1. Royal Park I Roveri, Piedmont
This golf club, closely associated with Fiat — whose brands include Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Maserati — is elegance personified. Its original 1971 course, by Robert Trent Jones Sr, has hosted the Italian Open four times while Pramerica, its second course, followed in 2013.
royalparkgolf.it, green fees from £62
2. Verdura Resort, Sicily
Opened in 2009, Rocco Forte hotel Verdura is part of the European Tour Properties network with two 18-hole courses — East and West — plus a par-3, nine-hole layout, all designed by Kyle Phillips. The European Tour’s Rocco Forte Sicilian Open is played on a composite of both championship courses.
roccofortehotels.com, green fees from £89
3. Villa d’Este Golf Club, Lombardy
A mountain beauty set on wooded slopes by Lake Montorfano, Italy’s seventh-oldest course dates back to 1925 and is a challenging par-69. Its venerable clubhouse sits above the 18th hole.
golfvilladeste.com, green fees from £89