 1932 under the guidance of the Fiat heir Edoardo Agnelli in association with a number of British architects.

Another of the key courses is the Robert Trent Jones course at Royal Park Golf & Country Club near Turin. Rated the best golf course in Italy by numerous

****PIEDMONT****Golf is well-established in Piedmont with more than 60 clubs scattered around the region offering varying levels of challenges and type of distinctive course.

Not only are many of the courses set in areas of outstanding natural beauty, but they are also an excellent starting point for discovering a region of Italy with much to offer: cities rich in art, history and culture, unspoiled countryside, soaring Alpine peaks and wide valleys, pristine lakes and some of the world’s choicest food and wine.

Probably the most famous course in the area is Biella ‘Le Betulle’, an English-style country club with a course – laid out in a natural landscape – by John Morrison. It is always in Golf World’s Continental Top 100 Courses.

So too is Bogogno, with 36 holes located between Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore, designed by American architect Robert Van Hagge. It is difficult to split the two courses, but the Del Conte is usually regarded as slightly the superior over the Bonora. There’s a super hotel on site too.

golf magazines, the club is set in a mature forest, framed by the Alps in La Mandria regional park. It also has the 18-hole Pramerica on site.

Right next door is Circolo Golf Torino, founded in 1924 and transferred to its current site in 1957. The club encompasses two courses, both characterised by their setting of mature trees fringing the holes and fairways, and natural water hazards comprising streams and small lakes.• For further information visit the websites www.piemomonteitalia.eu and www.federgolfpiemonte.it

***LIGURIA***The thrilling challenge of playing golf in Liguria means experiencing the numerous aspects of a region characterised by dreamy views and an ideal climate.

Enjoying the warmth of the Mediterranean, Liguria’s mild climate is perfect for play all year round, with holes just a stone’s throw from the water.

There are a wide array of courses to choose from, all within easy driving distance of one another. Jewels in its golfing crown are the four 18-hole courses in Sanremo – Circolo Golf degli Ulivi, Garlenda, Cogoleto and Rapallo.

Circolo Golf Ulivi has a delightful

setting on the hills behind Sanremo, and the course – first opened in 1932 – offers visitors magnificent panoramic views out to the sea. The layout follows a natural valley, giving protection from the wind with a generally mild climate.

Garlenda was created in 1964 by two British designers – John Morrison and John Harris. It is an ideal place to combine golf with other activities, thanks to its close proximity to tourist attractions such as Alassio and Albenga.

The club is situated in the Lerrone Valley, which is one of the most beautiful and picturesque valleys of the Ligurian hinterland, surrounded by ancient olive groves and pine forests.

St. Anna Golf was designed to encompass many hazards by the famous architect Robert von Hagge between the hills above Aranzano.

Circolo Golf & Tennis Rapallo, founded in 1931 not far from the Portofino jet set, is a varied course with holes nestled in wonderful hills covered in maritime pine trees. It’s a beautiful and technical course,

with the picturesque ruins of the Monastery of Valle Christi adjacent to the seventh hole another highlight.

There are wonderful nine-hole courses to explore too.

Perched on green hills overlooking the beach are the likes of Castellaro, La Filanda in Albisola, Arenzano Golf & Tennis

Club and Marigola in Lerici.There are ideal beginner’s courses in

Genoa (Garden Golf), Quarto Alto (Cus Genova Golf Academy) and Sarzana (Sarzana GC and Cinque Laghi).

The Liguria Golf Association is a new organisation between all the golf clubs in the regions of Liguria and includes the best golf offers in the area, featuring hotel stays at favourable prices and special tariffs at numerous courses. The association offers the opportunity to purchase a golf pass, where you can play on the many wonderful golf courses of Liguria with special promotional rates. • Visit www.liguriagolf.com and turismoinliguria.it for its special golf section. n

Beguiling and tranquil Modena.

how to get thereLombardyLombardy is served by three airports that guarantee daily direct flights from the UK and Ireland – Milano Malpensa, Milano Linate and Milan Bergamo Orio al Serio.

PiedmontPiedmont has scheduled and low-cost flights from Gatwick, Stansted and Luton to Turin (Caselle Airport) and Malpensa (Milan) is also very convenient.

LiguriaLiguria is served by frequent British Airways and Ryanair flights from London to Genoa.

The charm of Portofino is well known.

Ulivi enjoys a prime setting near Sanremo.