Corporate Retreats and Luxury Business Travel

With summer around the corner, I thought it would be appropriate to highlight a few popular summer destinations - starting with one of my favorite. Florence.

Ask anyone about Tuscany and they'll tell you it's the land of reverent culture --- historic paintings, delectable cuisine, high fashion, and endangered architecture. If that wasn't enough, the land of exquisite wine and birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci also entices golfers with strategically placed courses, amidst olive trees lining rolling countryside, emerging golf into the land of Italian renaissance.

And there are many courses dotted all over the region to make a golfer getty, starting with the Poggio dei Medici Golf & Resort, home of the Ladies Italian Open from 1999-2003. Because of its location and setting --- amongst Tuscan hills and the Appennino Tosco Emiliano Mountains --- it’s one of the best courses in Italy. Located a few miles outside of Florence, this 18 hole par 73 course offers four playing routes and has plans to expand the course another 9 holes. Other future developments include transforming a few of the older buildings into apartments. But for now, the resort rooms --- decorated in Tuscan rustic style of wood overlays and unique patterns --- offer direct access to the course and views of the mountains. A new clubhouse inspired by autumn hues includes a separate golf reception.

A few miles south of Poggio dei Medici lay the Montecatini Golf Club. Befitting its location --- near the birthplace of da Vinci --- this golf club inspires much like paintings the artist created. And like da Vinci’s work, the 18 hole course encourages, confuses, and disputes. Fast greens and ditches present a challenge for golfers as well as water hazards including two lakes. The restored clubhouse built on Etruscan and Roman settlements complete the course with old farmhouses and shrubbery.

Adding a little American flair to the Italian countryside is the the La Pavoniere Golf and Country Club. It has much in common with the other courses, except it was designed by Arnold Palmer. Carefully following his style, the course is lined designed with sliding greens, deep bunkers, and water canals at almost every hole. The par 5 12^th hole with an elevated fairway, woods, and a dog legged green closely resembles Palmer’s style and is one of the more challenging holes along with 11 and 13^th holes. On the contrary, the 10, 17, and 18th holes are the most visually stunning and easiest. For accommodations, try the Fattoria La Serra within a few miles of the club.