Giro di Garda 2023
May 21st - 26th
Immerse yourselves in the Italian Lakes and their unique scenery next Spring. Join us for five days on the shores of Lake Garda surrounded by the enchanting scenery
of the Italian Lakes, with golf at three of Italy's most exclusive Golf Clubs.
The competition is open to all Golf Club members with an official Handicap: winners will be decided by the highest aggregate, Betterball, Stableford score* over the three days of the tournament.
*Full Handicap allowance.
First Prize: £400 Holiday voucher
Second Prize: £200 Holiday voucher
Third Prize: £100 Holiday voucher
This year our Italian Lakes tournament takes us back to Lake Garda and the delightful town of Desenzano del Garda (keep an eye out for strolling ex-Prime Ministers in leopard skin shoes). The courses are three of the best with a gentle start on the flat at the luxurious Chervo resort, followed by the fabulous Franciacorta deep in wine country and finalising at the classic Garda Golf Club, the original (and home to Matteo Mannasero).
In between there will be a full day off for sightseeing, and relaxing, although with so much to do in the region twenty-four hours may not be long enough!
The tournament hotel - Piccola Vela****
For the five nights of the event we shall be staying in our favourite Desenzano hotel - the Piccola Vela****. A long-standing Garda hotel, sitting on the eastern edge of town it is the perfect location for getting the most out of the town and lake (or just sunning yourself by the pool!). Great staff, nice rooms, an excellent restaurant, front, back and rooftop gardens plus the convenience of an underground car-park - it offers everything you need for the perfect Lake Garda getaway.
The Tournament Schedule
Check-in to the Piccola Vela Hotel**** in the lakeside town of Desenzano di Garda. Afternoon free to investigate your new surroundings, head over the road to the lake's beach, take a boat out or just relax by the hotel pool.
Evening: Reception, tournament registration and welcome dinner at the Piccola Vela (wines included).
Morning: First round of the competition at Chervo Golf Club.
A gentle start at one of Garda's newbies on the golf scene. Easy to walk over flat land between man-made lakes and hills with some big Greens and even bigger bunkers! Obstacles are plain to see from the Tee - so no hidden surprises!
The course is about half-an-hour from the hotel.
Afternoon and evening: Free.
Morning: Second competition round at Franciacorta G.C.
A wonderfully traditional parkland course buried amongst the vineyards of Franciacorta. A course with a huge variety of holes that both teases and entertains in equal measure! There are a few inclines to the course, so please ask us to reserve a buggy if you think you might need it? (Normally closed on Tuesdays but opening especially for us).
The course is about 45 minutes from the hotel.
Afternoon and evening: at leisure.
A full day off to relax and soak up the beauty of Lake Garda and the surrounding hills.
From the small lakeside town of Desenzano del Garda you are perfectly placed for investigating this part of Italy where Lombardy meets Veneto.
The nearby city of Verona with its pristine Roman amphitheatre in the centre of town and radiating narrow streets of shops makes a great day out - and all under an hour away. (If you are considering a trip to Venice, it will take about two-hours by car or train to get there).
Should you be feeling more aquatic, then the ferries from the embarcadero in Desenzano link all of the lakeside towns. First stop is Sirmione, a narrow spit of land with a castle and a pedestrian-only medieval town to stroll.
Or if three days of golf is not enough for you then consider the drive over to Verona to play their course or up to Palazzo Arzaga maybe?
It's going to be a busy day off...
Morning: Final competition round at Garda Golf.
The original Lake Garda Golf Club and an appropriate conclusion to the tournament as it has hosted the Italian Open on many ocassions. A fine, traditional Club it is too. There are 27-holes on the gently sloping hills around the Clubhouse, every one lined with mature trees and quite a few decorated with water hazards, so tread carefully!
The course is about twenty minutes from the hotel.
Evening: Free. Reception and prize-giving dinner in the Villa Rosa (wines included).
Entry Fee per person - £980.00
• Five nights accommodation at the Piccola Vela Hotel**** in Desenzano del Garda
• Buffet breakfasts
• Three rounds of competition golf
• Reception and welcome dinner on Sunday evening (wines included)
• Reception and prize-giving dinner on Thursday evening (wines included)Flights and hire-cars are not included
We can book these for you or advise on the best available routes and fares for you to book yourselves. As you are no doubt aware, the sooner you book the cheaper they will be!
Extra nights and room upgrades
Extra nights - £ 115.00 per person per night
Room upgrades - please ask!
Flights and Hire-cars to Lake Garda
The closest airport to Lake Garda is Verona, the next nearest are either Milan, Venice or Bologna. From Verona it will take about half an hour to get to Desenzano and it's a straightforward run on the autostrada; from the other airports it will take about two hours to get to Lake Garda and the hotel.
Flights: Easyjet, British Airways, Alitalia and a few others offer flights from all over the UK to Verona: please let us know if you would like us to advise on the best routes for you?
The Ryanair-port at Orio al Sera (which they label 'Bergamo') is actually quite convenient for getting to Garda as it is near the autostrada and well away from Milan on the correct (east) side for Garda.
Hire cars
Whether you ask us to book your flights or arrange these yourselves, we can organise a hire-car to be ready and waiting for you at the airport.
Costs for a five-day rental will be in the region of:
Renault Megane (suitable for two): £ 375.00
Opel Zafira (for four): £ 425.00
Unlimited mileage and standard insurances included.
Map of Lake Garda
For a map of Lake Como and the courses please click here.
