18 holes, par 72, 6,122 metres. Marco Croze, 1987.
The course runs across a natural plateau of 73 hectares in the Alto Vergante, above Stresa and Lesa. It is not a flatland layout adapted to a hill: it follows the ground, alternates open and wooded holes, and never gives you the same hole twice in a row.
Fairways are generous but the golf is positional: small, well-defended greens reward the right shot rather than the longest one. The afternoon lake breeze changes your club on at least four holes.
You come back towards the clubhouse with four lakes in front of you. The hole everyone photographs — and the one no picture on the current website shows.
Narrow, downhill, out of bounds left. The drive wants to be short and in position: going at the green from the tee usually costs a shot.
A long par 4 climbing back to the clubhouse. Into the wind it is the hardest hole on the course.
In the interest of honesty: the practice range is currently off mats, not grass. It is the most frequent criticism in reviews and one of the improvements on the list.