Verdura West
The West Course at Rocco Forte's Verdura Resort is the headline links of Sicily, a Kyle Phillips design of par 72 and about 7,314 yards that runs along nearly two kilometres of Mediterranean coast. Opened in 2009, it has hosted the DP World Tour and offers some of the most spectacular seaside golf in southern Europe, all framed by the sea, the olive groves and the Sicilian light.
Photo: Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte Hotel via Google.
The verdict
When Rocco Forte set out to build a golf resort on the south coast of Sicily, he hired Kyle Phillips, the architect behind Kingsbarns, and gave him a magnificent stretch of Mediterranean shoreline to work with. The West Course, opened in 2009, is the result, a par 72 of about 7,314 yards that threads along the coast with several holes playing hard against the sea and the rest rolling through olive groves and citrus on the gentle slopes above.
It is the more celebrated of Verdura's two eighteen hole courses and has hosted the DP World Tour, including the Rocco Forte Open, so it is built and conditioned to a tournament standard. Phillips gave it width and generous, firm fairways, but the wind off the Mediterranean and the well placed bunkering keep it honest. As a resort course open to guests and visitors, it is the most accessible great course in Sicily and the natural centrepiece of an Italian golf trip.
Verdura West Course at a glance
- Opened
- 2009
- Designer
- Kyle Phillips
- Type
- Coastal resort links
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,314 yds
- Green fee
- Resort guests and visitors
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Kyle Phillips Golf Course Design and the Verdura Resort. The West Course was designed by Kyle Phillips and opened in 2009, a par 72 of about 7,314 yards from the back tees running along the Sicilian coast. It is a resort course open to guests and visitors; green fees are arranged through Verdura Resort with preferential rates for hotel guests (indicative, 2026), so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The West Course makes the most of its setting. Several holes run right along the Mediterranean shoreline, the sea filling the eye and the wind dictating the shot, while the inland holes climb gently through olive and citrus groves on firm, sandy ground. Phillips built generous fairways so the resort golfer can enjoy the round, but the angles into the greens and the coastal breeze ask the better player real questions.
The seaside stretch is the signature, a run of holes where the carry over rough ground and the wind off the water turn a comfortable par into a test of nerve. The greens are large and subtly contoured, rewarding the approach played from the correct side and gathering the careless miss into a tricky recovery. It is strategic golf dressed in spectacular scenery, exactly what a Phillips design promises.
For a visiting golfer it strikes the ideal balance, playable and enjoyable from the forward tees, a genuine tournament test from the back. Take the coastal views for granted, mind the wind, and the West Course delivers the finest round in Sicily.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course at Verdura Resort; open to hotel guests and visitors by booking through the resort |
| Green fee | Arranged through Verdura Resort, with preferential rates for hotel guests (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Reserve through the resort, especially in the spring and autumn peak and around tournament weeks |
| On the day | Carts and caddies available; bring wind protection for the coastal holes |
| Getting there | Sciacca on the south coast of Sicily, about one hour from Palermo and 90 minutes from Catania |
| Best months | April to June and September to October for warm, dry weather and firm coastal turf |
Access arrangements and fees verified June 2026; the course is run through Verdura Resort and rates change by season, so always confirm directly with the resort or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The obvious base is the Verdura Resort itself, a five star Rocco Forte property with the West Course and its sister layout on the doorstep, a long stretch of private beach, a destination spa and several restaurants. Staying on site gives you preferential tee times and turns the trip into an all in one golf and leisure retreat.
The wider south coast of Sicily rewards exploration, with the Greek temples of Agrigento, the baroque towns and the seafood and wine of the region all within reach. It is an ideal place to build a golf and culture week around, pairing championship coastal golf with one of the Mediterranean's richest islands.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Verdura West Course.
Build a Sicily golf trip
We book the West Course and its sister layout at Verdura, secure the right resort rates and arrange the transfers and sightseeing around your golf. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Verdura West Course questions
Who designed the Verdura West Course and when did it open?
The West Course at Verdura Resort was designed by Kyle Phillips, the architect of Kingsbarns, and opened in 2009 on the south coast of Sicily.
What is the par and length of the Verdura West Course?
The West Course is a par 72 of about 7,314 yards from the back tees, a coastal resort links with several holes running along the Mediterranean shoreline.
What tournaments has the Verdura West Course hosted?
The West Course has hosted the DP World Tour, including the Rocco Forte Open, and is built and conditioned to tournament standard.
Can visitors play the Verdura West Course?
Yes. The West Course is a resort course open to guests of Verdura Resort and to visitors, with tee times booked through the resort. Hotel guests receive preferential rates and access.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.