I didn’t go to Sicily in September to play golf. No one does.
We went to celebrate my wife’s birthday. It’s a big one. That meant food (don’t miss it) arancini!), romance, shopping, and beautiful views of the hills and mountains. Sicily is a throwback. There are no strip malls. There is almost no fast food. think godfather, One shot there in 1971 (more on this later) and Michael Corleone hiding in the cobblestone streets with his bodyguard until he could safely return to America.
But despite the island’s bountiful bounty, I couldn’t quite resist the siren call of one of Sicily’s lesser-known attractions: its golf courses.
Although there are only three regulation courses in Sicily, they are diverse and offer enough scenery to capture the attention of any golfer. The golf portion of my trip began at the spectacular Verdura Resort on the south coast, about 3 hours from Palermo. The facility features two premier Kyle Phillips courses, the West Course and the East Course, as well as nine par 3 holes. Phillips is known for his designs at Kingsbarns Golf Links in St. Andrews and Yas Links in Abu Dhabi, home of the annual DP World Tour event.
Verdura Resort is located on the coast. Getty Images
I started on the West Course and quickly realized I wasn’t bringing my A game, or even my B or C game. Perhaps I was thinking too much about how badly my fellow Americans performed in the Ryder Cup opener the day before. I really wanted to show what my Italian partner, Uncle Sam, was capable of. Instead, I showed them there is nothing. there is nothing.
It was easy to blame the situation. It didn’t seem to have rained in this section of Sicily since Vito Corleone arrived at Ellis Island, and the fairways were dry.
Still, I thoroughly enjoyed the West Course, especially the closing three holes along the Mediterranean Sea. The biggest challenge there was to focus on my game instead of looking out to the ocean and the world beyond.
The East Course, which we played the next day, also has a long view. You can’t go wrong. . . No matter how much your game lets you down.
The starter told me that the par 3 13th would be overwhelming.
The starter was right.
The hole is short, just over 100 meters (approximately 109 yards), but every step from tee to green is breathtaking.
Looking at the ocean to my left, I immediately thought of the par 3 7th at Pebble Beach. This hall is very familiar to me, and I thought it might be a good idea to scatter the ashes there. Don’t you think it’s the perfect place for a quiet rest?
Behind the 13th tee stood a rock with a nameplate on it.
This is a magical place. Sit down and look as far as you can. You will be able to see things in your life and understand them.
I didn’t have time to stop and think about it. I had to make par. (Spoiler alert! – I didn’t know.)
Two days later I returned to the same location without my clubs. I sat on the bench next to the rock for half an hour, maybe longer. I longed for a deeper understanding of life, its trials and triumphs, but I soon realized how little time we have to stop and reflect. The world is moving too fast.
The next part to make.
Next project to finish.
This is the next photo I will post.
From Verdura, we took a three-hour trek through the Sicilian countryside to the beautiful Il Piccolo Etna Golf Resort. Located in the hills near Mount Etna, I had never played near an active volcano (aside from a few friends). This course required a lot of precision. not mine forte.
Il Piccolo Etna winds through the Sicilian countryside. Michael Arkush
Still, like Verdura, there are some memorable spots that make you want to stop and soak it all in. Like No. 17, a narrow par 4 with Mount Etna in the distance, there’s little room for error. Consider a harbor town without a lighthouse.
Speaking of demanding precision, here’s a summary of what happened the next day as I drove to a small town called Savoca, which is the site of several cities. godfather scene. The road was narrow and windy, with more switchbacks than Lombard Street. The Italian drivers seemed unperturbed and raced down the hill at 40 or 50 miles per hour.
I was surprised because I was running at half that speed. My wife too… Happy birthday, dear!
When I arrived in town, I wondered if this was the understanding I was looking for, something to do with the fragility of life and the adventures that occur along the way, both good and bad.
In Savoca, reminders of “The Godfather” are everywhere. Michael Arkush
My wife and I were sitting in Bar Vitelli, the cafe where Michael Corleone met the proud father of Apollonia, whom he would later marry. Pictures from the movie were everywhere. Tourists were also familiar with the stage’s place in film history. We walked up the hill to the church of San Nicolo where Corleone’s wedding took place. This church felt like a shrine to the movie that put this town on the map.
After a few days on the island, we headed to the mainland, Venice, and Rome for romance and museums.
At my wife’s urging, I left the club in Sicily (figuratively speaking) and, yes, I drank cannoli.
The post For golf and “Godfather” lovers, this island has it all.
