Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

De Simone designs practice area for private resort near Verona

Pierfrancesco De Simone has created a new practice area at Torre di Terzolan, a private resort near Verona, Italy.

The resort is located on hills above Verona and serves as high-end accommodation and a winery as well as a tourist attraction with its fourteenth century hunting tower and Villa Ridolfi, named after Cardinal Ridolfi who lived there in the sixteenth century.

“The owners asked me to convert an area once covered with a clay tennis court into a practice golf facility for the entertainment of guests staying in the luxury apartments located in Villa Ridolfi,” said De Simone.

“I made a proposal based on the design of a classic putting green with a chipping area, but at some point, I developed the idea of creating a more complex design that would also include a short game option. I thought that the concept of the famous sixth at Riviera with its bunker in the middle of the green would perfectly fit the available space.”

Battistella Golf began construction in March 2021, completing work in less than one week, with Rain Bird handling irrigation.

“Due to the position of the central hazard and the slope of the green, all kind of shots can be performed: uphill, downhill as well as sidehill pitch and running shots,” said De Simone. “Flop shots over the hazard from one side to the other can also be played.”

The green was seeded with bentgrass, while green surrounds feature a mix of fescue rye and Kentucky bluegrass so players can practice on the same grass that other courses in the area have.

“The first customers really enjoyed the green and loved the concept,” said De Simone. “It was possible to play towards the end of summer’s high season, but the first full summer season will be next year when many more people will have the chance to access the facility.”

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  • Terzolan
    De Simone Golf Design

    Pierfrancesco De Simone has created a new practice area at Torre di Terzolan, near Verona, Italy

  • Terzolan
    De Simone Golf Design

    De Simone was inspired by the sixth green at Riviera for his work at the private resort

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De Simone Golf Design
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