In the year The 2023 Ryder Cup comes to Italy, a multi-million Euro investment will lengthen the course to 7,500 yards and further enhance the exclusive playing experience for club members and guests of Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco.
The 18-hole championship course, designed by the late Tom Weiskopf (1942-2022) in partnership with Phil Smith, will benefit from:
New back tees lengthening the course to 7,500 yards Restoration of the bunkers to their original shape with new bunker liner More than 135,000 meters of new drainage for year round play Introduction of drought tolerant grasses Increasing the native grass areas for environmental sustainability Improved, targeted irrigation for water efficiency Upgraded practice range, with expanded tees and targets
The work is being overseen by golf course architect Phil Smith, long-time partner of Tom Weiskopf and collaborator on the original course design, with construction company Atlantic Golf and leading golf course consultancy company Turfgrass, which oversaw the transformation of the 2027 Ryder Cup venue at Adare Manor, Ireland.
Phil Smith said: “Our objective has always been to make Castiglion del Bosco the finest golf experience in Italy.
“As with all great courses, it is important to continue to invest and evolve and that is what we are doing, by extending the course to professional tournament length and ensuring world class playing conditions all year round and resilience in a changing climate.”
Phil Smith said the course, which features a closed drainage system, reusing irrigation water and capturing run off, remains one of the most sustainable he and Tom Weiskopf had designed in 20 years of working together.
“The new turf variations and improvements to the closed drainage system, will ensure the traditional Tuscan style and sustainable roots remain an integral part of the course design and ensure The Club at Castiglion del Bosco continues to be regarded as one of the top courses in Italy.”
Famously, Tom Weiskopf added a short 19th hole, The Brunello Hole, where Members and Residents can settle matches and play for a Magnum of Brunello di Montalcino from the estate’s prestigious winery.
David Waters, General Manager of The Club at Castiglion del Bosco, said: “Our course overlooks the Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO protected landscape, and is rightly recognized as one of the finest private courses in Europe.
“As Tom Weiskopf’s only golf course design in Europe, we are committed to continually maintaining and improving the course in the way he envisioned, with sustainability at the forefront of our long-term plans. We are delighted to welcome back Phil Smith, to lead the work and help realize our shared ambitions for The Club to be seen as one of the very best golf courses in the world.”
In addition to the golf club and winery, the 800-year-old, 5,000-acre estate is home to Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, a five-star luxury hilltop resort, crowned No. 1 Hotel in the World by Travel + Leisure in 2022.
The hotel’s 42 suites and 11 luxury farmhouse villas exude a rich sense of authenticity, with heritage features, antique furnishings, local textiles and artisanal accessories. In November 2022, the resort’s Campo del Drago Restaurant was awarded a Michelin Star.
Access to The Club at Castiglion del Bosco is reserved for members and resident guests of Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco.
David Waters added, “As golfers come from all over the world to visit Italy for The 2023 Ryder Cup, we look forward to welcoming guests and discerning golfers to experience Tom Weiskopf’s Tuscan masterpiece, extended and enhanced for the next decade.”
