The Outward 9

• Hole 1  

  Standing on the first tee you will get a great feel and sense for this dramatic piece of property. The first hole is a medium-length par 4, with a lot of character that plays downhill and has a vertical drop of approximately 50 meters. The green is protected by a large bunker on the right side. This is a very good starting hole for everyone.

     

• Hole 2  

  This is a slight dogleg to the right, medium–length par 4. The routing of hole meanders along a beautiful stream and treed ravine. The green is very receptive, but is also guarded on the right by two long large bunkers that serve to stop the errant shot from finding the water.

     

• Hole 3  

  This is a straightforward par 4, slightly uphill from tee to green. Two bunkers guard the tee shot landing area on the left and right. The hole runs along the top of a ridge and gives the players, yet again, another panoramic view of the Castiglion del Bosco property.

     

• Hole 4  

  A very long, visually stunning and dramatic, yet severe downhill par 5. A big bunker guards the right side of this fairway, a cross bunker encroaches at 350 yards and two bunkers, right and left, protect the approach to the green. This signature hole will be one of the longest in Europe.

     

• Hole 5  

  A medium-length par 3. The undulating green sits on a ledge and is protected by one bunker short right and another which guards its left side.

     

• Hole 6  

  A very short, potentially reachable par 4 and one of my “drivables” that I try to include with most of my courses. There are bunkers on the right side of the fairway, two bunkers along the right side of the green and a ravine entirely down the left side of this hole, all of which give this hole its personality and challenge for the golfers.

     

• Hole 7  

  This is a long picturesque par 3 with a hill on the right and the green guarded by a ravine, trees and two bunkers on the left. Accuracy is a key on this hole.

     

• Hole 8  

  This is a short par 5, but is played almost entirely uphill. There is a large bunker on the left side of the fairway that impacts the drive and another very large bunker that protects the left side of a very small green.

     

• Hole 9  

  A slightly uphill dogleg to the right par 4 that plays along the cypress tree-lined entry road. The great view of these majestic trees will almost always distract your attention off the tee, while the bunkers protect the right side of the landing area and the green. This long par 4 sits on top of a ridge that overlooks both the back and front nine. This beautiful golf hole and its superb view are an unforgettable sight to behold.

     

The Inward 9

• Hole 10  

  This is one of my favorite par 4's, anywhere. It is a very dramatic hole because of the green location. The green is nestled next to, and slightly behind, a beautiful stand of trees. A bunker located on the left side of the fairway must be avoided at all times. This is one of the more natural settings on this property, or any other for that matter, for a golf hole. I really just put it where Mother Nature intended!

     

• Hole 11  

  My favorite par 5 on the course. Meandering down and along side of this hole is a ravine, a creek and a huge stand of trees. Bunkers on the left side of the landing area off the tee, and bunkers right and left short of this green protect the approaches into the green. A perfect par 5 that can be reached in two by longer hitters.

     

• Hole 12  

  This is a very long straight-away par 4. It parallels the same wooded stream bed as Hole 11; however, on this hole the stream is along the entire left hand side of the fairway. A bunker protects the left side of this green, so it is important to drive the ball in fairway.

     

• Hole 13  

  A medium length par 3 surrounded by bunkers in both the front and on the right. Although this hole looks fairly easy, I am sure it will be very challenging to most golfers.

     

• Hole 14  

  A short straight-away par 4 with a bunker on the left side of the fairway. A stream bed meanders down the entire right side of this hole, and a pot bunker is located directly in front of this lateral green presentation. A challenging hole with a lot of character.

     

• Hole 15  

  A somewhat short uphill par 5 that plays along the stream bed to its right. The green is small and protected by a deep, singular bunker on the right front. It can be reached with two good shots, but they have to be accurate.

     

• Hole 16  

  A straightaway par 4; however, the second shot goes uphill more than 10 meters to a semi-blind green that is bunkered in the front right and left. These two bunkers are well short of the green, which create the illusion that they are right on the green itself. This is a tricky little hole with a demanding second shot.

     

• Hole 17  

  This is a slightly downhill par 3 and the shortest par 3 on the golf course, but maybe the most dramatic. It has a very small green which is protected entirely by sand bunkers. It is one of my favorite holes and probably the most picturesque on the course.

     

• Hole 18  

  A medium-length par 4. The tee shot plays slightly uphill leaving another uphill second shot, to a green that is protected by a deep bunker on the front left. This is truly a wonderful finishing hole.

     

• Hole 19  

  This is a unique feature of The Golf Club at Castiglion del Bosco: not a bar, but a short play-off hole between the 18th hole and the clubhouse terrace that offers sporting players the opportunity to decide friendly bets or stage a sudden-death play-for-it-all. Those lounging in the clubhouse restaurant or bar, or seated on the terrace, will have an enjoyable view of the play-offs.