5 nights at Tenuta d’Asolo Progress Country & Wine House with 2 green fees (Golf Club Asolo, Golf Club Ca' Amata)

The name of Asolo Golf Club takes advantage of the fame of the beautiful town of Veneto, but in fact the 27 holes, developed by European Golf Design, in conjunction with Marco Croze, lie at the foot of Monte Tomba, only fifteen minutes from the village that keeps the mortal remains of the great actress Eleonora Duse. The resort, which includes a property development designed by the architect Luigi Vietti in addiction to lodgings for residential use, swimming pool and tennis courts, was established in 1995 by a group of entrepreneurs among whom Gilberto Benetton stands out: he still is the club president, and he stills manages it as a company. The club has characterized itself for its indisputable tourist vocation: it’s been one of the first Italian Golf clubs to offer pay & play, still taking into consideration the club members, many of whom are owners of holiday homes here. The big and comfortable clubhouse, dominates the arrival and departure tees of two of the three 9 holes courses and the restaurant is well worth a visit. Of the three courses, the “Rosso” (“Red”) and the “Verde” (“Green”) are those usually employed for the tournaments. The first 9 holes of the “Red” allow a few mistakes, despite their highly undulating and tricky greens and the very deep bunkers. The “Green” is instead a shorter and more technical course, with narrow fairways and lots of water hazards and increasing difficulties in the last three holes. The “Giallo” (“Yellow”), finally, is the toughest course, the longest, with water running parallel to the fairways and deep bunkers guarding drivers shots. As for the “Red”, the greens are very big, with slopes that challenge the reading of the putting lines. To thoroughly enjoy the club, book a room in the guesthouse, a tastefully furnished rural barn, overlooking the golf course. Technical Details Course: 3 x 9 holes (Red: Par 36, 3162 meters; Yellow: Par 36, 3077 meters; Green: Par 36, 3137 meters) Architects: European Golf Design & Stan Ebby Topography: parkland course, gentle rolling hills, ponds, natural fairways Distinctive features: numerous water hazards and fast greens. The Red course is the most demanding. Pro’s comments The three courses at Asolo Golf Club are beautiful; they can be very demanding for the pro but also very entertaining for mid to high level amateurs, thanks to a well-designed project. Some holes are really tough, like the 5th of the Red course: a long uphill par 5 with water hazards that start midway and line the side of the fairway until the green. Challenging is the 7th of the “Green” course, a very delicate par 4, that requires extreme accuracy because of the two water hazards on the left of the tee shot and a ditch running across the hole 80 m in front of the green which bothers the second shot of the less accurate hitters. In conclusion, an excellent golf club, which needs to be tested!

Choosing Ca’ Amata means treating yourself with a golf day in a romantic eighteenth-century atmosphere, in the heart of an area – the province of Treviso – which offers a vast amount of interesting sightseeing opportunities. The course, created in 1991, has been cut out from the park of the Villa of the same name, one of the most prestigious examples of the eighteenth-century Venetian architecture. There are also guided tours (booking required). The environment is beautiful and well maintained, framed by trees, bushes and flowers, adding elegance along the fairways. Eleven of the 18 holes include lakes and streams, to catch inaccurate shots; and lovers of beauty will notice that even the water hazards adhere to strict aesthetic rules, with architectural elements belonging to the most beautiful romantic parks: ledges, small bridges, little waterfalls characterize the whole course. The track, entirely flat, covers a vast area, 75 hectares, starting a course which allows the golfer spectacularly long shots. The large fairways forgive imprecise shots, but the greens – sometimes very big, others smaller and technically challenging with many slopes – are less forgiving. Very long Par 4s alternate with shorter holes, making the course a real challenge, even for the more expert players. The climate here is mild: you can happily play almost all year long. Technical Details Course: 18 holes, Par 72, 5686 meters Architect: Marco Croze Topography: flat, numerous water hazards Distinctive features: strategic game is essential; it’s bound to test your nerves with water coming into play on many holes.