Destination Golf - March 2016 Destination Golf - March 2016 | Page 25

If you look at a map of the
region, you will see that its
towns and golf courses are
strung along a straight line,
stretching from Rimini on the
Adriatic coast to Piacenza in the
north.
Starting our golfing voyage of
discovery near Piacenza on
Emilia Romagna’s north western
border, we will find the Croara
Country Club in a hillside setting
which enjoys a mild climate.
The course, which hosted the
first Italian Women’s Open, lies
halfway between the Trebbia
river and the lower slopes of
the Apennines. Its layout offers
18 testing holes, with narrow
fairways surrounded by naive
woodland. Don’t miss the
medieval village and the Castle
of Rivalta, close to Croara.
Standing sentinel in the lush
hillsides surrounding the ancient
spa town of Salsomaggiore
is the Salsomaggiore Golf &
Thermae. Inaugurated in 1992,
the course’s rippling fairways
and tight, fast greens are laid
out in 70 hectares of parkland
and garden, 360 metres above
sea. The golf is superb and the
setting matchless. This is Verdi’s
country and the house where
the great musician was born can
be visited at Roncole Verdi.

Riolo la Torre GC

Also here, near the medieval
cities of Parma, Cremona and
Mantova, is the La Rocca Golf
Club, close to the pretty Sala
Baganza ducal village. La Rocca
also enjoys a spectacular
setting and panoramic views
across Parma’s plains. This is
a moderately difficult course
running among woods of oaks,

Volume 3 • Issue 32

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