António Castelo is ready to lead the next exciting chapter in the golf development of Verdura Resort as one of the world’s elite golf resorts after being named as the new director of golf at the award-winning Sicilian resort.
Castelo has moved to Italy after spending more than 20 years working at a collection of the top golfing venues in his native Portugal including Vila Sol, Boavista and, most recently, Troia Resort, where he was director of golf for seven-and-a-half years.
Verdura Resort will host the European Tour’s Rocco Forte Sicilian Open for the second year running next month from May 10-13 and the Portuguese – who won his national championship twice as an amateur – is relishing the chance to play a prominent future role in helping the resort take its status in world golf to a new level.
Castelo, who took up his new position at the start of the month, said: “It’s been wonderful to see how Verdura Resort has grown in a short space of time into one of Europe’s top luxury golfing destinations, and I’m extremely proud to have been given this opportunity.
“With three fantastic golf courses, a first-class hotel and an array of outstanding sports and leisure facilities, the resort has so much to offer to a wide golfing audience. Working in Sicily will be a new challenge and it’s one that I’m looking forward to immensely – starting with the Rocco Forte Sicilian Open.”
Marco Truffelli, General Manager at Verdura Resort, said: “We are delighted to welcome such a seasoned professional with an outstanding reputation to Verdura Resort. With Antonio’s knowledge of the golf market and his professionalism, we look forward to enhancing our position among the world’s ultimate luxury destinations.”
Opened in 2009, Verdura Resort – a Rocco Forte hotel and a member of the exclusive European Tour Properties network – has established itself over the last decade among Europe’s elite golf resorts.
As well as being a recipient of a Golf Digest ‘Editors’ Choice Award for Best International Resorts’ for the last three years, European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjørn confirmed himself as one of the resort’s many fans when he said: “What a beautiful place and what a place to play golf …” after playing in the inaugural Rocco Forte Sicilian Open last year.
Nestling on the coast in 230 hectares of stunning landscape, the resort features two 18-hole championship courses – the East Course and West Course – as well as a par-three nine-hole course, all designed by Kyle Phillips.
Complementing the golf courses are extensive practice facilities including a double-ended driving range and outstanding academy.
In addition, 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.
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 features 203 rooms and suites – all with a sea view. Away from the fairways, the resort features an array of other luxury sports and lifestyle facilities while guests also have the opportunity to sample a taste of the gastronomy, wine, history and culture that has made Sicily – the largest island in the Mediterranean – famous across the world.
ENDS
High-resolution images of Verdura Resort may be downloaded for editorial purposes from here.
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 resort 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 features 203 rooms and suites, all with sea views, 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 was the host venue for the 2012 Sicilian Open and had the honour of staging the 2017 Rocco Forte Open - Verdura. 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’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 Verdura’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, 2017 and 2018. 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 2015/16’ rankings 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.
Rocco Forte Hotels
Established by Sir Rocco Forte and sister, Olga Polizzi in 1996, Rocco Forte Hotels is 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 in 2018, Shanghai in 2018
Media Enquiries:Rosie O’Brien, Group Communications Director, Rocco Forte Hotels, Email: robrien@roccofortehotels.com