Italy is not known around the world for golf courses as it should be.
For its weather, its high tourist vocation, its history and food, its attractions and for its more then 300 golf courses (some of them designed by the greatest architect) spread across the italian peninsula, Italy should be among one of the greatest golf destination in the world. But for several reasons it is not.
But those lucky ones who choose to play some golf in Rome have the chance to play one of the most prestigious golf courses in Italy and Europe, ranked one of the best of the country, a private golf club open to the public.
Located 15 miles north of Rome along the Via Cassia on the Olgiata quiet residential complex, Olgiata Golf Club is a magnificent classic tree-lined parkland golf course.
Opened 1961 it features 27 holes (18 holes West Course and 9 holes East Course) designed by english architect C. Kenneth Cotton and restyled by architect Jim Fazio in 1996.
During the years it hosted many important international tournaments including the Eisenhower Trophy in 1964, the World Cup on 1968 and 1984, the European Tour Italian Open on 1973 and 2002 (won by Ian Poulter) and the Challenge Tour Roma Open in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Before 2012 withdrawn, Rome was a proposed bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics Games, and Olgiata GC was chosen to host the golf tournament. For this reason the West Course on 2010 went under a €1 million renovation project supervised by Tom Fazio, where 15 holes have been modified, changed or totally redesigned.
The West course today is 6,547 meters (7,159 yds) long from the back tees and is one of the few Par 73 in Italy with a 75.5/138 Rating/Slope.
It's a quite challenging long layout surrounded by trees and outstanding villas featuring undulating fairways, elevation changes, strategically placed bunkers and water hazards coming into play on several holes such as small creeks designed to protect some of the very fast greens.
Today is compared by many to Wentworth West Course.
Olgiata's West Course is really a great golf course, one of the best I ever played, and after the last renovation I am positive it will be hosting soon a main European Tour tournament.
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| The Clubhouse |
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| #2 Hole 196 m Par 3 |
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| #3 Hole 418 m Par 4 |
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| #6 Hole 447 m Par 5 |
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| #7 Hole 178 m Par 3 |
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| #8 Hole 395 m Par 4 |
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| #9 Hole 501 m Par 5 |
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| #10 Hole 363 m Par 4 |
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| #10 Hole 363 m Par 4 |
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| #11 Hole 442 m Par 5 |
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#12 Hole 390 m Par 4
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| #13 Hole 390 m Par 4 |
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| #15 Hole 507 m Par 5 |
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#15 Hole 507 m Par 5
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| #16 Hole 179 m Par 3 |
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| #17 Hole 474 m Par 5 |
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