Royal Golf and Country Club - Italy

The current host to the Italian Open is located near Turin in Piedmont. Designed in 1971 by Robert Trent Jones Sr, it is set neatly into the undulating landscape of La Mandria National Park. The course itself presents a strategic challenge with its innovative use of bunkers and water hazards. Piedmont offers some of the best cuisine in all of Italy and the home of Slow Food and Braollo can offer you a culinary experience to rival anything you experience on the course.

Course

The original course was built in 1971 by architect Robert Trent Jones Senior. Born June 20, 1906, Jones designed (or redesigned) about 500 golf courses worldwide. It was said jokingly: “The sun never sets on a Robert Trent Jones golf course”.

The courses designed by Jones are famous for landscape art, the innovative use of bunkers, the widespread use of water hazards and the skilful arrangement of greens and obstacles to encourage careful game strategy. In his view golf had to be without risks: a sport without rewards: his design encourages bold play..

In recent years the course has been extended by a further 18 holes whose design was entrusted toMichael Hurdzan.

Hurdzan is internationally recognized as an authority in the development of golf courses. He was the president of the American Association of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA), he studied turf management at the University of Ohio, obtained a master’s degree in landscape architecture and a doctorate in physiology of landscape plants.

In 1996 he was awarded the title of architect of the year by Golf World Magazine