Home to Formula 1 giant Ferrari, the region of Emilia Romagna in northern Italy is full of surprises. With the glorious city of Bologna at its heart, the region is served by four international airports; Bologna, Rimini, Parma and Forlì. A wider variety of flights are available from several UK airports into Milan and Pisa / Florence, which are within a 1 hour drive from Emilia Romagna. In the Emilia Romagna Golf Circuit there are 2 golf courses with 27 holes (Cervia and Modena), 14 golf courses with 18 holes and 9 golf courses with 9 holes.
This beautiful destination has more than just golf to offer, it has the best equipped beaches in Europe, the oldest university in the world (Bologna), more than 4,000 hotels, almost 2,000 restaurants, 60 museums, 10 spas, 16 theme parks, 135 cinemas and theatres, 48 camp sites and tourist villages, more than 2,000 bars and cafés, 3,500 mooring places, 135 banks, 132 discos, 200 amusement arcades, almost 600 public sports centres and 13 tourist harbours.
With so many choices available, Emilia Romagna Golf offers to take some of that hard work away from you – operating with 25 courses with links to 24 different types of hotels which offers the visitor the best value accommodation and green fee package available.
In effect, Emilia Romagna Golf, act as a Destination Management Company offering the most discounted rates for golf courses and hotels to golf taking care of all the “ground activities” (tee times, hotel bookings, transfers, rental cars, extra golf
activities…) from a single point of sale in a modern and professional way.
Flights and car hire can be arranged by the individual but with low cost flights and internet booking, even that is so easy.
Here golfers can enjoy some of the best-kept courses in Europe, wonderfully situated in soaring countryside and at prices that will leave you with enough to enjoy the odd bottle of Lambrusco.
The golf sits alongside art, gastronomy, spas and a superb climate and if you enjoy this winning combination, in Emilia Romagna they promise you more than just another golfing holiday.
Emilia Romagna prides itself on the quality of its golf and boasts courses which are not only in superb condition but are technically demanding with elegant, well-appointed clubhouses and friendly people.
The golf courses of Emilia Romagna all lie close to historic cities and charming Renaissance villages.
If you’re a food lover, this is a golfing region to tickle the palate with pasta of all shapes, colours and flavours; tasty Parma hams; mature parmigiano cheeses; Lambrusco wines; many variations of Bolognese sauces, flat breads and pastries — you can feel the waistband tightening already.
So it’s plain to see that the only way to keep off those extra inches is with a few rounds of golf.
Just a fantastic treat for the gourmet golfer.
Ferrari sports cars are made in this region, along with two other world beating marques in Lamborghini and Ducati. Each has its own motor museum and they are definitely worth visiting, particularly if you are a lover of motor sport.
Between Ravenna and Bologna lies the world famous Imola racetrack and just in case you thought Imola only has a racetrack, take a detour. It is also a historic town, the home of both Leonardo da Vinci and members of the notorious Borgia dynasty.
If you look at a map of the region, you will see that its towns and golf courses are strung along a straight line, stretching from Rimini on the Adriatic coast to Piacenza in the north.
Starting our golfing voyage of discovery near Piacenza on Emilia Romagna’s north western border, we will find the Croara Country Club in a hillside setting which enjoys a mild climate. The course, which hosted the first Italian Women’s Open, lies halfway between the Trebbia river and the lower slopes of the Apennines. Its layout offers 18 testing holes, with narrow fairways surrounded by naive woodland. Don’t miss the medieval village and the Castle of Rivalta, close to Croara.
Standing sentinel in the lush hillsides surrounding the ancient spa town of Salsomaggiore is the Salsomaggiore Golf & Thermae. Inaugurated in 1992, the course’s rippling fairways and tight, fast greens are laid out in 70 hectares of parkland and garden, 360 metres above sea. The golf is superb and the setting matchless. This is Verdi’s country and the house where the great musician was born can be visited at Roncole Verdi.
Also here, near the medieval cities of Parma, Cremona and Mantova, is the La Rocca Golf Club, close to the pretty Sala Baganza ducal village. La Rocca also enjoys a spectacular setting and panoramic views across Parma’s plains. This is a moderately difficult course running among woods of oaks, Riolo la Torre GC acacias and artificial lakes.
A number of important historic buildings lie close by such as the Torrechiara Castle, The Fontanellato and the forts of Colorna, Soragna and Canossa.
Also close to Parma is Matilde di Canossa Golf Club, which enjoys magnificent views. Designed by Mario Croze, the course opened in 1987 created in a stunning landscape in a an area rich with Italian history. Croze created an 18 hole, par 72 course laid out over 6,200 metres of varied terrain making good use of the natural undulations of the land and the Quaresimo stream which flows through the course.
Back to nature is the theme across Reggio Emilia and nowhere can the golfer be at one with his surroundings than at the very lovely course at San Valentino Golf Club. Lying in a deep wooded valley and enhanced by four lakes the club, originally just nine holes, added another nine last summer giving a testing and attractive championship par 69 layout. The club also boasts a hotel and conference centre plus and impressive array of leisure facilities.
German champion Bernhard Langer designed Modena Golf & Country Club and it is considered one of Italy’s finest. Wide greens and tees and the five artificial lakes have helped to make it a venue for the Italian Open. This is one of two clubs in Emilia Romagna offering 27 holes and the 9 hole course at Modena is a highly enjoyable executive course.
Bologna is the capital of Emilia Romagna and has one of Italy’s most historic golf courses, the splendid Bologna Golf Club, which was designed by Cotton and Harris and built in 1959. Its par-72, 18-hole layout rolls over splendid countryside with panoramic views across surrounding hills and plains.
Peter Alliss added some recent modifications and the club regularly hosts Italian Amateur Championships and top-class professional competitions. The clubhouse restaurant is one of the best 10 golf club restaurants in Italy.
Move south towards the Adriatic coast, you’ll come across a real find for lovers of both spa and golf in Le Fonti Golf Club at Castel San Pietro Terme. Le Fonti measures 6,480 metres, par-72, and is situated in the pretty Torrente Sillaro valley, with its particularly mild and healthy micro-climate, near the renowned spa centre. Off course attractions include the Castel San Pietro Spa centre, the Dozza Fortress and the Ippocampus Horses Centre.
Surrounded by the striking chalk vein and by the green Apennine range, the 18 holes of Riolo Golf & Country Club’s modern layout stretch over more than 200 hectares of unspoiled terrain. The layout of alternating flat and sharply sloping holes demands both strength and accuracy. To make the game
even more exciting, there are lakes, bunkers and spectacular ravines
Towards the sea, you’ll find the Adriatic Golf Club at Cervia. Its 6,246-metre, 27-hole layout winds between pine woods and salty lakes in a natural setting close to the ocean. The first nine holes are like classic Scottish links, whilst the second nine, surrounded by water obstacles, were inspired by the great American courses. The Italian Professional Championship has been held here on several occasions, as have the most important Italian amateur competitions.
Rimini Verucchio Golf Club stretches out across the green Valmarecchia park, with an unrivalled view of San Marino, Verruchio and Torriana. With its 18 championship holes and an additional seven executive holes reserved for beginners, the Rimini Golf Club course is
fascinating. Designed by Brian Silva, it has softly undulating fairways dotted with bunkers and numerous lakes that have water games.
Rimini is a popular resort with fine beaches and lively town attractions.
The Riviera golf resort meanders along the right bank of the River Conca, The 18-hole course was planned by the famous designer Graham Cooke to adapt to the gently rolling hills of the countryside near San Giovanni in Marignano. As well a 9-hole executive Pitch & Putt course, two 18-hole putting greens and brand new pitching and chipping greens there is a driving range with heated, floodlit stations.
If you are looking for a different kind of golf holiday, with gastronomy and culture, Emilia Romagna has everything you need. You will get the best out of life both on and off the golf course.
For information, hotel bookings, tee times & tourist packages:
Emilia Romagna Golf c/o Cervia Turismo Via Evangelisti 4, 48015 Cervia, Ravenna, Italy
Tel: 00 39 0544 916280 / 72424 Fax: 00 39 0544 972911
Email: [email protected] emiliaromagnagolf.com