Kyle Philliips in Sicily

[George Pazin]

Don't know if anyone is watching it, but the Euro Tour is in Sicily this week and they said this morning that the course was designed by Kyle Phillips. I was wondering if anyone has played it and if so, what he or she thought of it.

[David_Tepper]

The Verdura Golf & Spa Resort is near Sciacca, on the southwestern coast of Sicily. It is a long way from anywhere. 

[George Pazin]

Here's a link to a little write-up I found:

http://www.verduraresort.com/golf/golf-courses/

The few shots I saw this morning looked interesting.

[George Pazin]

Quickly scanning the holes I found this gem :

Nowhere is the Scottish links inspiration more present than on the teasing par three sixteenth with its shallow green and protecting bunkers.



That pic sure screams Scotland!

On a more serious note, I'm not evaluating the hole in a drive-by rating, I just thought it was a funny juxtaposition of text and pic. Hope you enjoy the laugh, too.

There was a skyline green on the tube as I was setting my DVR, I'll try to find it.

Btw, in perusing their website, I'd say this resort needs to call Aidan Bradley post-haste.

[Adam Lawrence]

I've been. Very impressive place, superb hotel. Kyle did his usual excellent job on the golf. It's not links, but there are a few places on the property where you could be fooled into thinking it was. The best hole on the property, imo, is a huge par four at the eastern end, playing directly towards the sea. There is a deep hollow in front of the green, which is pushed up a couple of feet, creating the impression that it is hard against the water - actually there's another tee behind it.

There is golf all along the seafront part of the property. Clever masterplan - allows for a composite course featuring all the waterfront holes for tournaments (which I assume is what they are playing this week), plus still gives every hotel room a sea view.

Close to the historic fishing port of Sciacca, and the ancient Greek ruins of Agrigento. Quite a hike from any airport though. I hope it does well, but I'm glad it's not my money invested in it.

[George Pazin]

Thanks, Adam, I knew someone from our well-traveled group would have visited.

The hole you describe sounds kind of like this hole, but it is on the West Course, so maybe not:

[Adam Lawrence]

Yeah, that's the one. West and East are pretty amorphous names, and both courses intermingle. Note those distances are metres!

[Jay Flemma]

I wrote an article and interviewed Kyle about it last year.

http://jayflemma.thegolfspace.com/?p=2704

From the article:

“What have we done to golf in America?” he asks pointedly, referring to aerial, target-style courses in shoe-horned into real estate developments. “Playing golf in tight corridors around houses takes angles and options away from the game,” he says. “We have taken golf design, made it like McDonalds: we’ve packaged it and sold it around the world at ridiculous prices. Now the world is choking on Big Macs. Instead, I like to have my courses look natural, I’m not going to take one style of course and drop it into another location.”

“I like firm and fast conditions because they let a designer incorporate the ground game options,” he continues. “I also like land forms extending away from greens.” Sometimes one of Phillips’s greens will have one side extending into a flat area, so bogey golfers and amateurs have a bail out, but the other side will have a fiendish low chipping area or a bunker well below the level of the green, which makes for a fiendishly tough up-and-down. “I strive for balance. World class players will have a tough time getting close during tournaments and pay the price if they miss, but bogey golfers who’ll play my courses year-round will have a fighting chance.”

Phillips also likes to create illusions, called in design circles the “doctrine of deception.” “I like illusions to create intrigue and make the player think,” Phillips says, referring to things like hidden swales, blind bunkers and hazards that look closer to the green than they actually are. “Moreover, angles off the tee and greenside contours create strategy and make a course more interesting. Strategy can emerge from the natural landforms and that’s where the soul of golf dwells. When you play one of my courses, you’re not just getting spoon-fed where to hit the ball, and you’re not just getting one way to play the hole, but many, no matter what level of player you are. You have to think.”

[Patrice Boissonnas]

Hello George,

I will spend 2 days in Verdura early May, just enough time to play 36 holes and fly back to Paris.
I'am really looking forward to it. I already played 2 courses from Kyle Phillips (both twice) : Kingsbarn's and Dundonald's. I really enjoyed both courses. They are creative, original and fun to play from 1st tee to 18th green. Unlike many who also played both, I even might have a slight preference for Dundonald's (design wise only).

I'm glad to read Adam enjoyed Verdura. Makes me feel even more bullish about getting there.

[George Pazin]

Hello George,

I will spend 2 days in Verdura early May, just enough time to play 36 holes and fly back to Paris.
I'am really looking forward to it. I already played 2 courses from Kyle Phillips (both twice) : Kingsbarn's and Dundonald's. I really enjoyed both courses. They are creative, original and fun to play from 1st tee to 18th green. Unlike many who also played both, I even might have a slight preference for Dundonald's (design wise only).

I'm glad to read Adam enjoyed Verdura. Makes me feel even more bullish about getting there.

Great to hear. Take pics if you can, but at the very least please report back with your experiences!

Thanks in advance.

[Patrice Boissonnas]

Will do ! 

[Ulrich Mayring]

Verdura's downfall will be cost. It is in the middle of nowhere, so there really is no alternative to staying in the hotel and that is ultra-expensive. There may be a market for a super exclusive resort for high rollers, but certainly that would be on a much smaller scale than the facility they built (more than 200 rooms in the hotel).

Ulrich

[Philip Gawith]

I was there in summer 2010 and took some pictures which i will post if I get some time.

I think i am right in saying that they got a VERY big grant from the EU  (Euro 40m?) to help build the resort/course, in order that it could get tournaments and hence drive some economic activity towards Sicily.

It is a fabulous hotel and there are two golf courses. I was shown around and the courses were clearly not built 100% optimally (sprinklers in wrong place etc) but is suspect these wrinkles have been ironed out. Some very nice holes close to the water. I agree with Adam that a good job done, and some interesting architecture. I don't think it is in the class of Kingsbarns, but to be fair, i saw it when it was very young and in mid summer, so it needs to grow into itself a bit.

[Aidan Bradley]

[Adam Lawrence]

You know,when George wrote 'They need to call Aidan Bradley' I _almost_ replied that I thought he'd been, but I couldn't remember for sure!

[George Pazin]

Spoke too soon, I guess - I recognize some of those photos from the website. Kinda makes me wonder why they relied on hole drawings instead of Aidan's awesome work, but I guess some folks like the diagrams. Not me, though, I will take Aidan's artistry every time.

[Aidan Bradley]

Personally I like the hole diagrams. I think they are more descriptive but thank you George for the kind words.

[George Pazin]

Aidan, one thing is for sure: if I show this site to my wife, she will want to go!

Now I just need to sell a well-used kidney...

[Aidan Bradley]

"Now I just need to sell a well-used kidney..."

Don't think it will be enough. You might need to sweeten the pot.........

[Jay Flemma]

Well done, Aiden!

[Frank Pont]

Just picked these comments of Nicolas Colsaerts of the club website of Royal Spa (Fagnes), thought you would find it interesting:

"Glad to be on Tour again. Verdura is a great course, but there must be a story with hole N°12. Kyle designed 17 great holes but that long par 3 has to be given a re-modelling. I don't know many players who like long par 3's, too long to be interesting, smart, fine or eye catching. This is only a modern trend but there is no future in par 3 over 180 meters... Short par 3's are really a must in a round of golf, a shot under 140 meters, beautifully shaped, nice to see and difficult to play. Hole No 3 in Royal Le Zoute, is such a gem! And so are the 15th at la Marache (Royal Waterloo). The 4th in Turnberry, the 8th in Troon (Postage Stamp), the 16th in Royal Antwerp, the 3rd in Ravenstein, the 2nd in Keerbergen, 13 and 17 in Sart Tilman, and all par 3's in Spa Royal Fagnes, the club where you can find the best par 3's in Belgium!

Here in Verdura, no much rough but quite long of the tee, but undulating greens and a seaside course where the wind can play a serious role. Greens are unfortunately slow. You need to "brick" your putts. This is quite sad but it's too early in the season to have better greens on the continent!"

[George Pazin]

I don't know many players who like long par 3's, too long to be interesting, smart, fine or eye catching. This is only a modern trend but there is no future in par 3 over 180 meters... Short par 3's are really a must in a round of golf, a shot under 140 meters, beautifully shaped, nice to see and difficult to play.

Thanks indeed for sharing this, Frank, nice find.

I love long par 3s - but I tend to view them as really short par 4s, so maybe that's why. I might have to start a separate thread on this topic.

Terrific quip, Aidan.

[Jeff_Lewis]

We all hesitate to evaluate based on photos, but....there is an awful lot to like in those photos.  Certainly looks like a course worth seeking out.

[George Pazin]

Maybe your kidney will push us over the top, Jeff!

This hole remind anyone of another 18th?

[Bill Brightly]

Sorry for starting a second thread. Someone said the course is not true links, is that because of the soil?