5 nights with breakfast at Hotel Sina Villa Matilde and 2 green fees per person (GC Biella and Golf Club Cavaglia)

We’re on the hills of the Serra of Biella: all around us is nature, lush forests and gentle undulation. It is almost 60 years since the British architect John Morrison placed the 18 holes of the course here and meanwhile, in the peace of the woods, the clubhouse and lodgings were built. Since then very little seems to have changed inside the Biella club, which enjoys some sort of splendid isolation. Testing yourself on this masterpiece-course, award-winning among the best of Italy, is not an easy task, but rewarding, in any case. And towards the end, here’s a hole like no other: the 16th, a par 5 493 m long. A blind second shot to a diagonally downhill fairway you can only guess at. What you can never expect are the two rocks in the middle of the fairway: to be positively avoided, any rebound could be fatal to the score. Woe onto those who aim at the right of the green: the ball would slip in the rough, between the tangle of birches from which the club take its name. Inside the clubhouse is simple but tasteful decoration with wooden floorboards that are still hammered by the spikes of the old golf shoes; the same atmosphere awaits you in the bright and airy rooms of the restaurant, maybe sipping a drink, sitting on the comfortable sofas by the fireplace. Technical Details Course: 18 holes, Par 73, 6497 meters Architect: John Morrison Topography: narrow fairways and rich vegetation. Pro’s comments To define Biella Golf Club you need a superlative: gorgeous. A beautiful course in an area exclusively dedicated to golf (there’s no swimming pool, no tennis court etc.) Except the par 3s and the 13th, all the holes are dog-legs: a well-placed tee-shot becomes essential; on the greens, be extremely careful! Plenty of slopes, raised holes and steps could cause trouble. To high handicap players I suggest patience, to the low handicap players I only say: “Have fun”!

If you are looking for a home base for a quality golf tour in northwestern Italy, Cavaglia could be the answer. Easy to reach – very close to the A4 Milan-Turin motorway – it features an 18-hole course open all year round with a view of the Piedmont Prealps and the golf course, and offers the plus of having five other aristocratic and enjoyable courses in its vicinities. A match on this intriguing and fun course is equally enjoyable. Over the years, the Golf Club Cavaglia has grown in quality and number of holes. From its initial 6 holes in 1998, it increased to 9 with double tees in 1999, to which 6 executive holes were added in 2001. In 2014 work went underway to transform the land into one single 18-hole course, par 68, inaugurated in April 2015 with a Pro-Am tournament. Another point in the club’s favor is its proximity to the luxury brand outlets known throughout the world where the shopping urge can be unleashed: Ermenegildo Zegna, Gucci, Agnona, Piacenza, Loro Piana, Lanificio F.lli Cerruti are but a few of the leading names on the fashion catwalks with outlets directly in their factories or in The Place Luxury Outlet, 18 kilometers from the golf club. Technical Details Course : 18 holes, Par 68, 4857 m Architect : Giorgio Ferraris Topography : great location between the highways of Torino-Milano and Genova-Aosta Special features : sporty and sophisticated Pro’s comments Perfect for players who make precision their strength, Cavaglia is a very entertaining course. Since scoring a par or a birdie is a little easier, you can finish the day in a great mood. That’s why you mustn’t miss a round of golf at Cavaglia.