Verona GC
It’s an area that stirs your very soul: whether
soaking up the ambience of Venice with a coffee
in iconic St Mark’s Square and taking a gondola
trip to explore its maze of canals; enjoying the
thermal spring waters of Abano Terme, close to
the architectural marvel that is the city of Padua;
sitting in the vibrant heart of Treviso sipping
Prosecco from vineyards right on its doorstep and
tucking into reg ional specialities such as white
asparagus and risotto on the outdoor terrace of
a restaurant; or emulating Shakespeare’s romantic
tragedy by standing on Juliet’s balcony in historic
Verona.
The golf isn’t too shabby, either. Named
Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year for
2013 in the golf tourism industry’s prestigious
annual IAGTO Awards, the Veneto region has
almost 20 golf courses. All of them welcome
visiting golfers. What sets Veneto’s courses apart
from those elsewhere in Italy is their diversity.
Courses are laid out in settings that range from
alongside beaches to high in the mountains. There
is even one in Venice that can only be reached by
boat!
We were lucky enough to be invited to the
region as media guests of the tourist board. Well
serviced by airports, European golf journalists
arrived into Venice Marco Polo Airport and
Treviso Antonio Canova Airport.
Our first visit was to Golf Club Padova. The 27-
hole Padova Golf Club’s neatly-kept fairways and
greens border a 17th century villa, Villa Barbarigo.
Established in 1962, the course was designed by
English architect John Harris and lies at the foot
of the Euganean Hills. The course is a true botanic
garden, with 8,000 trees nestled in the Thermal
Spa Area where pampering spa treatments are
available. The Club’s services include an extremely
comfortable clubhouse, a swimming pool,
Volume 4 • Issue 44
21