Städler & Reinmuth Golfdesign have designed a new 18-hole golf course for the ultra-luxury La Maviglia resort in the Puglia region of Italy, that will open in 2027.

The resort spans 202 hectares of olive orchard less than a kilometre from the coast of the Gulf of Taranto and accessible from Bari International and Brindisi airports. La Maviglia is owned by Swiss-based development firm Ultimate Collection, led by Nicola Cortese, who is also project managing the development.

“The golf course will integrate countless cultural sites dating back to the 16th and 18th centuries, in particular numerous trulli – traditional Apulian dry stone huts – which can be found everywhere on the resort grounds and come into play visually and strategically on numerous holes,” said Christoph Städler. “The landscape is also characterised by countless century-old olive and fig trees, dune landscapes and by the macchia – the typical Mediterranean scrub.”

The design team, supported by irrigation designer Giles Wardle of Irriplan and agronomist firm Turfgrass, has been tasked with creating a high-end course capable of hosting professional tournaments.

Städler & Reinmuth’s routing plan reveals closing holes for each nine to be played alongside one of three lakes to be excavated on the property..

The designers have central fairway bunkers on several holes and formal hazards are complemented by large areas of exposed sand dune.

The resort will be designed by Oppenheim Architecture and Enea Landscape Architecture, and include a 20-room hotel, 70 individual suites, 35 villas, four restaurants and a 5,000-square-metre wellness and medical spa.

While “combining the charm of the Italian coastal landscape with an unprecedented level of bespoke hospitality”, La Maviglia will also introduce several measures focused on sustainability. The resort aims to have the highest standards of renewable energy, organic vegetable growing, olive oil production and wine cultivation.