Verdura (West)

The 5-star verdura resort on sicily's south west coast spared no cost in its construction, and the 45-hole golf complex at its heart is one of the finest sports facilities anywhere in the mediterranean region.

The two championship 18-hole courses – east and west – designed by renowned american architect kyle phillips are the golfing stars of the display at verdura, and they are well served by a 9-hole par three course, a driving range, and a practicing field.

The east is divided into two nine-hole circuits that return in a clockwise direction, while the west has a conventional out-and-back layout. The clever arrangement of holes on both courses allows for the creation of a hybrid course – using the best holes from each layout – allowing verdura to host a tournament. The sicilian open was held in 2012 on a hybrid course that included holes from both the west and east courses. Thorbjorn olesen of denmark won the tournament by one shot over england's chris wood, who set a new course record of 64 on the final day. it was olesen's first european tour victory.

On the front nine of the west side, a couple of holes circle an old railway line (the par three 3rd has a restored station in the background) before arriving at the blue waters of the mediterranean at holes 8 and 9, a set of two shotters that finish a run of five consecutive par fours on the outer half.