.jpg) ITALY
Golfing
in the Medici's gardens near Florence
 Where to play
One can not pass through Tuscany without
being aware of Medieval heritage. Castles, fortresses, watch-towers,
and town walls appear everywhere; some are well preserved,
others are in ruins, but the main remnants are not on the
tourist routes, just off Florence where begin olive trees
and vineyards covered hills. And golfing is a good way to
discover some of those treasures on the ways to the golf places
which are mainly located in that genuine environment and offer
the pleasure of discovering from a tee-box or a green testimonies
of the Toscan heritage.
A good advice: courses are sometimes hard to find because signs are rare or lost in the
galore of other signs, particularly in the new development zones, and it's easy to get
lost. So don't hesitate to ask precisely your way and depart largely in advance.
Golf dell'Ugolino
located at Grassina at 10' from Florence in the very heart of the Chianti country, is
where golf was born in Italy and the best example of harmony between nature and history.
The property was owned by the Medici family as it is the case for the two other best new
nearest courses to Florence: Poggio dei Medici at Scarpiera and Il Pavoniere at Prato.
Built in 1935 and named the "Florence golf course", it has been site of the
Italian Open Championship in 1983 and is the home of the Volvo Open of Florence, an
official competition of the PGA European Tour. Ugolino golf is not very long but
difficulties on course are not just meters. It is an undulating course following the
slopes along the harmonious scenery landscape of the Chianti area. It is a target course
more for accurate than powerful golfing.
It is said that the Mugello, at 25 kms north from
Florence along the river Sieve, is where the Medici came from. The club-house of the Poggio dei Medici Golf Club has taken place in the
luxury old 15th century villa of the Medici and the course has been designed in a valley
of the surrounding property in fully respect of the local environment, sort of humid land
with water holes and high roughs where wildlife find a natural home. Opened in 1995, the
Course, by professional player and golf course designer Baldovino Dassù, allows for five
different playing routes within its 18 holes. Playing that fascinating course, one can
also appreciate the typical Tuscan scenery, undulating hills with cypress lines and
middle-aged fortresses, towers and villages on their tops. You will find yourself on a
world-class golf course deep in the countryside but, at only a few kilometres from
Florence. Club-house in the historical palace with fine restaurant overlooking the course
and the scenery around. A very special Florentine art of golfing.
Il Pavoniere
Golf & Country Club located on the plain
along the highway A11 driving to the seashore, is the most
recent of the three courses of the Golfing Association in
Florence. Here too the land was anciently owned by a Medici,
Lorenzo de Medici, and was called la "Casa del Podere
de San Leopoldo", former Grand Duke of Florence. But,
differently from the two other, this Arnold Palmer masterpiece
course stays on a flat plain surrounded by hills: it was the
former water hunting reserve. So if the land has been given
some gentle relief, water and sand shape the majority of holes.
It is an American style golf with creeks and lakes with stretched
and undulating speedy greens in a typical Toscanian countryside.
The club-house has also taken place in the ancient villa and
serves Toscanian specialties.
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Golf dell'Ugolino hole n°1
and hole n°9
Poggio dei Medici club house and course
Le Pavoniere course
and club-house
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