Verdura Resort, the Rocco Forte hotel in Sicily, is preparing to host a European Tour tournament after the award-winning golf and spa resort was selected to stage the new event on the professional calendar next spring from May 18-21.

Taking place a week before the BMW PGA Championship, the tournament is set to feature the top-ranked players in Europe as they put the finishing touches to their preparations for the European Tour's flagship event under sunny skies on the largest island in the Mediterranean.

The event will take place five years after Verdura Resort hosted the 2012 Sicilian Open, won by Denmark's Thorbjørn Olesen. The resort was opened in 2009 by Sir Rocco, who wanted to create a golf resort with a club-like feel. The resort spans 230 hectares of stunning traditional Sicilian landscape, set against the backdrop of the azure Mediterranean waters. Verdura's golf facilities include two outstanding 18-hole championship courses – the East Course and West Course – and a par-three nine-hole course.

Sir Rocco Forte, Founder and Chairman of Rocco Forte Hotels, said: “I am thrilled that Verdura Resort will be hosting The Rocco Forte Open - Verdura. Our Sicilian resort offers two 18-hole links golf courses designed by Kyle Phillips and is visited regularly by some of the most famous names in European golf.

“The resort is set along two kilometres of coastline so every hole has sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea. As a enthusiastic golfer myself, I will be sure to be there.”

Keith Waters, Chief Operating Officer of the European Tour, said: “We are delighted that the European Tour will return to the stunning Verdura Golf Club in 2017 and I would like to thank Sir Rocco for his support of the tournament.

“The Rocco Forte Open – Verdura will I'm sure be a special week for all the players and we look forward to coming to Sicily in May and watching the challenges such a beautiful venue will pose of the world's best golfers.”

Complementing Verdura's outstanding golf courses are extensive golf practice facilities including a double-ended driving range and outstanding academy, which will be further enhanced in the new year with the installation of the latest Trackman launch monitor, 3-D motion force plates and SAM PuttLab technology.

In addition, guests can enjoy numerous other sports and leisure amenities including six tennis courts, an array of different watersports, a 170sqm fully-equipped gym and an award-winning 4,000sqm spa complex.

Verdura has enjoyed an outstanding last 12 months with bookings increasing dramatically across its golfing sectors in 2016, and its success on the course has been reflected off it with the resort winning a number of top international accolades including, most recently, being named as Italy's number one golf venue in an industry list of continental Europe's top 100 golf resorts.

Situated on Sicily's southern coast between Agrigento and the fishing city of Sciacca, an 80-minute drive from Trapani and Palermo airports, Verdura Resort features 203 rooms and suites – all with a sea view.

Away from the fairways, the resort features an array of other luxury sports and lifestyle facilities while guests also have the opportunity to sample a taste of the gastronomy, wine, history and culture that has made Sicily famous across the world.

For more information on Verdura Resort, visit www.roccofortehotels.com 

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Information for journalists

Press release written and distributed by The Azalea Group.

• High-resolution images of Verdura Resort may be downloaded for editorial purposes from https://goo.gl/whK5xs 

For more information on Verdura Resort contact Luke Frary on 01730 711920/ luke@theazaleagroup.com or email Daniele Trombacco at dtrombacco@roccofortehotels.com.

Verdura Resort
Since opening in 2009, Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte hotels resort, (www.roccofortehotels.com) has quickly established itself amongst Europe's premier contemporary luxury golf and lifestyle destinations.

The resort is set in 230 hectares of stunning landscape overlooking the Mediterranean with 1.8km of private coastline, and offers golfing guests and families an unparalleled modern five-star experience on the largest island in the Mediterranean. The resort is located on the southern coast of Sicily between Agrigento and the fishing city of Sciacca, a 80-minute drive from Trapani and Palermo airports.

Verdura features 203 rooms and suites, all with sea view, and is a paradise for golfers, with its outstanding facilities. Golfers from all over the world come to enjoy the two 18-hole championship courses and a nine-hole par-three course, all designed by world-renowned golf architect Kyle Phillips and playable all-year-round. Verdura was the host venue for the European Tour's 2012 Sicilian Open and its three links-style layouts have been built to the highest specifications. The resort's East Course is ranked as one of the finest in continental Europe while its beautiful West Course, also a par-72, provides the ideal complement and features one of the most memorable finishes anywhere in the world with the final four holes set alongside the Mediterranean. The courses are matched by outstanding practice amenities including a double-ended driving range and excellent golf academy.

Verdura's other sports facilities include six tennis courts; a 60m two-tiered infinity pool; numerous watersports, one football pitch; a 170sqm fully-equipped gym and a collection of running trails through olive and lemon groves. The resort's award-winning 4,000sqm spa complex includes 11 treatment rooms, gym, yoga studio, a 25-metre indoor lap pool, four outdoor Thalassotherapy pools, a double-height steam room, male and female saunas and a spa bar for healthy alternatives.

Guests can sample an authentic taste of traditional Sicily with an array of dishes at one of the resort's four restaurants and five bars – with fresh, organic produce sourced straight from Verdura's own garden. In addition, visitors can enjoy an array of cultural and culinary experiences where they can discover the secrets of Sicilian cooking, with menus inspired by celebrity chef Fulvio Pierangelini, and taste the many famous wines of the region. There is also plenty to keep the younger members of the family entertained with dedicated kids and teen clubs providing a variety of fun-packed activity programmes throughout the year.

Verdura Resort has received widespread international recognition and won numerous awards since opening. Among its most recent honours, it was ranked fourth in Golf World's inaugural list of the 'Top 100 Golf Resorts in Continental Europe' and named by Golf Digest as a recipient of an 'Editors' Choice Award for Best International Resorts 2016. In addition, the resort won the title of 'Italy's Best Golf Hotel' at the 2015 World Golf Awards'; retained its place in Golf World's benchmark 'Top 100 Courses in Continental Europe 2015/16' rankings and claimed a 'Golden Award for Golf' at the 2015 Voyages & Hôtels Readers Awards. It was also named 'Best Family European Golf Resort' by the 2011 Tatler Travel Guide, while it was the recipient of two accolades at the 2015 Spafinder Wellness Travel Awards in the 'Best for Couples' and 'Wow Factor' categories.

Rocco Forte Hotels
Established by Sir Rocco Forte and sister, Olga Polizzi in 1996, Rocco Forte Hotels is a family of 10 individual hotels and resorts. All of the hotels are landmarks, both old and new, occupying magnificent buildings in exceptional locations. Led by a family who has been in hospitality for four generations, the hotels are united by their distinctive approach to service ensuring guests experience the best of the cities and surrounding areas.
Rocco Forte Hotels comprises: Hotel de Russie, Rome; Hotel Savoy, Florence; Verdura Resort, Sicily; The Balmoral, Edinburgh; Brown's Hotel, London; The Charles Hotel, Munich; Villa Kennedy, Frankfurt; Hotel de Rome, Berlin; Hotel Amigo, Brussels; Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg.

Future opening: Jeddah in 2016, Shanghai in 2018, Rome in 2018

www.roccofortehotels.com 
Media Enquiries:
Rosie O'Brien, Group Communications Director
Rocco Forte Hotels
Email: robrien@roccofortehotels.com