- Verdura Resort was named Europe’s Best Golf Hotel at the 2026 World Golf Awards.
- The Sicilian resort was also named Italy’s Best Golf Hotel at the same awards.
- Verdura held second place in both Golf World’s and National Club Golfer’s latest European resort rankings.
Verdura Resort has kept its title as Europe’s Best Golf Hotel, picking up the award for a second year running at the 2026 World Golf Awards in Egypt. The Rocco Forte property on Sicily’s southwest coast also took the Italy’s Best Golf Hotel award.
The resort did well in the magazine rankings too. In Golf World‘s updated Top 100 Resorts in Continental Europe, Verdura stayed in second place and increased its points total on the previous year. That is the same list in which La Hacienda Links went straight in at No.17 as the highest new entry. Verdura also kept second place in National Club Golfer’s new Top 100 European Golf Resorts 2026.
Sir Rocco Forte, founder and chairman of Rocco Forte Hotels, said the recognition was especially welcome “as it reflects the consistency of our golf offering at Verdura Resort”. He described keeping the European title and holding such strong positions in two respected rankings as a significant achievement, and gave the credit to the resort’s staff.
The golf
The resort occupies a 230-hectare estate between the Valley of the Temples and Sciacca. Its golf centres on two 18-hole championship courses by Kyle Phillips, East Links and West Shore, which share the Mediterranean shoreline with coastal holes and wide fairways. There is also a nine-hole par-three course, extensive practice facilities, a golf academy and Italy’s only European Tour-approved Performance Institute.
It has been a busy year in Sicily. In June the resort launched the Simon Holmes Academy, led by the coach who has worked with more than 80 Tour players. In September Colin Montgomerie joined amateur players for the inaugural Sir Rocco Forte Captain’s Trophy, played across both championship courses.
Open all winter
The awards arrive as Verdura moves to year-round golf for the first time, a change announced earlier this month ahead of the resort’s Golf for Autism weekend. Last winter the golf facilities opened only at weekends. For the 2026/27 winter, both championship courses will be open throughout the season.
Winter visitors will also have the pro shop, private and group lessons with the resort’s coaches, and the Clubhouse lounge, which will stay open through the off-season.
The resort has 203 rooms and suites plus 20 hillside Private Villas. Off the course there are 1.8km of private coastline, the 4,000m² Irene Forte Spa and a range of restaurants and bars built around Sicilian cuisine.
For more information on Verdura Resort, click HERE.
Related: Three days, two modern day masters: Cabot Highlands is an outstanding 36-hole golfing destination
Simon Bale
Simon Bale is the publisher of Golf Today. A low single-figure handicap golfer, he was previously a major shareholder and course reviewer for Top100GolfCourses.com for over a decade, starting in 2010. Through this role, he developed extensive knowledge of golf course design and architecture while playing more than 300 courses worldwide.