Construction is nearing completion at the new Donnafugata Golf Resort, in the Sicilian province of Ragusa.

The North course at the 36 hole resort is being designed by Italian architect Franco Piras, while the South course is a Gary Player Design project.

Close to the Mediterranean Sea and the historic Donnafugata Castle, the golf courses are being constructed by Italian contractor Greenmakers. "The terrain of both the South and North courses is gently undulating," said Greenmakers' Matteo Silvestri. "But the two courses are very different from each other: the South course is closer to a links style, with very few trees and with several panoramic views towards the sea, while the North course will feature the typical vegetation – carob and olive trees – of this part of Sicily, as well as old handmade dry stone walls." The North course is almost finished, while seeding of fairways, roughs and tees on the South course is planned to be complete by mid 2009.

This article first appeared in issue 15 of Golf Course Architecture, published in January 2009.