5 nights with breakfast at Hotel Adlon and 3 green fees per person (GC Jesolo, Venezia and Frassanelle)

The eighth golf course in the order of appearance on Italian soil – initially 9 holes designed by the Scot Bobby Cruickshank in 1930, increased to 18 in 1951 by C.K. Cotton – was created to attract an elite tourism in the Lagoon. An area of 100 hectares was chosen as site with natural dunes around an old Austrian fortification built to defend the Most Serene Republic during the Lombardo-Venetian rule halfway through the 19th century, when Venice was the capital. The stables and military quarters were transformed into what is still the clubhouse. It is on southernmost tip of Lido Island, in the Alberoni hamlet: reaching it from the mainland is neither simple or casual. Your efforts will be rewarded by that ambiance of low profile innate elegance which has intrigued figures such as the Duke of Windsor, the billionaire John Davison Rockefeller, or celebrities from the past and present such as Bing Crosby and Clint Eastwood. Course: 18 holes, Par 72, 6199 m Architects: Cruikshank & C.K. Cotton Pro’s comments: When you enter the Golf Club Venezia, founded in 1928, you can understand why it is worth the effort of waking up early to take the ferryboat to reach it: the atmosphere there is truly different. Not overly long, the course is flanked by wonderful trees and the silence permeating it is a remarkable plus. Hole 9, the par 3 with the bell, is unforgettable: not long, it is played blind (the green cannot be seen because it is hidden by defense canals and the fort’s ramparts). When you have finished the hole, you must ring the bell to indicate that the green is free. You will also greatly enjoy the other 17 holes. A Venice attraction to be compared to Saint Mark’s Square or the Rialto Bridge: not to be missed.

Amidst 200 hectares of woodlands in the estate of the noble Papafava Antonini dei Carraresi family at the foot of the Euganean Hills, this 18-hole course was created in 1990 and is a succession of emotions due to the spectacular flora and fauna found there. When blooming in spring, the course explodes with colors and fragrances, whereas in autumn, the magic foliage – going from brown to yellow and red in contrast with the green lawns – makes players feel as though they have been projected into a living painting. Designer Marco Croze was able to create a demanding layout, finding the right balance between environmental beauty and technical demands: wide open spaces, woods and numerous bodies of water scattered along the course refine and beautify the panorama, making the game more demanding. Hole 15, known as La Regina, or the Queen, is an unforgettable par 3 of 150 meters which crosses a large lake and reaches the green enclosed in a majestic cathedral of trees. Hole 3 is also very beautiful, a par 4 left dogleg with a water hazard ready to penalize those seeking to cut the curve, and the out of bounds on the right side of the fairway. The clubhouse was created from a rustic building from the 1600s, elegantly restored and furnished with an Anglo-Saxon golfing flair. The privileged position close to the spa area of Abano and Montegrotto allows the natural wonders of the area and the beauty of art cities such as Padua, Venice and Vicenza to be explored within the range of a few kilometers. Technical Details Course: 18 holes, Par 72, 5906 meters Architects: Pete Dye and Marco Croze Topography: many water hazards Distinctive features: traditional course with old trees and wide fairways. Pro’s comments A very spectacular course created in a 19th century park. Several of the “soft” holes such as Hole 1, contrast with the “infinite” ones, as with Hole 18. Hole 15 is a masterpiece, a spectacular par 3, with an island green located at the end of a lake in the middle of a wood; you feel as though you are playing in an enchanted world: amazing.