244 - Antognolla Golf

Location: Perugia, Italy

Rating: 8.8

Heading to Antognolla with a group of Leading Courses expert raters, I was a little dubious about playing the same course 3 days in a row. The group that we are, love to tick off as many different courses as possible but my doubts were squashed very quickly.

Having had the opportunity to play the course 3 days in a row, it gave us an even greater appreciation of not only the 18 holes on offer but the generosity and hospitality of the staff around the resort.

With the clubhouse situated on the other side of the road to the course you don’t really get a full appreciation of it until you cross under the bridge and get to the first tee. A relatively straight forward par 4, nothing too long or intimidating. Exactly what any golfer needs! However the true difficulty of the course is only realised when you reach the green. They are multi-tiered, difficult to read and incredibly fast. Kudos to the groundstaff, they are soft enough to be able to spin a ball on approach but hard and fast when putting on them.

There are many stand out holes throughout the course but I really enjoyed the par 5, 8th hole. It really requires strategy and precision with your shot with anyone with a bogey or better walking off extremely happy. The 7th is no easier, an elevated tee shot narrows significantly the further down you go. At driver distance it is no more than a few meters wide with bunkers running down the left and rough to the right leaving an approach with the ball severely above your feet.

I could go on, the 6th a par 5 with bunkers in the middle of the fairway managing your distance. The 9th and 17th, two downhill par 3s, the numerous holes with the castle in the backdrop or facing the other way and hitting towards the hill and rockface, the scenery is stunning and the maintenance too. The fairways were so pure and soft under the club.

Off the course the restaurant was so good! The food was exceptional, Franco and his team made it feel like a home away from home. The on course team supporting with the pace of play and any refreshments and the staff in the morning preparing the buggies were all super friendly.

I can’t wait for the incoming changes and the completion of the 6th sense hotel, it will be a truly world class destination once complete.