5 nights with breakfast at Le Betulle and 2 Green fees per person (GC Biella &GC Bogogno)

We’re on the hills of the Serra of Biella: all around us is nature, lush forests and gentle undulation. It is almost 60 years since the British architect John Morrison placed the 18 holes of the course here and meanwhile, in the peace of the woods, the clubhouse and lodgings were built. Since then very little seems to have changed inside the Biella club, which enjoys some sort of splendid isolation. Testing yourself on this masterpiece-course, award-winning among the best of Italy, is not an easy task, but rewarding, in any case. And towards the end, here’s a hole like no other: the 16th, a par 5 493 m long. A blind second shot to a diagonally downhill fairway you can only guess at. What you can never expect are the two rocks in the middle of the fairway: to be positively avoided, any rebound could be fatal to the score. Woe onto those who aim at the right of the green: the ball would slip in the rough, between the tangle of birches from which the club take its name. Inside the clubhouse is simple but tasteful decoration with wooden floorboards that are still hammered by the spikes of the old golf shoes; the same atmosphere awaits you in the bright and airy rooms of the restaurant, maybe sipping a drink, sitting on the comfortable sofas by the fireplace. Technical Details Course: 18 holes, Par 73, 6497 meters Architect: John Morrison Topography: narrow fairways and rich vegetation. Pro’s comments To define Biella Golf Club you need a superlative: gorgeous. A beautiful course in an area exclusively dedicated to golf (there’s no swimming pool, no tennis court etc.) Except the par 3s and the 13th, all the holes are dog-legs: a well-placed tee-shot becomes essential; on the greens, be extremely careful! Plenty of slopes, raised holes and steps could cause trouble. To high handicap players I suggest patience, to the low handicap players I only say: “Have fun”!

Arriving at Bogogno on a day with a clear blue sky is an experience that is impossible to forget: the Monte Rosa massif stands majestically on the horizon and its presence accompanies a panorama that may be enjoyed from the clubhouse and for the most part of the two 18-hole courses, the Bonora and the Conte. It is indeed the third Italian golf club (and second in Piedmont) in the order of seniority to boast 36 holes, opened in 1996 and completed in its current version in 2000. Conceived to become a holiday home for Milan and Turin natives – the two regional capitals are equidistant, less than an hour by car – it is surrounded by elegant but never garish or indiscreet homes; a hotel was recently built facing hole no. 9 of the Conte course which is very convenient. The American golf project architect, Robert von Hagge, created two courses whose difficulty changes significantly according to whether the champion tees or the standards tees are used. The Conte course, generally used for more important tournaments, is flat with water hazards that affect 13 holes mainly in the form of ponds. On the Bonora course, water is present on almost all the holes, and is more physically demanding because it is more undulating. Centrally located with regard to the two courses, the clubhouse, as were most of the residences, was designed by the French architect François Spoerry in a sober, country style with large picture windows and comfortable areas, true meeting places very much enjoyed by members. Course: “Del Conte”, Par 72, 6206 meters Architect: van Hagge Topography: flat Distinctive features: high roughs and relatively small fairways Links course big spaces, wide and flat ground Two courses that cannot be missing in the itinerary of a golfer visiting the Piedmont; the Bonora, more suited to medium – low handicaps, is a true masterpiece of golf architecture. From the first tee to the final shot towards the 18th green (Par 4 with a frontal water hazard), it is a succession of traps and difficulties. The five Par 5s of this course are to be savoured as they abound with hazards inserted in crucial situations to challenge players’ strategic skills. When played from the furthest tees, I consider the Bonora a true Ryder Cup course. The Conte course is somewhat less difficult but the architect has also skillfully designed the 18 splendid and entertaining holes here; the sequence of Holes 12-15 is quite unusual with three Par 5s broken up by a fantastic and spectacular Par 3 (Hole 13); four holes that will help you gain some strokes and adjust your score.