The verdura resort, owned by hotelier sir rocco forte, lies on a beautiful 570-acre site on sicily's southwest coast, and golfers can enjoy a spectacular 45-hole golf course that suits the 5-star status of the nearby hotel and spa.

A 9-hole par three course built by american kyle phillips complements the east and west 18-hole courses, and if you think his presence is a sure sign of verdura's standard, you're right.

The west is set up as a conventional out-and-back course, while the east is divided into two nine-hole loops. Significantly, the alignment of both courses is such that, when competitive tournament play is held at verdura, a wonderful hybrid course containing the best holes from each layout can conveniently be set up. Indeed, the 2012 sicilian open tournament course (where denmark's thorbjrn olesen won for the first time on the european tour) is a mix of east and west holes.

A variety of remaining holes can be found on the east side, which is more undulating. The short par four 3rd hole on the front nine plays to an opposite green defended by a few bunkers, and the waterside 6th – the smallest of the eight par threes on both courses at just 112 yards – is appropriately called verdura's "postage stamp" hole.