Sicily vs Sardinia for Golf
Two great Mediterranean islands, two very different golf trips. Sicily has the deeper roster of courses and one of Europe's best golf resorts in Verdura, set against Etna and the Greek temples. Sardinia has fewer courses but one of the most beautiful in Europe, the iconic Pevero on the glittering Costa Smeralda. Here is the honest head to head, verdict first.
Photograph: Verdura Resort, Sicily, via Google
The verdict
For a dedicated golf trip with the most and the best courses, Sicily wins. The Rocco Forte Verdura Resort on the south coast is the headline, two championship courses by Kyle Phillips running down to the sea, polished to a level that drew the DP World Tour for the Rocco Forte Open, plus a nine hole par 3, a spa and a hotel that has been compared to Gleneagles and Pebble Beach. Add the Donnafugata resort near Ragusa, with a Gary Player parkland course and a links that hosted the Sicilian Open, and Il Picciolo near Etna, and Sicily gives a group several quality rounds and a world class base. The island is also the richer holiday, pairing golf with Etna, Agrigento, Taormina and the Baroque towns.
But for one unforgettable round and a glamorous beach trip, Sardinia wins. Its courses are fewer, but Pevero Golf Club on the Costa Smeralda, a Robert Trent Jones Senior design from 1972 carved through granite and scented Mediterranean scrub above two bays, is among the most beautiful in Europe and the equal of anything in Sicily. Is Molas near Cagliari adds genuine value and a mild year round microclimate in the south. Sardinia is the pick for golfers who want the Costa Smeralda's beaches and glamour alongside an iconic round. Pick Sicily for the complete multi course golf holiday. Pick Sardinia for Pevero, the coast and the glamour.
Head to head
| Sicily | Sardinia | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The deeper golf island with a world class resort and rich sightseeing | Fewer courses but one iconic layout and a glamorous coast |
| Headline course | Verdura Resort, two courses by Kyle Phillips, ex DP World Tour | Pevero Golf Club, Robert Trent Jones Senior, Costa Smeralda |
| Other courses | Donnafugata (Gary Player parkland and a links), Il Picciolo near Etna | Is Molas near Cagliari (value), Is Arenas on the west coast |
| Best base | Verdura Resort on the south coast near Sciacca | Costa Smeralda for Pevero, the south near Pula for Is Molas |
| Course choice | Greater; enough for a multi course week | Smaller; better for one or two marquee rounds |
| Best season | Spring and autumn; mild winter golf on the south coast | Spring and autumn; mild winters in the south at Is Molas |
| Beyond golf | Mount Etna, Agrigento temples, Taormina, Baroque towns | Costa Smeralda beaches, Cagliari, coastal glamour |
| Getting there | Palermo and Catania airports, wide connections | Olbia for the Costa Smeralda, Cagliari for the south |
| Who it suits | The group wanting several quality rounds and sightseeing | The traveler wanting an iconic round and a beach holiday |
Course facts and host history verified June 2026 from the resorts, clubs and DP World Tour records; the Rocco Forte Open was held at Verdura in 2017 and 2018 and is no longer staged. Fees and packages vary by season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick Sicily if
You want the most golf, the best resort base and a holiday that is as much about the island as the courses. Verdura is the draw, two Kyle Phillips championship courses on the sea, a nine hole par 3 and a luxury Rocco Forte hotel and spa that hosted DP World Tour golf. Donnafugata near Ragusa adds a Gary Player parkland and a links course, and Il Picciolo sits in the shadow of Etna. Between rounds you have the Greek temples of Agrigento, the cliffside theatre of Taormina, the Baroque towns of the southeast and Etna itself. It is the complete multi course golf and sightseeing trip.
Pick Sardinia if
You want one of Europe's most beautiful rounds and a glamorous beach trip to wrap around it. Pevero Golf Club on the Costa Smeralda, a Robert Trent Jones Senior design from 1972 threaded through granite outcrops and fragrant scrub above two bays, is the equal of anything in Sicily and the reason most golfers come. Pair it with the white sand beaches, yachts and resorts of the Costa Smeralda, or head south to Cagliari where Is Molas offers fine value golf and a mild year round climate. The pick for a couple or a group who want a marquee round set inside a stunning coastal holiday.
Plan your Sicily or Sardinia golf trip
The multi course polish of Verdura and Sicily, or the iconic Pevero and the Costa Smeralda. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge builds the tee times, transfers and base, and costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Sicily vs Sardinia questions
Is Sicily or Sardinia better for golf?
Sicily has the deeper golf offering, led by the Rocco Forte Verdura Resort with two championship courses by Kyle Phillips that hosted DP World Tour golf, plus the Donnafugata resort with a Gary Player parkland course and a links. Sardinia has fewer courses but one of the most beautiful in Europe, the Robert Trent Jones Senior designed Pevero on the Costa Smeralda, and the excellent value Is Molas near Cagliari. Pick Sicily for a multi course golf trip, Sardinia for an iconic round and a glamorous beach base.
What is the best golf course in Sardinia?
Pevero Golf Club on the Costa Smeralda is Sardinia's standout, a Robert Trent Jones Senior design from 1972 routed through granite outcrops and Mediterranean scrub above two bays, regularly cited among the finest courses in Europe. Is Molas near Cagliari is the value alternative, a long established resort course with a mild microclimate that plays well year round. Always confirm green fees and tee times before booking.
When is the best time to play golf in Sicily and Sardinia?
Both islands play best in spring, from March to May, and autumn, September to November, when the Mediterranean weather is warm but not fierce. The southern coasts, including Verdura in Sicily and Is Molas in Sardinia, stay mild enough for comfortable winter golf, while high summer is hot and busy on the coast. Always check the forecast for your dates.
Can you combine golf with sightseeing in Sicily and Sardinia?
Sicily is the stronger sightseeing trip, pairing golf with Mount Etna, the Greek temples at Agrigento, Baroque towns and Taormina. Sardinia is more about the coast, with the glamour and beaches of the Costa Smeralda alongside Pevero and the quieter south near Cagliari and Is Molas. Sicily suits the traveler who wants golf within a richer cultural holiday, Sardinia the one who wants golf alongside spectacular beaches.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and host history verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.