European Tour action will return to Sicily's Verdura Resort for the second year running when the award-winning golf and lifestyle resort hosts the Rocco Forte Open - Verdura from May 10-13, 2018.
First hosted by the resort in May 2017, shortly after becoming a European Tour Destination, the inaugural tournament saw Spain's Álvaro Quirós secure his seventh European Tour title after beating Zander Lombard of South Africa in a play-off.
Featuring a star-studded field including European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjørn, Nicolas Colsaerts and home favourite Matteo Manassero - the youngest-ever player on the European Tour - players in the event were united in their praise for Verdura Resort, with Quirós hailing the golf courses as "paradise".
The first names for the 2018 edition of the the Rocco Forte Open - Verdura are set to be announced shortly, and the latest addition to the European Tour's 2018 schedule means there will now be a minimum of 46 events in 30 countries counting towards the season-long Race to Dubai.
Sir Rocco Forte, owner of Verdura Resort and Chairman of Rocco Forte Hotels, said: "The Rocco Forte Open was a great success this year and we are delighted to have the European Tour back again to Verdura Sicily, in 2018.
"We believe that Verdura Resort is one of Europe's elite golf destinations, featuring two Kyle Phillips links golf courses set against the beautiful Sicilian backdrop, and we relish the opportunity to showcase the resort again."
European Tour Chief Executive Officer Keith Pelley said: "After such a successful first edition of The Rocco Forte Open, we are delighted to announce our return to the island of Sicily in 2018.
"Verdura Resort is a spectacular venue and presented a test that was enjoyed by everyone who played there last May. We are constantly looking to provide playing opportunities for all our membership and the 2018 Rocco Forte Open will be an important tournament in that regard."
Verdura Resort features two 18-hole links golf courses - the East and the West - with this year's Rocco Forte Open - Verdura played on a composite course combining the finest holes from both layouts.
Nestling on the coast in 230 hectares of stunning landscape, warmed by the Mediterranean sun and refreshed by the sea breeze, Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte hotel and member of the European Tour Properties network, was named by Golf Digest as a recipient of an ‘Editors' Choice Award for Best International Resorts' in 2016 and 2017 and provides golf on a grand scale.
Designed by Kyle Phillips, the resort's golf courses offer uninterrupted views of the azure waters from the undulating greens. The venue includes two 18-hole championship courses, a nine-hole, par-three layout and extensive practice facilities including a double-ended driving range and outstanding academy.
In addition to unlimited use of golf facilities, guests can enjoy numerous other sports and leisure amenities including six tennis courts, an array of different watersports, a 170sqm fully-equipped gym and an award-winning 4,000sqm spa complex with thalassotherapy pools. Verdura Resort's knowledgeable concierge is also able to offer a range of excursions outside of the hotel, from vineyards to ancient temples.
Situated on Sicily's southern coast between Agrigento and the fishing city of Sciacca, an 80-minute drive from Trapani and Palermo airports, Verdura Resort - a Rocco Forte hotel - features 203 rooms and suites, all with a sea view, as well as three new villas which offer a perfect solution for family holidays, each with its own private swimming pool.
Serving up a mixture of sunny skies, a temperate climate and breathtaking scenery, combined with a plethora of historical, cultural and gastronomic delights, Sicily has all the ingredients for a relaxing break, and Verdura Resort is the ideal base to discover this authentic part of the Mediterranean's largest island.
For more information on Verdura Resort and to book, visit www.roccofortehotels.com.
ENDS
High-resolution images of Verdura Resort may be downloaded for editorial purposes from here.
For more information on Verdura Resort email Ambra Rollero at arollero@roccofortehotels.com
About Verdura Resort
Since opening in 2009, Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte hotels resort, (www.roccofortehotels.com) has quickly established itself amongst Europe's premier contemporary, exclusive golf and lifestyle destinations.
The resort is set in 230 hectares of stunning landscape overlooking the Mediterranean with 1.8km of private coastline, and offers golfing guests and families an unparalleled modern five-star experience on the largest island in the Mediterranean. The venue is located on the southern coast of Sicily between Agrigento and the fishing city of Sciacca, a 80-minute drive from Trapani and Palermo airports.
Verdura Resort features 203 rooms and suites - all with sea views - as well as three new villas offering a perfect solution for family holidays (each with a private swimming pool), and is a paradise for golfers with its outstanding facilities. Players from all over the world come to enjoy the two 18-hole championship courses and a nine-hole par-three course, with all three links-style layouts designed by world-renowned golf architect Kyle Phillips, built to the highest specifications and playable all-year-round. A member of the exclusive European Tour Properties network as a European Tour Destination, Verdura Resort hosted the Sicilian Open in 2012 and had the honour of staging the 2017 Rocco Forte Open in May. The resort's East Course is ranked as one of the finest in continental Europe while its beautiful West Course, also a par-72, provides the ideal complement and features one of the most memorable finishes anywhere in the world with the final four holes set alongside the Mediterranean. The courses are matched by outstanding practice amenities including a double-ended driving range and excellent golf academy.
Verdura Resort's other sports facilities include six tennis courts; a 60m two-tiered infinity pool; numerous watersports, one football pitch; a 170sqm fully-equipped gym and a collection of running trails through olive and lemon groves. The resort's award-winning 4,000sqm spa complex includes 11 treatment rooms, gym, yoga studio, a 25-metre indoor lap pool, four outdoor Thalassotherapy pools, a double-height steam room, male and female saunas and a spa bar for healthy alternatives.
Guests can sample an authentic taste of traditional Sicily with an array of dishes at one of the resort's four restaurants and five bars - with fresh, organic produce sourced straight from the venue's own garden. In addition, visitors can enjoy an array of cultural and culinary experiences where they can discover the secrets of Sicilian cooking, with menus inspired by celebrity chef Fulvio Pierangelini, and taste the many famous wines of the region. There is also plenty to keep the younger members of the family entertained with dedicated kids and teen clubs providing a variety of fun-packed activity programmes throughout the year.
Verdura Resort has received widespread international recognition and won numerous awards since opening. Among its most recent honours, it was ranked fourth in Golf World's inaugural list of the ‘Top 100 Golf Resorts in Continental Europe' and named by Golf Digest as a recipient of an ‘Editors' Choice Award for Best International Resorts' in 2016 and 2017. In addition, the resort won the title of ‘Italy's Best Golf Hotel' at the 2015 World Golf Awards'; retained its place in Golf World's benchmark ‘Top 100 Courses in Continental Europe' rankings in 2015/16 and 2017/18 and claimed a ‘Golden Award for Golf' at the 2015 Voyages & Hôtels Readers Awards. It was also named ‘Best Family European Golf Resort' by the 2011 Tatler Travel Guide, while it was the recipient of two accolades at the 2015 Spafinder Wellness Travel Awards in the ‘Best for Couples' and ‘Wow Factor' categories.
Verdura Resort is part of Rocco Forte Hotels, which was established by Sir Rocco Forte and his sister, Olga Polizzi, in 1996 and features a collection of 11 individual hotels and resorts. All of the hotels are landmarks, both old and new, occupying magnificent buildings in exceptional locations. Led by a family who has been in hospitality for four generations, the hotels are united by their distinctive approach to service ensuring guests experience the best of the cities and surrounding areas.
Rocco Forte Hotels comprises: Hotel de Russie, Rome; Hotel Savoy, Florence; Verdura Resort, Sicily; The Balmoral, Edinburgh; Brown's Hotel, London; The Charles Hotel, Munich; Villa Kennedy, Frankfurt; Hotel de Rome, Berlin; Hotel Amigo, Brussels; Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg; Assila Hotel, Jeddah.
Future openings: Rome and Shanghai in 2018
Media Enquiries: Rosie O'Brien, Group Communications Director, Rocco Forte Hotels, robrien@roccofortehotels.com