4 nights at the Hotel Ristorante Giardinetto with breakfast plus 2 green fees (GC Castelconturbia and GC Alpino di Stresa)

Born three times: indeed the history of this beautiful golf club, which in its modern version includes three 9 holes courses, actually begins in 1898, thanks to the intervention of Count Gaspar Voli, who was the promoter of the Couturbier Golf Course. In the 1920s, since the change of ownership of the huge estate where it was located, even the name was changed, into “Golf of Conturbia”. Later, in the Sixties, it was completely neglected and, finally, was reborn in 1984, this time with the present name of Castelconturbia” (Castle of Conturbia) and the new course created by a genius of golf design such as Robert Trent Jones senior, who has attained a masterpiece, where two Italian Opens took place – in 1991 and 1998. Of the original course and of the old clubhouse few traces remain between the 4th and 5th holes of the Yellow course, whereas completely unchanged is the background landscape, with the 110 hectares of the estate and all the grandeur of Monte Rosa. The clubhouse is the ancient farmstead of the Bindellina, completely restored with features and interiors of architect Vico Magistretti, in a really stunning location: sitting under the portico for a drink, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking sight, with the lawn sloping down towards the fairways, the thick forest and the lake: a true delight. Three medium to long golf courses, with many traps around the greens, which are uneven, fast and large. A peculiarity of the Yellow Course is to have greens well guarded by water – the best example being the 7th hole, a par 4 downhill dogleg, with an island green. In the Azzurro (Light-blue) Course, which leads entirely through the woods, the natural hazards predominate; the 3rd hole, par 4, is a narrow dogleg to the right, hard to cut due to the bunkers and the big chestnuts on the right, which affect the tee shot. The Red Course is the longest, with continuous ups and downs between tee and green; here the water gets into play only on the 8th and 9th holes. Yellow-blu Course (18 holes), , Par 72, 5885 meters Architect : Robert Trent Jones Sr. Topography : slightly hilly with water obstacles Special features : every stroke should be carefully considered ; length does not play the main role Blu-red Course (18 holes), Par 72, 5995 meters Architect : Robert Trent Jones Sr. Topography : slightly hilly with water obstacles Special features : no experiments, only playful skills are needed on this course Red Course (18 holes) : Par 72, 5995 meters Architect : Robert Trent Jones Jr. Topography : slightly hilly with water obstacles Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s pen created Castelconturbia, an 18-hole masterpiece; the yellow-blue championship course will challenge your ability to adapt to the undulations of the fairways and the deadly and devious slopes of the greens; it’s also very important to know where to hit the shot on the green, because having to putt downhill increases the probability of a three-putt: heads-up on Hole 2 on the yellow course, a Par 3 with frontal water: make sure you hit to the left part of the green, and Hole 9 on the blue course Par 4: use an iron that is higher than the one you chose because the rise is steeper than you think and it takes FOREVER to reach the green.

Among the golf courses around Lake Maggiore, the oldest one is Alpino di Stresa Golf Club, high in the hills overlooking the most famous town of the area. From this strategic location you can enjoy the pleasure of an extraordinary panoramic view of the lake and the Alps. You will be welcomed in a friendly atmosphere in this 9 holes only club, designed in 1924 by Peter Gannon. The course has a distinctive trait that distinguishes it from any other: the architect was left-handed and that has been reflected in the project, later developed by the professional Francesco Pasquali, who won the first Italian Open on this very golf course in 1925, followed by two other championships. The layout runs clockwise and the left section becomes punishing, often to the very edge of the out of bound limit. Despite the 700 m. altitude, only holes 1,3, 4 and 9 are uneven. Overall it is a short but quite difficult course, with some narrow and dodgy fairways, many tall trees along the tracks, small and fast greens, protected by bunkers. As a compensation, a unique detail: you will never find a bunker on the fairways, nor any water hazard. Technical Details Course : 9 holes, Par 69, 5397 meters. Architects: Peter Gannon, Francesco Pasquali Topography: hilly Distinctive features: the greens are not so visible when you throw in the ball. Pro’s comments Almost 100 years of history but it doesn’t look it! At Alpino di Stresa Golf Club you can play and have fun on a course with steep slopes, where precision is much more needed than strength; 9 holes to play tiptoeing, without of bounds always at your left. If you don’t hook, delight is guaranteed