4 Day Sicily Golf Itinerary
Four days on Sicily's southwest coast built around Verdura Resort, the Rocco Forte property near Sciacca where Kyle Phillips laid two par 72 championship courses against the Mediterranean in 2009, plus the nine hole par 3 course. Day three adds a run east to Donnafugata near Ragusa for Gary Player's Parkland Course, the par 72 that hosted the 2011 Sicilian Open on the European Tour. Here is the day by day, with verified green fees and the honest case for May or September over August.
Photograph: Verdura Resort, via Google
Who this trip suits
This is the Sicily itinerary for golfers who want resort quality and genuine championship golf without driving themselves across the entire island. Verdura sits on the southwest coast roughly 1.5 hours from Palermo airport, and the resort's two Kyle Phillips courses, the East Links and the West Shore, give you two completely different challenges on the same 230 hectare estate. The East runs toward the sea, with the final holes right on the shore cliff; the West is flatter and more exposed to the coastal wind, with narrower fairways and a lower par of 70 from the championship tees. Playing both back to back over the first two days is the obvious move, with the nine hole par 3 course as a gentle opener on arrival afternoon.
Day three stretches things by adding Donnafugata Golf Resort near Ragusa in the southeast, about two hours east along the coast, for a completely different landscape: Gary Player's Parkland Course winds through centuries old olive groves and past stone walls on a property that hosted a European Tour event just one year after opening. The fourth day is either a second round at your preferred Verdura course or a relaxed morning before the drive back to Palermo. It suits a four ball after a serious bucket list course, a couple mixing golf with the beach and spa at Verdura, or any golfer who wants to see why Sicily is finally being taken as seriously as it deserves in Italian golf. For a longer exploration of the country's courses, the best golf courses in Italy guide covers the full picture. For the fully organised version, Italy golf holidays are the place to start.
The 4 day plan
Land at Palermo, settle into Verdura, nine holes to start
Fly into Palermo Falcone Borsellino airport (PMO), collect the hire car and head southwest on the A29 and SS115 to Verdura. The drive runs about 130 km under normal conditions, typically around 1.5 hours. Check in, then head straight to the Kyle Phillips nine hole par 3 course, 913 metres of pure touch shots with the sea in view throughout, before a first meal at one of the resort's restaurants. The par 3 course is open to all guests and, at an indicative 30 euros per round, it is the lightest possible way to stretch the legs after a flight. Always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Verdura East Links Course, the coastal showpiece
The East Links Course is what most golfers come to Verdura for. Kyle Phillips, who also designed the West Shore and Kingsbarns in Scotland, routed the East through orange and olive groves before pushing the back nine down toward the Mediterranean shore, where the final holes play with the sea dropping away to the left and the Sicilian light changing through the afternoon. It is par 72 from the championship tees and 7,321 yards long, with four tee positions down to 5,396 yards. Indicative 2026 green fees are 120 euros in Season B (mid March through end of June and October through mid November) and 150 euros in Season A (July through September); a package of five or more green fees per person earns a 20 percent discount. Always confirm current rates directly before booking. The range and short game area are complimentary for resort guests, so allow time before the round. Lunch on the clubhouse terrace, then the beach or the Irene Forte Spa for the afternoon.
Day trip east to Donnafugata Golf Resort, Ragusa
Early start for the drive east along the SS115 to Donnafugata Golf Resort near Ragusa, roughly two hours from Verdura. The Gary Player Design Parkland Course opened in 2010 and hosted the Sicilian Open on the European Tour in 2011, giving the layout instant credibility in competitive circles. It is a par 72 that runs through ancient olive groves and past drystone walls typical of the Val di Noto countryside, with water hazards in play on the closing stretch. The contrast with Verdura's coastal character is the whole point: this is rolling inland Sicily rather than cliff top links land. Aim for a morning tee time to allow the drive back to Verdura by evening. The nearby town of Ragusa Ibla, a UNESCO World Heritage Baroque hilltop centre, is worth a short detour on the way home if time allows. Always confirm tee times and current green fees at Donnafugata directly before booking.
Verdura West Shore Course, then drive to Palermo
The West Shore Course plays very differently from the East: the terrain is flatter, the wind is more present, and the par of 70 from the championship tees (7,314 yards) means the course demands precision rather than length, with narrower corridors and greens defended by tight bunkering. Play an early morning tee time so check out and the Palermo drive do not collide. The 1.5 hour return journey gives a comfortable connection to afternoon and evening flights from PMO. For guests extending the trip, the ancient Greek temples at Agrigento sit about 40 minutes east of Verdura on the same coastal road and make a natural final afternoon stop before heading north to the airport. See also our green fees in Italy guide for a full cost comparison across the country, and the 3 day Sardinia itinerary if you are weighing the two Italian island options.
Green fees, drive times and logistics
| Leg or round | Indicative 2026 fee or drive time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Palermo PMO to Verdura Resort | About 1.5 hours, approx 130 km | A29 motorway south then SS115 coast road; hire car essential |
| Verdura East Links, 18 holes | 120 euros (Season B) · 150 euros (Season A) | Season B: mid March to end June and Oct to mid Nov · Season A: July to September · 5 green fee package earns 20% discount |
| Verdura West Shore, 18 holes | 120 euros (Season B) · 150 euros (Season A) | Same rate schedule as East Course · 9 holes available at 75 euros (Season B) and 85 euros (Season A) |
| Verdura 9 hole par 3 course | 30 euros | Par 27, 913 metres · open to hotel guests and visitors |
| Verdura to Donnafugata, Ragusa | About 2 hours each way | Day trip: allow early morning departure to fit golf and return drive |
| Donnafugata Parkland Course, 18 holes | Indicative fee: confirm directly | Gary Player Design, par 72, 2010 · host of 2011 European Tour Sicilian Open · always confirm current rates directly before booking |
| Verdura to Palermo PMO | About 1.5 hours | Return on same route · allow margin for Agrigento detour if desired |
Fees vary by season, day and booking channel and change without notice; always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking. Check Sicily tee times · Find your Verdura base.
When to go and how to run it
Late April through June and September through October are the best windows. You get warm, settled Mediterranean weather ideal for walking 18 holes, Verdura in its Season B green fee band at 120 euros rather than the summer high of 150, and the resort before and after its August peak. July and August on the southwest coast are hot: manageable in the morning with an early tee time, but midday on open coastal fairways demands respect. The courses play year round, and the winter shoulder months of November through February offer quiet, mild golf at rates worth asking about directly.
A hire car from Palermo is non negotiable. The Donnafugata day trip requires it, the SS115 coast road is one of the pleasures of the trip, and taxis out here are scarce and expensive. Book the Verdura tee times first, particularly for June and September when the resort fills quickly; the golf team at the resort can often coordinate both East and West bookings at once and advise on the best tee time window to catch the light. For a broader sweep of what the island has to offer, see the Sicily golf destination guide and the country level guide at golf in Italy. For touring in neighbouring Sardinia, the 3 day Sardinia itinerary is the starting point, and for the widest tour operator view of the whole country the Italy golf holidays page covers the main operators and packages.
Plan your 4 day Sicily trip
Tell us roughly when you are travelling and who is in the group, and our concierge locks the Verdura tee times on both courses, coordinates the Donnafugata day, books the resort stay and prices the trip per head. May and September dates fill early at Verdura, so the sooner the brief arrives the better, with no obligation to proceed.
Sicily itinerary questions
What is the best 4 day golf itinerary in Sicily?
Base yourself at Verdura Resort near Sciacca on the southwest coast, about 1.5 hours from Palermo airport. Spend three days across the Kyle Phillips East Links and West Shore Courses, both par 72 championship layouts opened in 2009, plus the nine hole par 3 course on arrival. On day three take a day trip east to Donnafugata Golf Resort near Ragusa to play the Gary Player Parkland Course, the par 72 design that hosted the 2011 Sicilian Open on the European Tour. Always confirm tee times and rates directly before booking.
How much are green fees at Verdura Resort in 2026?
Verdura Resort publishes indicative 2026 visitor fees of 120 euros for 18 holes in Season B (mid March to end of June and October to mid November) and 150 euros in Season A (July through September). Nine holes on the championship courses run 75 euros in Season B and 85 euros in Season A. The nine hole par 3 course is 30 euros. A package of five or more green fees per person earns a 20 percent discount. All fees are indicative; always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Which airport serves Verdura Resort and how long is the drive?
Palermo Falcone Borsellino airport (PMO) is the main gateway for Verdura Resort, approximately 130 km from the resort with a drive time of around 1.5 hours under normal conditions. Catania Fontanarossa airport (CTA) on the east coast is around 200 km away, roughly 2 hours and 45 minutes to 3 hours by car. Palermo is the better choice for a Verdura focused stay; Catania makes sense if you are combining the west coast with the Etna region or ending the trip at Donnafugata near Ragusa.
What is the best time of year for a Sicily golf trip?
April through June and September through October are the sweet spots: settled Mediterranean weather, manageable temperatures for walking, and Verdura at its Season B pricing of 120 euros for 18 holes rather than the 150 euro summer rate. July and August bring the highest green fees and the hottest midday rounds. The courses at Verdura play year round, so late October and November are also viable for mild, quiet golf. Book the Verdura tee times first and build flights around them.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course designers, opening years, par and yardage figures, and indicative green fees verified June 2026 against Kyle Phillips Golf Course Design published course specifications, Rocco Forte Hotels official green fee rates, and independent golf guides. Drive times verified against routing data June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.