Golf in Sicily: Verdura, Il Picciolo and How to Combine Golf with Wine and Temples

This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Sicily is not the first place most golfers think of, and that is part of its appeal. The island has only a handful of courses, but the best of them sit in settings no mainland club can match: fairways running along the African Sea near Sciacca, a parkland course on the slopes of Europe’s most active volcano, and a resort near Ragusa that once hosted the Sicilian Open and is now preparing for a second life. Add some of Italy’s most exciting wines, Greek temples within an hour’s drive and a winter season mild enough for golf in January, and the case for a Sicilian golf trip makes itself.

This guide covers which courses are actually open right now, which are closed or in transition, and how to build a trip that combines golf with wine, food and culture without spending your holiday in the car.

Sicily’s golf courses at a glance

Sicily’s golf map is small and changes more often than guidebooks suggest. Two resorts have closed in recent years and one has new management, so check this table before you plan around any course.

Course	Area	Holes and par	Status	Getting there
Verdura East Links	Sciacca, south-west coast	18 holes, par 73	Open	Car hire from Palermo
Verdura West Shore	Sciacca, south-west coast	18 holes, par 70	Open	Private transfer
Verdura Par-3	Sciacca, south-west coast	9 holes, par 27	Open	On site at Verdura
Il Picciolo	Castiglione di Sicilia, Etna	18 holes, par 72	Open	Transfer from Catania
Costa Ragusa Golf, formerly Donnafugata (Queens and Castle)	Near Ragusa, south-east	2 x 18 holes	Closed; Queens Course due 2027, Castle Course 2028	Not yet bookable
Le Madonie	Collesano, near Cefalù	18 holes	Closed since 2012, sold in 2019, status unclear	Check before planning

Verdura: Sicily’s flagship golf resort

Verdura, part of Rocco Forte Hotels, stretches along the coast between Sciacca and Ribera on Sicily’s south-west shore. All three courses were designed by the American architect Kyle Phillips, who is best known in Europe for Kingsbarns in Scotland. That pedigree shows: the layouts use the natural contours of the land, with olive and citrus groves inland and the sea constantly in view.

East Links is the longer and more demanding of the two championship courses, a par 73 of just over 6,000 metres from the men’s tees. It has been renovated under the supervision of Phillips himself, and several holes run right along the shoreline, where the wind becomes part of the design. It is the course most visiting golfers want to play.

West Shore is a par 70 of similar length but a different rhythm, with more short par fours and greens that reward accurate approach play. Many golfers find it the more enjoyable of the two for a second round, especially in the afternoon when the light turns golden over the sea.

The nine-hole par-3 course sits next to the practice area and is ideal for beginners, children or a relaxed evening loop. The practice facilities include a driving range, putting and chipping greens and a practice bunker, and the academy offers lessons for all levels.

Practical details for Verdura

Both championship courses are open daily from 8am to 7pm. Tee times are booked through the golf desk on +39 0925 998001. At the time of writing, carts and rental clubs on the 18-hole courses cost 50 euros each and a lesson with a professional costs 95 euros. Verdura does not publish visitor green fees online, so ask about availability and prices when you call, particularly if you are not staying at the resort. The dress code is traditional: no jeans, swim shorts or T-shirts on the course.

Beyond the fairways near Sciacca

Sciacca itself is an old spa and fishing town with a lively harbour, good seafood and a ceramics tradition worth a morning’s browsing. Inland, the area around Menfi is one of Sicily’s most important wine zones, best known for crisp whites from Grillo and Chardonnay and elegant reds, and several estates welcome visitors for tastings by appointment.

The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento is roughly an hour’s drive east, an easy half-day trip that fits perfectly between rounds. The site is at its best late in the day: book a sunset guided tour or a simple entry ticket if you prefer to explore at your own pace. Further west, the wine town of Marsala and the salt pans of Trapani make a longer excursion, covered in our guide to Marsala, Mozia and the Salt Road.

Il Picciolo: golf on the slopes of Mount Etna

Il Picciolo is the opposite of Verdura in almost every way. Instead of sea views and coastal wind, it offers lava-stone walls, chestnut and oak woods, vineyards and the constant presence of Etna above the course. The 18-hole, par-72 layout by Luigi Rota Caremoli opened in 1989, which makes it one of the oldest courses on the island, and it was designed to fit into the landscape rather than reshape it.

The course lies near Castiglione di Sicilia on Etna’s northern side, in the heart of the volcano’s wine country. Its elevation keeps temperatures noticeably cooler than on the coast, which makes it the better choice in high summer. The resort hotel now operates as part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, and Catania airport is about an hour away.

Narrow fairways, sloping lies and natural hazards make Il Picciolo a course where position beats power. It is less of a showpiece than Verdura’s East Links, but for golfers who also care about wine it may be the more memorable round.

Golf and Etna wine in one trip

The vineyards around Castiglione di Sicilia, Randazzo, Passopisciaro and Solicchiata produce the Etna wines that have become some of the most talked-about in Italy: mineral reds from Nerello Mascalese and fresh whites from Carricante, grown on black volcanic soil. Several of the best-known estates are within twenty minutes of the course.

Our guide to Mount Etna wine tours explains how to choose between estates and tours. If you prefer not to drive after a tasting, an organised Etna and wine tour combines the volcano with tastings, so you can enjoy both without worrying about the car.

Taormina is around forty minutes away by road, which makes it easy to pair a morning round with an afternoon in the town’s lanes and an aperitivo above the Ionian Sea.

Costa Ragusa (Donnafugata) and Le Madonie: closed, for now

Donnafugata, near Ragusa in the south-east, opened in 2009 with two 18-hole courses: a Parkland course by Gary Player’s design firm among olive and carob trees, and a links-style course by Franco Piras that follows two valleys. It hosted the Sicilian Open in 2011 but closed in 2020. The Portuguese golf operator Details has taken over management and renamed the resort Costa Ragusa Golf. Both courses are being redesigned by two Ryder Cup legends: Miguel Ángel Jiménez is reworking the former Links course as the Queens Course, due to open in 2027, and José María Olazábal the former Parkland course as the Castle Course, due in 2028. Until then, the courses cannot be played. If you are visiting the baroque towns of the south-east, our Noto, Modica and Ragusa road trip is still a superb reason to go.

Le Madonie, an 18-hole course near Collesano in the hills behind Cefalù, closed in 2012 and was sold at auction in 2019. There has been talk of a reopening, but we could not confirm that it is operating. Check directly with the club before including it in any plans.

Two ways to plan a Sicilian golf trip

Verdura and Il Picciolo are on opposite sides of the island, roughly three and a half to four hours apart by car. Most travellers choose one base, or split a longer trip into two halves.

Day	West: Verdura, temples and wine	East: Etna, wine and Taormina
Day 1	Arrive in Palermo, drive about 90 minutes to Sciacca, evening on the par-3 course	Arrive in Catania, private transfer to Il Picciolo, sunset over Etna
Day 2	Morning round on East Links, afternoon sunset tour of the Valley of the Temples	Morning round at Il Picciolo, afternoon tasting at an Etna winery
Day 3	Round on West Shore, wine tasting around Menfi, seafood dinner in Sciacca harbour	Second round or an Etna and wine tour, evening in Taormina

When to play golf in Sicily

The best months are March to early June and late September to November. Temperatures are pleasant, the courses are in good condition and the island is quieter than in summer. Winter is mild on the coast, which makes Verdura a genuine option for winter golf, with occasional rain and wind as the main drawbacks. July and August are hot, especially on the south coast: play at first light or choose Il Picciolo, where the altitude helps. In autumn, the grape harvest on Etna and around Menfi adds a second reason to travel.

Getting there and getting around

For Verdura, fly into Palermo; the drive to Sciacca takes about 90 minutes. For Il Picciolo, Catania airport is about an hour away. Public transport to either resort is impractical, so plan on a rental car, which also makes winery visits and day trips easy. Compare prices on Localrent, which works with local Sicilian rental companies and often includes full insurance, or book a private transfer with Kiwitaxi if you would rather not drive with a golf bag after a flight. Check whether your airline charges extra for golf equipment, and keep data on your phone for navigation with an Airalo eSIM.

If golf in Italy is the theme of your year, compare this trip with our guide to golf in Tuscany, where there are more courses but fewer sea views. For the rest of your time on the island, our Sicilian food guide covers what to eat, and the Aeolian Islands by boat make a perfect finale after a week of golf.

Prefer the north of Italy? Our guide to golf on Lake Garda covers three Italian Open venues within half an hour of each other.

FAQ

How many golf courses are there in Sicily?
Very few. At the time of writing, the playable championship golf is at Verdura (two 18-hole courses plus a nine-hole par-3) and Il Picciolo (18 holes). Costa Ragusa Golf (formerly Donnafugata) is closed for redesign and Le Madonie has been closed for years.

Can I play Verdura without staying at the resort?
Verdura does not publish visitor rates online. Contact the golf desk on +39 0925 998001 to ask about tee times and green fees for non-residents on your dates.

When will Donnafugata (Costa Ragusa Golf) reopen?
The resort, now called Costa Ragusa Golf, plans to open the Queens Course, redesigned by Miguel Ángel Jiménez, in 2027 and the Castle Course, redesigned by José María Olazábal, in 2028. No exact opening dates had been announced at the time of writing.

Do I need a handicap certificate?
Bring proof of your handicap or club membership. Most Italian clubs ask for it, and it is usually required on championship courses.

Can I combine Verdura and Il Picciolo in one trip?
Yes, but allow at least five or six days. The resorts are on opposite sides of the island, about three and a half to four hours apart by car, so plan a move day in between.

Is winter golf possible in Sicily?
Yes. The south coast around Sciacca is mild in winter, which makes Verdura one of the better winter golf options in Italy. Expect some wind and rain, and shorter days.

Where to stay: our guide to golf hotels in Sicily compares the best bases for a golf trip, and our Italy-wide list of the best golf resorts in Italy covers ten more.