Verdura Resort has introduced an exclusive golf academy led by internationally recognised coach Simon Holmes, strengthening Sicily’s position in Europe’s luxury sports-tourism market and giving resort guests access to a structured five-day player-development programme.
The Simon Holmes Golf Academy will run on selected dates in September and October 2026 at the Rocco Forte Hotels property on Sicily’s southern coast. Rather than offering a conventional series of holiday lessons, the programme is designed to help a limited number of golfers understand their individual movement, playing patterns and performance challenges.
Participants will receive personalised coaching covering swing fundamentals, putting, scoring irons, short-game technique and course management. Trackman analysis, practical drills and on-course sessions will be combined to create an individual development plan that players can continue using after returning home.
Four Decades of Tour Coaching Shape the Programme
Holmes brings four decades of coaching experience to Verdura and has worked with more than 80 Tour professionals during his career.
His previous players include major names such as Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer and Ernie Els. This background gives resort guests access to methods developed through elite competition while retaining an approach tailored to each participant’s ability and objectives.
The programme centres on creating repeatable improvement rather than producing temporary changes during a short resort stay. Coaches assess how a player moves, where inconsistency enters the swing and how technical decisions influence ball flight and scoring.
Participants are then guided through a performance model built around their individual structure, sequence and playing tendencies. This creates a more personal pathway than standard group tuition based on a single swing method.
Five-Day Format Connects Technique with Scoring
The academy begins with an individual assessment and performance-planning session. Players examine their current mechanics before establishing priorities and drills for the week.
The second day focuses on foundations and putting, including speed control and performance exercises. Day three moves into scoring irons and course management, supported by Trackman data and nine holes of practical coaching.
Short-game development becomes the priority on day four, with training inside 40 yards followed by on-course application. The final day includes preparation routines, diagnostic tools, a nine-hole competition and an individual review.
Each golfer leaves with a personal development plan. Ongoing video-analysis support is also available, extending the experience beyond the resort and helping participants maintain progress after the programme finishes.
Advanced Technology Supports Personalised Analysis
The Simon Holmes programme operates within Verdura’s established Golf Academy and performance centre.
Technology available at the resort includes Trackman, SAM PuttLab, Blast Golf and SportsBox AI. These systems allow coaches to assess ball flight, club delivery, putting performance and body movement instead of relying entirely on visual observation.
Verdura also provides two club-fitting studios, a double-ended driving range with covered bays and three short-game practice areas. Together, these facilities allow golfers to recreate varied situations and move efficiently between technical analysis and practical training.
The combination is relevant to players seeking measurable development. Data can reveal patterns that may not be obvious during a single round, while on-course coaching ensures that technical changes remain connected to decision-making and scoring.
Championship Courses Create a Complete Training Environment
Verdura Resort has 45 holes of golf designed by Kyle Phillips, comprising two 18-hole championship layouts and a nine-hole Executive Course.
The links-style courses extend across approximately 230 hectares of Mediterranean coastline, with changing terrain, sea breezes and strategic hazards creating varied playing conditions. These characteristics give academy participants opportunities to test shot selection and course-management decisions in a realistic environment.
The resort has also hosted professional golf competition and continues to stage tournaments and specialist events. This sporting identity helps distinguish Verdura from leisure properties where golf operates mainly as an additional amenity.
Spa and Resort Facilities Support Player Recovery
High-performance coaching forms only one part of the guest experience. Verdura’s Irene Forte Spa covers approximately 4,000 square metres and offers facilities designed around wellness, relaxation and physical recovery.
Golfers can combine training with spa treatments, fitness activity, Mediterranean dining and time beside the resort’s private coastline. This balance may appeal to players travelling with partners or families who do not intend to participate in the academy.
It also reflects a wider shift in luxury tourism, where travellers increasingly seek purposeful experiences combining skill development, wellbeing and destination discovery.
Sicily Gains a Stronger Luxury Golf Proposition
The academy adds another reason for international golfers to choose Sicily for an extended stay rather than a conventional short golf break.
Visitors can combine the programme with coastal relaxation, Sicilian cuisine and excursions to surrounding historic and cultural destinations. Spending generated by specialist golf travellers can also support restaurants, transport providers, guides and other regional tourism businesses.
The Simon Holmes Golf Academy does not replace Verdura’s existing instruction for beginners and recreational players. Instead, it introduces a more intensive option for golfers seeking structured improvement and access to Tour-informed coaching.
By combining elite instruction, sophisticated analysis, championship courses and resort wellness, Verdura is positioning itself as both a luxury holiday destination and a serious performance environment. The initiative could help Sicily capture a larger share of Europe’s high-value golf tourism market while redefining what travellers expect from a resort-based coaching experience.
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