Our hole-by-hole Ryder Cup course guide with Marco Simone designer Dave Sampson and vice-captain Edoardo Molinari It’s been said that you could play the Ryder Cup on a field with flags in it and it would still be thrilling, and there is probably some truth to that. But the course does naturally affect what happens and Marco Simone – one of the best golf courses in Italy – has been conceived and set up to ensure the action will be dramatic and intriguing This transformed parkland course 30 minutes from the centre of Rome is a terrific mix of exacting holes that will test the world’s best and the risk-reward options that get us all on the edge of our seats Rory McIlroy compares Marco Simone to previous host courses at Celtic Manor and Gleneagles and is a particularly big fan of the back nine which he describes as “a wonderful setup for matchplay” “I think it’s going to create some really exciting finishes to matches,” said the Northern Irishman ahead of his eight-straight Ryder Cup appearance in Rome “You’ve got two drivable par 4s on the back nine and you’ve got that wonderful closing hole The front nine is like the first couple of chapters of a book It gets you into the book a little bit and sort of sets the story but the real juicy bits come on the back nine.” But while Rory is a great judge of a course who better than the man who designed it and a man who has played it time and again to guide you through all 18 holes ahead of the biennial clash We sat down with designer Dave Sampson and vice-captain Edoardo Molinari to find out what the Ryder Cup players can expect when they step onto every tee of the par 72 A mid-length opening hole that dog-legs slightly from right to left and plays gently uphill A long and deep bunker front left protects the raised putting surface Dave Sampson says: The opening tee shot of any Ryder Cup is all about the atmosphere and the pressure Hitting the fairway will be one of the keys to scoring well The ideal line into this undulating green is the right half of the fairway Edoardo Molinari says: The first tee shot is always pretty daunting but it’s not the most difficult hole to start there are some big slopes and a couple of tiers with a big run-off short right of the green the tee shot plays to a wide landing area split by a large central fairway bunker The approach is into a long and gently undulating green protected by a solitary front-left bunker and a large mound on the right Dave Sampson says: A riskier drive down the narrower left-hand portion will leave a full view straight down the length of the green Drives down the safer right side will be semi-blind Edoardo Molinari says: There’s a couple of tees they can alternate between which either bring the bunker in the middle of the fairway into play A semi-blind drive on this left-to-right par 4 where the landing area condenses the further the tee shot goes An uphill second must avoid multiple run-offs which protect one of Marco Simone’s largest greens Dave Sampson says: It will be interesting to see how the top players tackle this hole – a tee shot that is laid back gets a better view while the player who takes driver and cuts the corner of the dog-leg will have a semi-blind and more uphill second Edoardo Molinari says: I think they’ll use the back tee all week It’s a very tight landing area but if you hit the fairway this is a hole where you could see a lot of birdies or bogeys A mid-length par 3 playing slightly downhill to a narrow well-guarded green with insidious bunkers at the front and on the right side Dave Sampson says: After a relatively tough opening of three par 4s the first of the par 3s comes at the 4th and is the start of a slightly easier stretch of holes The hole is best protected by the undulating green which rises towards the tougher back section Edoardo Molinari says: The green is very narrow left to right there’s a huge run-off waiting for your ball Any front pin is pretty easy because you can use the slopes to hit it close A relatively short par 4 that is protected on the drive by a couple of fairway bunkers down the right and a pond that encroaches on the left The green is also well protected by the pond and a couple of bunkers behind Dave Sampson says: Depending on course set-up this hole has the flexibility to be played as either a lay-up off the tee and a wedge in which sits perpendicular to the line of play Edoardo Molinari says: The only time I can see the water coming into play is if they move the tee up like they did a couple of times in the Italian Open players usually hit a hybrid or 5-iron off the tee A back pin is very difficult because there’s a very small landing area with a nasty bunker over the back Another short-to-mid length par 4 that plays uphill to a raised green complex where the pin position will dictate how much of the flag the player can see Dave Sampson says: The only hole to play in the same corridor as on the previous course the fairway is relatively wide but the main challenge is judging both the distance and spin on the approach Edoardo Molinari says: This hole is actually pretty straightforward Holes 4 to 6 are definitely good birdie chances narrow green that falls away from front to back Two bunkers protect the front portion of the green with a stream on the left and run-offs to the right Dave Sampson says: One of the toughest holes on the course where 100 percent commitment is required on the tee shot Edoardo Molinari says: Another elevated tee which plays to a three-tiered green that slopes away from you which brings the front bunkers and the run-off on the right into play more The fact there are various tees means we could see it play 160 to 220 yards Ranked as the hardest hole on DP World Tour so far this season this daunting par 4 gave up just 25 birdies and played to an average of 4.58 across the four rounds of the Italian Open in May The fairway narrows up at 300 yards off the tee but the hole’s main defense is the large lake that frames the entire left side on the approach Dave Sampson says: The toughest hole on the front nine where finding the fairway is imperative to reaching the green in two with the lake left and a bunker front right Edoardo Molinari says: This is a brutal par 4 The fairway is about 28 yards wide so if you miss it there is a severe penalty both left and right and then the water is in play off the tee and for the second shot but it’s always been a par 4 for the Italian Open You have to hit two really good shots to make par it is reachable in two even though it dog-legs gently from right to left Numerous bunkers protect the right half of the hole while a meandering stream down the left doesn’t really come into play The green is long and falls away to the back left Dave Sampson says: A true birdie opportunity A drive that finds the fairway will be able to get home in two but any miss in the two deep bunkers protecting the left side of the green will leave a tough up and down Edoardo Molinari says: The 9th hole is probably the easiest on the course you can easily reach it in two off the fairway with a long iron Most players tend to bail out short right to avoid the bunkers but the green is actually one of the flattest at Marco Simone A stream lurks down the entire right side on this slight dog leg which plays uphill to a raised and shallow target present further challenges on this demanding start to the back nine Dave Sampson says: A strong hole where four is a good score Taking enough club into the elevated green makes it one of the most challenging second shots on the course Edoardo Molinari says: This is probably one of the most difficult tee shots It goes uphill quite a bit and there’s also thick rough on the left it’s almost impossible to keep the ball on the green You can also look a bit silly because there’s a huge run-off just short of the green which sends your ball 30 or 40 yards back down the fairway The first of two potentially drivable par 4s coming home Trouble lurks all around the fast and steep putting surface deep bunkers and a significant depression in the ground penalizing an offline approach Dave Sampson says: The start of the easiest three-hole stretch here the player has multiple options off the tee on this short 4 It will be fascinating to see which options are chosen based on match format and match status Edoardo Molinari says: The lay-up is pretty generous so I can see most guys doing that the up and down is very difficult because there are a lot of slopes and mounds to think about The bunkers in front are also 10ft below the surface of the green The easiest hole on the course starts at the most elevated point on the property and offers a wonderful view across a valley to a fairway that climbs up and left A cluster of bunkers protects both sides of the landing area any drive that finds the fairway will be in range to hit an undulating green that pitches back towards the player Dave Sampson says: The players need to decide which of three diagonal bunkers on the left of the landing area they want to take on Players should be dealing in birdies and eagles on this risk-reward hole Edoardo Molinari says: The tee shot is pretty generous and once you’re on the fairway there’s not too much to think about with the second The green feeds in from both sides so if you hit a decent shot Framed by two mature umbrella pines and an old Roman farmhouse Marco Simone’s shortest hole hasa solitary bunker front left protecting a green with multiple and varied pin positions Dave Sampson says: Although short on the card any pins located on the back half of the green are much tougher to access than the hole length suggests Edoardo says: The green has two tiers and there are severe slopes between them Pitching it long is awful becauseit can easily go out of bounds This is another hole where you could see a few birdies with fairway bunkers protecting the inside of the dog-leg The second shot plays downhill to a green protected by some of the deepest and most severe bunkers and run-offs on the course Dave Sampson says: Following the easiest stretch of holes come two of the toughest Finding the fairway is imperative and drives that hug the fairway bunkers should get a generous kick off the diagonal ridge and add up to30 yards Edoardo Molinari says: This is a challenging tee shot because the fairway narrows quite a bit after the bunkers so I’d imagine you’ll see most guys playing right of the bunkers which then brings the thick rough into play The green has a run-off just short and then it slopes away from you From an elevated tee that plays downhill to the landing area the par-4 15th then sweeps uphill from left to right Three bunkers guard the inside of the drive zone while a cluster of front right traps protects a large Dave Sampson says: The shorter approaches will be easier coming into this raised green – but that means taking on the course’s narrowest landing zone Edoardo says: The tee shot is all about avoiding the bunkers on the right side so if you want to hit driver you need to be pretty accurate it’s elevated and has a tier that divides it left to right With views towards St Peter’s Basilica in the distance this risk-reward hole plays significantly downhill A lay-up brings a central and right bunker into play while the more aggressive players will need to take on a large lake and three bunkers to reach a green that sits perpendicular to the line of play Dave Sampson says: In contrast to the driveable 11th and coming at a vital stage in the matches this short par 4 ideally suits a drive shaped from left to right Most players will be tempted to take this green on though there are some pin locations that are just better suited to being attacked with a wedge Edoardo Molinari says: This is my favorite hole and it comes at a great point because most matches will at least come down 16 There’s a big bank on the left where thousands of people will be watching They have the option to make it anything from 260 to 310 yards There is the option to lay up with a mid to long iron but I think you’ll see people trying to run a drive up It’s the hole where you’ll see the greatest variability in scoring A mid-length par 3 played into a long green with multiple levels while a steep run-off feeds towards a stream that encroaches back left Dave Sampson says: Another tee shot that requires full commitment where a miss left is much better than one right Edoardo Molinari says: This is a very narrow green it’s very difficult to stop the ball there You have to be precise with your distance as there’s some thick rough on the right with a run-off on the left where the elevated tee on this downhill par 5 offers one final view over Rome Strategically placed bunkers line both sidesof a fairway that falls away to an undulating green guarded by another pond to its left Dave Sampson says: Bunkers both left and right guard the tee shot and any tee shot that splits these will be in prime position to get home in two Edoardo Molinari says: We built a new tee here for this year’s Italian Open It’s a much better hole than when we first played it Now you have the option to reach it in two with a 3-wood The green slopes severely from right to left so if you bail out right to avoid the water the chip shot can be quite tricky depending on where the flag is READ NEXT– From World No.1 to Ryder Cup captain– Who will win the Ryder Cup– Best Ryder Cup merchandise Chris Bertram is the Golf World Top 100 Courses and Resorts Editor He was born and brought up in Dumfriesshire and has been a sports journalist since 1996 initially as a junior writer with National Club Golfer magazine By Chris Bertram Golf World Top 100 Courses and Resorts Editor The Italian destination in the eternal city of Rome received worldwide acclaim when Europe defeated the United States team 16.5–11.5 in the last Ryder Cup Designed by Jim Fazio and completely renovated by Tom Fazio II and European Golf Design Marco Simone’s championship course has quickly become renowned as one of Europe’s leading venues offering golfers the opportunity to follow the footsteps of Ryder Cup heroes The new collaboration will see Azalea activate a range of media and marketing campaigns to reinforce Marco Simone as a must-play course for visitors The move coincides with the appointment of Sharon Smurfit as Sales Consultant who brings extensive industry expertise to the team at Marco Simone having previously served over a decade as the Director of Golf at The K Club Smurfit has contributed significantly to the success of numerous major golf tournaments She was also on the Board of Elm Park Golf Club was lady captain of The K Club and has sat on many golf committees including the Club Managers Association of Ireland general manager of Marco Simone Golf & Country Club said: “We are thrilled with the appointments of industry leaders Azalea and Sharon Smurfit as we look to cement Marco Simone’s position among Europe’s elite venues Azalea’s expertise within the international golf tourism sector is well established and will be of great benefit in the next phase of our evolution Sharon brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise from her time at The K Club and we are delighted to have her join the team.” Azalea partner and director Andy Barwell said: “Golf fans around the world were enthralled by the challenge Marco Simone presented during the Ryder Cup in 2023 and we are excited to support such a prestigious venue as it builds for the future We look forward to working with Marco Aquilino Sharon Smurfit and all the team at Marco Simone at such an exciting time.” Smurfit added: “I am delighted to be working with Marco Simone Golf & Country Club this year as it is one of Italy’s leading golf venues this championship golf course deserves all the recognition it deserves With Marco Simone’s location just 20 minutes outside the eternal city of Rome it is no surprise that golfers choose this course when in Rome Marco Simone Golf & Country Club is a must play when in Italy.” Marco Simone has also engaged the services of benchmarking firm 59club in an important move towards reinforcing the customer experience for members and guests 59club’s prestigious Service Excellence Awards recognise the outstanding teams and managers within the golf industry which consistently deliver the finest customer experiences for their members and guests covering all aspects of golf and hospitality operations Stewart Golf has expanded its range of golf bags with the launch of the all-new NEXAS Hybrid bag and an upgraded version of its popular NERO Cart bag La Reserva Club in Sotogrande has completed significant upgrades to its sports facilities further enhancing the range and quality of recreational experiences available for members and guests Golf Ireland and Bridgestone are to continue their commercial partnership with the leading tyre company extending its sponsorship of the Bridgestone Tours which have recently begun their 2025 schedule of events for men and women GolfBusinessNews.com (GBN) is for the many thousands of people who work in the golf business all around the world We cover the full range of topics both on and off the course We aim to supply essential information both quickly and accurately in a format which is easy to use We are independent of all special interest groups Click here to sign up for our free twice weekly golf industry news summary View the latest newsletter here 5/7 High StreetDorchester-on-ThamesOxfordshire OX10 7HHUnited Kingdom publisher@golfbusinessnews.com © 1999-2025 e.GolfBusiness.com Limited | All Rights Reserved. | GBN Privacy Policy 2024 13:32 UTC11% increase compared to Paris 2018271,000 people from 100 different countries attended Italy’s first Ryder CupThe 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome boosted economic activity in Italy by €262million is an 11% increase on the €235million generated in 2018 when the biennial contest was held at Le Golf National in Paris Researchers from Sheffield Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC) took into account spending by all spectators and other event attendees including by Federazione Italiana Golf (FIG) on the course and infrastructure upgrades as well as other indirect or induced spending More than 271,000 people from 100 different countries attended last year’s contest at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club reclaimed the Ryder Cup with a 16½ -11½ victory against the United States It was the first-time the Ryder Cup had been held in Italy which became only the third country in continental Europe to host the biennial contest following Spain in 1997 and France in 2018 PlayIconOther key findings from the report include: · Spectators staying in paid accommodation in Rome during Ryder Cup week generated in excess of 318,000 commercial bed-nights which was worth €34million in revenue for the local accommodation sector · There was €72million in non-accommodation related expenditure by spectators · Around 19% of event-specific visitors to Rome decided to extend their visit prior to or following the event · Almost two-thirds of international spectators who visited for the event expressed a desire to return to Italy for leisure purposes in the next year an event responsible for €262million of economic activity in Italy is testament to the time and resources committed to delivering such a memorable sporting spectacle These findings vindicate the decision to award the Ryder Cup to Rome.” Chief Executive Officer of the European Tour Group said: “The figures highlighted in this independent economic impact report demonstrate the major benefits that Ryder Cup delivers for a host country through spectator and visitor spending “From a sporting and fan engagement perspective Rome 2023 has already gone down as one of the greatest Ryder Cup’s in history We can now confidently conclude that the 2023 contest at Marco Simone also generated record financial rewards providing a significant direct boost to the economy in Rome and in Italy “We would therefore like to thank the Italian Government and the Federazione Italiana Golf for their bold vision in helping to bring one of global sports leading events to Italy for the first time “I’d also like to recognise two magnificent teams: Team Europe led by Luke Donald who performed so wonderfully inside the ropes who worked so tirelessly on all facets outside the ropes to deliver the greatest Ryder Cup played in Europe.” said: "I have always said that the Italian Ryder Cup would be the Ryder Cup of records and now the numbers testify to this The one that took place in Rome proved to be the most beautiful ever We are happy to celebrate an economic success the result of great teamwork between the Government and all the institutions involved our country has shown great credibility even outside the national borders leaving an important infrastructural legacy which began in 2015 and will only end in 2027 can represent a model for the best international sporting events said : "The Ryder Cup has proven to be an extraordinary event We committed to this event to ensure that Italy is promoted in an integrated way Fans of this sport who have come to Italy want to return to our nation and after having enjoyed our food and they now look for Made in Italy products even when they return home" said: "Seeing the numbers and the success of the Ryder Cup makes us proud to be Italian There are two figures that I find extremely interesting: the €72 million spent by visitors on other expenditures demonstrating how we have all benefited from the effects of the event And above all the fact that two-thirds of viewers said they wanted to return to Italy in the next 12 months This is also the goal of the Ministry of Tourism we need major sporting events because they help us to adjust seasonally we have a gap that we have to fill: building golf courses More golf courses means more high-spending tourists." said: "The Ryder Cup 2023 data presented today by Ryder Cup Europe and Federgolf certify the extraordinary value that this incredible event hosted for the first time in Italy has also managed to express in Rome in an economic dimension 11 percent higher than the European edition in Paris in 2018 This figure summarizes the dimension of a success that has exceeded all expectations made possible also thanks to the teamwork among all the institutions involved The indicators of Rome 2023 represent not only a contribution to the absolute value of this fascinating Europe-United States golf challenge but an incentive to build on this experience to get golf off the ground in Italy but also as a tool for socioeconomic development under the banner of broad-based sustainability This is the meaning of the project hypothesis that we are pursuing in concert with the Italian Golf Federation together with the Ministry of Economy and Finance the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy for the establishment of a Real Estate Fund aimed at the creation of a significant number of golf resorts in southern Italy The Ryder Cup dossier testifies to the interest and favor towards Italy by fans of this marvelous discipline from all over the world animated by millions of players and companions in search of hospitable destinations It is up to us to seize this opportunity without delay Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said: "As indicated by Vice President Tajani since the beginning of his term of the Farnesina with its entire diplomatic-consular network every positive dividend for our country." Giovanni Malagò: "The awarding of the Ryder Cup to Italy represented a historic victory for Federazione Italiana Golf and for the entire country: President Chimenti was certainly extraordinary and behind the success there was the decisive teamwork of the institutions I remember many behind-the-scenes stories related to that triumph and reading the data related to the induced activities of the event means we have confirmation of the importance of major sporting events as a driving force for growth and as a promotional tool for the image of the country in the world" said: "Two lessons we have learned from the Italian Ryder Cup: that we can collaborate between institutions regardless of different political colors and that when we work as a team we can do great things We with the Ryder Cup lived a piece of the Jubilee and showed that we can sustain that incredible number of attendance The Ryder Cup in Rome was a virtuous model we need to get used to having a level of ambition that matches our potential and not be afraid When institutions work together they are able to realize the most beautiful projects this must be everyone's goal: the country's and sport's." said: "The great result of the Ryder Cup which was held at Marco Simone Golf & Country has entered the annals of the most important golf competitions an increase of 11 percent compared to the 2018 edition in Paris A success also in terms of tourism promotion of the often little-known wonders of our region 19% of visitors chose to anticipate or extend their stay in Lazio We have always thought that major sporting events were an extraordinary opportunity to generate economy In the coming years of government we will continue to work The team from Sheffield Hallam University utilised the same eventIMPACTS.com compliant approach as used previously in Scotland (2014) and France (2018) to estimate the direct economic impact of the 2023 match at three levels of geography – Rome Lazio and Italy – as well as the wider economic activity supported by the event The 2025 Ryder Cup will be held in the United States of America at Bethpage Black in New York hosting the next edition in Europe in 2027 when the Ryder Cup celebrates its centenary the stalwart of the European Ryder Cup team believes that transaction should be the other way around “I personally would pay for the privilege to play on the Ryder Cup,” the Northern Irishman said to BBC Sport after his opening round Thursday at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai In response to the report broken by The Telegraph that the U.S “The two purest forms of competition in our game right now are the Ryder Cup and the Olympics the purity of no money being involved,” he said “I don't think any of the 24 players on either team needs that 400 grand there are 104 weeks and 103 weeks you can play golf and get paid.” McIlroy acknowledged that the talk about money for Ryder Cup participation was prevalent at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome “I can see the other side of the argument because the Ryder Cup does create a lot of revenue “It is one of the probably top five biggest sporting events in the world So I get the argument that the talent should be or could be getting paid “But the Ryder Cup is so much more than that especially to the Europeans and to this tour.” McIlroy was the leading point scorer in Rome for the victorious Europeans in 2023 and will assuredly be making his 8th Ryder Cup appearance next year Irishman Shane Lowry commented on the matter as well while playing in Dubai. “I think, yeah, I love the tournament, and I just want to be involved. I don't care whether I get paid or not," Lowry told the Irish Independent. So far, the leaders of the European side seem to be in alignment on their opinion on potentially being paid for the Ryder Cup. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER Iconic venue becomes the latest course to adopt GPS app Pin Vision Marco Simone Marco Simone Golf & Country Club has become the latest venue to partner with GPS app Pin Vision The only GPS app that offers precise measurements to the flag from anywhere on the golf course Pin Vision uses pin position information provided by greenkeeping staff to ensure that distances are always up to date The eyes of the golfing world were on Marco Simone’s course – designed by Jim Fazio and revitalised by Tom Fazio II – in September 2023 when the iconic Ryder Cup came to Rome Team Europe blew away American opposition to win 16 1⁄2 – 11 1⁄2 with standout performances from Viktor Hovland the acclaimed venue will benefit from Pin Vision’s full course management services while golfers can utilise the Pin Vision app on their phone or smart watch to check the current pin position from anywhere on the course Pin Vision also provides physical pin position sheets for players who prefer not to use the app Pin Vision Marco Simone Marco Aquilino general manager at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club said: “We are always looking for new ways to improve the experience for our members and guests which is why we have decided to join the growing list of clubs in Italy that have partnered with Pin Vision “We are confident that Pin Vision will change the way golfers play our course and perhaps even help them hit shots as accurately as a Ryder Cup star.” said: “We take great pride in the incredible golf courses we provide our services to across Italy and abroad and it’s an honour to welcome Marco Simone Golf Club less than a year after the venue staged one of sport’s greatest events its members and guests get even more out of this stunning course.” Pin Vision announced ambitious plans to expand from its native Italy – where it is partnered with over 50 venues - to the UK For more information about Pin Vision and to become a member, click here.  equipment reviews and promotions direct to your inbox For more information, read our Privacy Policy © Crash Media Group Ltd 2025.The total or partial reproduction of text photographs or illustrations is not permitted in any form A general view of the landscape at Marco Simone GC Sam Tremlett travels to Rome to play the 2023 Ryder Cup course and stay at the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria Hotel roughly two months before the event took place I couldn’t get to the plane fast enough… A post shared by Sam Tremlett (@tremlettonsport) Let’s not beat around the bush and get right to the golf The club was named host of the Italian Open in 1994 but it was in 2015 that it really came to prominence after it won the right to host the 2023 Ryder Cup is a par-72 which has several tees for differing levels of player I played off the whites which measured 6,234 meters but I did sneak back to play a few of the Ryder Cup tees which measure considerably longer The course benefits greatly from the natural beauty of its surroundings  - namely undulations and roll offs are truly severe throughout the course whilst accuracy was paramount thanks to the presence of water on a number of holes and a generous number of bunkers guarding greens and errant tee shots All of this was apparent on my first hole of the day it is a reasonably long par-4 that is entirely uphill The fairway is narrow and there is a ditch that runs up the entire right-hand side Club choice is hugely important because if you come up short you succumb to the run off at the front of the green and roll back down the hill Not to mention there are three greenside bunkers guarding the pin as well so I was extremely happy to take a par and move on It really was a taste of what this course was going to challenge me with and once atop the hill you take a breath and see the stunning countryside I of course also saw a lot of Ryder Cup stands being built and a lot of construction going on!  Some other highlights from the back-nine include the short par-3 13th and then the closing stretch 15 is a very tough par-4 which has the same kind of layout to the 10th but has more bunkering whereas the 16th is a driveable par-4 with water and bunkers looming by the green I think it's a fantastic hole that will really work well during the Ryder Cup 17 is a very tricky par-3 with a narrow and 37-meter long green and finally the 18th is a par-5 down the hill with a greenside pond.  The front nine starts with three pretty tricky holes so I think it might be easy to get 3 down very quickly All three are par-4’s that move up and down the terrain but if honest there was little strategy to them you still have to be accurate and control distances so they will test the best From there to the end of the front-nine you have two par-3’s par-4’s and two back-to-back par-5’s which show off all the features I have mentioned already above.  I think the par-3’s here are pretty strong I hit different clubs into every one of them and they all face different ways so have changing winds to deal with and birdies mean you have hit a sublime shot at some point the rough was incredibly penal when not that far off line and I would be surprised if anyone plays five sessions at the Ryder Cup Whilst I enjoyed the experience and played the course so close to the event I would say that despite it not being my cup of tea the course could make for a brilliant Ryder Cup because the terrain lends itself to lots of people looking over the holes It has a stadium course feel which can work at an event as big as the Ryder Cup After the golf I actually got to do the 30 minute journey back to the hotel the players will do as well because they will be staying at the Rome Cavalieri A Waldorf Astoria Hotel - one side will be for Europe I had two nights there and if I am honest it was a luxury I hadn’t experienced before The hotel overlooks the entire city with views over the Vatican to the right and Colosseum in the distance best enjoyed from one of the hotel’s spectacular suites some of which have private roof terraces with hot tubs.  Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts There are 345 deluxe rooms along with 25 suites at the hotel and whilst I may not have had a hot tub I did stay in a suite with a spectacular view of Rome I also got to enjoy the Imperial Club which was a nice place to sit and have a drink the two main choices at the hotel are Uliveto the restaurant underneath the lobby and next to the outdoor swimming pool which serves a full menu of Mediterranean and international dishes The food was utterly delicious and there is also the option to go to La Pergola on top of the eighth floor which is a three Michelin star restaurant by Heinz Beck. (Unfortunately The other star of the show here is the art statues and artefacts are exhibited throughout the hotel’s public areas and suites and as such I found it very easy to spend a long time just looking at all the pieces and reading the displays The painting of Ulysses discovering Achilles by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo which is in the hotel lobby and the only one behind glass is ginormous in every sense of the word.  fitness and relaxation facilities may well be a state-of-the-art fitness centre and there are three outdoor swimming pools There is quite literally something for everyone here and I should also say there are two red clay tennis courts and the Stadio Olimpico is not that far away either The hotel also does a shuttle service into the centre of the city which is a nice touch whilst you can also go on a private tour of the Vatican Gardens or Galleria Colonna the hotel catered for every need I could want as did the staff who were super-friendly and helpful throughout my stay Getting back to the airport took around 30 mins making it ideally situated to get just about anywhere during my stay I should admit that all of this does come at a cost and staying here will require some financial planning for many But both places offer a number of deals throughout the year so plan ahead to get the best one This takes the form of creating and updating Buying Guides and finding bargain prices for deals content Working with golf gear and equipment over the last seven years Sam has quickly built outstanding knowledge and expertise on golf products ranging from drivers He combines this knowledge with a passion for helping golfers get the best gear for them and as such Sam manages a team of writers that look to deliver the most accurate This is so the reader can find exactly what they are looking for Additionally Sam oversees Golf Monthly voucher/coupon content which seeks to find you the best offers and promotions from well-known brands like Callaway Sam is not a member of any club at the moment but regularly gets out on the golf course to keep up the facade of having a single-figure handicap Lara Arias is breaking down barriers as the first female course superintendent for a Ryder Cup venue Over lunch at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome she tells Today’s Golfer about her internship in Paris in 2018 the conversations she’s had with Captain Luke Donald and how she’s one-half of a Ryder Cup power couple was the superintendent at Le Golf National for the Ryder Cup in 2018 we moved to Seville and I was working at Real Club Pineda when Alejandro got the call from Marco Simone That’s when we decided to move our lives to Italy but we’ve been so busy with the Italian Opens and Ryder Cup that we’ve had to put it back to 2024 I’ve worked at some really nice courses in the past Quail Hollow when it had the PGA Championship and (TPC of) Scottsdale for the Waste Management Phoenix Open but this course feels more special because I saw it from the beginning the golf course was totally closed and under renovation We didn’t even have a green and we were sitting here with not many greenkeepers and not many resources so we were thinking that we had two years to do everything super cool to look back and see how far we’ve come My job now is to make sure people don’t make mistakes During the Italian Open we had 35 volunteers A lot of people are talking about me because I am a female superintendent and yes I have a huge responsibility during the Ryder Cup The greens are spectacular now and the feedback we had from the players at the Italian Open was really We’ve been narrowing the fairways bit by bit It’s very similar to what we did at Le Golf National Luke Donald and Edoardo Molinari have made some comments and have an opinion about the set-up of the golf course They want to have thick rough because it’s much better for the Europeans and a penalty for the Americans During the summer time in Rome we lose density I can control each sprinkler head on the course You don’t want to have this app on the phone But it’s good because we don’t want to waste water We want to manage the course in the best way make sure you drive your buggy on the fairway September in Rome sees a lot of rain and a lot of storms But that’s why we’ve top-dressed all the fairways to make sure the course is still playable even if it rains The biggest challenge for the players is going to be on the greens there’s a vista that looks out over the top of the golf course There’s going to be about 45,000 spectators each day READ NEXT: – Meet the European Ryder Cup team– Meet the US Ryder Cup team– How to watch the Ryder Cup for free Michael Catling is Today's Golfer's Features Editor and an award-winning journalist who specializes in golf's Majors and Tours By Michael Catling .css-s4id4f{font-family:Suisse Intl,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:1.9rem;line-height:2.2rem;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:-0.01em;}Official Money ROME, ITALY - AUGUST 02: A scenic view of the ninth hole prior to the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on August 02, 2022 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) The captains’ picks have been made, the uniforms are ready, and travel schedules are set. The 44th Ryder Cup is upon us. Here are nine things to know about Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, the venue for the first Ryder Cup ever held in Italy. “Guys are going to be happy to rest,” Cink said. There are as many as nine semi-blind approach shots to elevated greens – a rarity, to say the least. Marco Simone dates to a late 1980s design by Italian architect David Mezzacane, who worked in conjunction with American architect Jim Fazio – nephew of the renowned American pro and architect George Fazio. Much of the on-site shaping work for that original project was undertaken by Jim’s son, Tom Fazio II, who was then in his early 20s. Tom Fazio II has gone on to a distinguished career as a designer/builder and was brought back to the site in 2018-2020. He was the owner’s representative for construction management when the course was completely re-routed, and rebuilt all 18 holes under the direction of a team from European Golf Design led by Dave Sampson. (EGD is half-owned by the DP World Tour and serves as that body’s golf architecture arm.) The Italian Golf Federation paid for the renovation as part of its winning Ryder Cup bid and work was completed in time for the DP World Tour’s Italian Open two years ago. The course is defined by two returning nines, with the front side on lower-lying and slightly more open ground, and the back featuring more elevation changes. The par 71 has a scorecard yardage of 7,181 yards. Experienced players can shorten the dogleg by playing the driver on the bunker located in the left corner of the fairway and then attack the well-protected green with a short iron. Less experienced players can instead play it safe with a driver on the right path but then will need a long iron to reach the green. Experienced golfers can play over the bunker with a good driver. To reach the green you then need a medium iron. For those who choose the safest line on the right side of the fairway, it is better to use a long iron for the second shot, paying attention to the bunker positioned 40 meters before the green. Strong players can try to cut the right corner of the dogleg, paying attention to the rough, and reach the green with a shorter iron. Those who choose the centre of the fairway will have a long second shot to reach the green which is well protected on the front left side by two bunkers. The first par 3 of the golf course. The green can be easily reached with a short iron. Pay particular attention to the green which is well protected by two difficult bunkers on the right side. If the golfer decides to play the driver off the tee, they must keep to the right side of the fairway, while if choosing to play in front of the water hazard, they must then use a medium iron to reach the green. Be careful of steep slopes on the green. The kidney-shaped putting green leaning to the right is challenging. The position of the flag is a fundamental and may change the way to play the hole. With a short flag a medium iron is enough, while with the flag at the far end of the green, a long, precise iron will be necessary to stay on the putting surface. The green is difficult especially if you putt from a distance. Experienced players may play on the right side over the bunker and then attack the green with a short iron, paying attention to the deep bunker positioned in the centre. Players which play a shorter distance will have greater difficulty in reaching the green at the top of the hill with a second shot. The most experienced players can approach the shore of the water hazard with the driver and then decide to cross the lake, reaching the green with a long iron. Those who choose to get around the obstacle must keep to the right side of the fairway, then can lay up with a medium iron and reach the green with a short shot. The kidney-shaped green extends around the water hazard with an inclined surface, especially in the furthest part. When playing the driver, you should pay attention to the second bunker on the right side that is easily accessible. After a simple second shot, a short iron remains for the more experienced players while a medium iron for the shorter ones. Pay attention to the water hazard on the left side that runs along the entire hole. Experienced players, after a driver to the center of the fairway, need a medium iron to reach the green which is well-protected by two bunkers on the right side. Others may want to play it safe by using a long iron on the left side of the fairway and then attack the flag with a wedge. The driver needs to be precise to leave an easier shot into the green with the second. Less experienced players may play a second shot with an iron on the left side of the fairway and then attack the flag which is protected by three bunkers surrounding the green. Experienced players can try to reach the green with the driver but must beware of an undulation in the ground on the right side. For those who prefer to play a shorter first shot, the second one should be a short iron or wedge to reach the flag. Beware of the fast and steep green. Short and not difficult par 3; the only concern should be the green which is extremely difficult. Be sure not to play it on the left side of the hole! Experienced players can try to pass over the bunker on the left corner of the hole and then play a second shot with a short iron. Those who prefer to play if safe should stay on the right side of the fairway, then will have to face a second shot with a long iron, or possibly decide to lean on the apron with a layup avoiding the risk of ending in the deep bunker on the right side. The most experienced players must keep to the left side of the fairway to avoid ending up in the bunker positioned on the right side. Then a second shot with a medium iron is needed to reach the flag. Less experienced players need a long iron and must pay attention to the three bunkers protecting the green on the right side. Experienced players can try to reach the green with the driver but must be precise and keep away from the water hazard on the right side of the green. Those who want to play it safe can hit to the fairway before the water hazard and then attack the flag with a short iron. The green is well protected by two bunkers and the lake on the right side hides many pitfalls. Be careful: It is extremely difficult to stop the ball on the green by playing from a downhill lie! Depending on the position of the flag, both experienced and inexperienced players will have to carefully assess which iron is the best choice. It is recommended to avoid playing on the right side of the green. This hole has a wide landing area, which will leave longer hitters the possibility to reach the green with the second shot easily after powering one down the fairway. Be careful about the water hazard on the front left. The more conservative players will be able to lay up on the flat left side of the fairway in front of the green and then play a short shot to attack the flag. Be aware of the slopes of the green which are difficult to define! Continental Europe gets the biennial matches for only the third time since the Ryder Cup began in 1927. Back then the U.S. took on Great Britain & Ireland, but in 1979 the team was expanded to include all of Europe, and in 1997 the matches came to the Continent for the first time – at Valderrama, Spain. France hosted in 2018 at Le Golf National. Now it’s Italy’s turn. Europe has won both Ryder Cups in continental Europe, as the last U.S. road victory came in 1993. The hilly terrain will provide plenty of amphitheater viewing for the throngs of passionate (and partisan) fans. Grandstands will handle the rest. A general view of the grandstand around the 1st tee in preparation for the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone. (Naomi Baker/Getty Images) In their scouting trips to Marco Simone, players on both sides were struck by the thickness of the rough, the main defense for what is not an especially long course. So, just as it was five years ago at Le Golf National, it will be vitally important to find the fairway; Marco Simone has 31.5 acres of fairway – much less than Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course, which hosted the U.S. Open (50 acres) but a lot more than Royal Liverpool for The Open Championship (22 acres). Fairway widths vary considerably at the landing areas, from 18 to 26 yards across. Along the way, players negotiate a total of 76 bunkers, split just about evenly between fairway and greenside hazards. The greens are on the slightly large size, averaging 6,770 square feet, with a lot of undulation. Marco Simone could see big momentum swings with three drivable par 4s and an equal number of par 5s that the players can reach in two. Given that four of those six potential eagle opportunities show up in the last eight holes, front-nine leads will not be safe. “For match play, I think it's going to be super exciting because there's a good mix of the holes that are easy that you can make birdies and you can make eagles, but there's also some extremely difficult hose where if you make a par, you could win the hole,” said FedExCup champion Viktor Hovland. For matches that go the distance, the 597-yard, par-5 18th hole will play into the prevailing breeze but will be reachable in two because it plays 105 feet downhill. Bunkers squeeze the primary landing area and the second-shot lay-up zone, but the key element here is a green perched alongside a pond on the inside left that gobbles up anything hit strong or pulled slightly. There are four eagle opportunities over the last eight holes, offering the prospect of an emotional roller coaster. No lead will be safe. Given its rhythm of holes and the dynamic of risk that mounts as the routing unfolds, this hilly, little-known course could be a surprise player and make for compelling viewing. It will not simply be a backdrop for the drama, but an active participant. One of the most intriguing aspects of the Ryder Cup is roster selection for foursomes and deciding which hole players will tee off on, as one players tees off on the odd-numbered holes and one tees off on the evens. Copyright © 2025 PGA TOUR, Inc. All rights reserved. and the Swinging Golfer design are registered trademarks The Korn Ferry trademark is also a registered trademark and is used in the Korn Ferry Tour logo with permission Timberlake x Nike shoe collab early access The par-4 10th hole at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome I stumbled up to the TreviFountain the way every visitor to Rome should: in the dead of night with a coin in my hand and a stomach full of red wine The fountain is said to lend mysterious powers to those who offer an airborne donation of a Euro (or more) but those powers depend upon your tossing technique There’s a particular and prescribed dance to it all: coin in your right hand Legend has it that those who make a gift to the fountain in this way will earn a return trip to the Eternal City I trekked a half hour outside of the city to the suburb of Guidonia site of the venue — Marco Simone Golf and Country Club — hosting this year’s Cup but it was clear that construction for the real show was only half complete the caddie for an Italian pro named Arron Zemmer walked in front of me He shot his index finger out to the horizon Other bleachers of only slightly less imposing size were littered throughout the property “I hope there’s more of that,” the caddie added there will be no shortage of energy when the Ryder Cup arrives in Rome this week One local told me that single-day passes are selling for €400 on the secondary market That’s more than a fan would pay to see the most hotly contested European soccer match For the Romans, it registers as something of a shock. Golf has never been a national sport — Francesco Molinari’s 2018 Open Championship victory remains the lone major for an Italian golfer — and events on Italian soil have been few and far between the Ryder Cup could be exactly the kind of uplift golf in Italy needs particularly in the wake of the sport’s most disruptive two-year stretch in memory some highly passionate stories — friends becoming enemies and vice versa — don’t need much translation there’s no question that golf has arrived in Rome but will it return after the conclusion of the 44th Ryder Cup Marco Simone Golf and Country Club is still sparkling new The golf course — opened for public play in 1989 and renovated by Tom Fazio in 2018 — has a history shorter than even the Eternal City’s newest landmarks the club will have hosted just three professional golf tournaments: the 1994 2021 and 2023 Italian Opens of the DP World Tour Marco Simone is a secret not only to the average golf fan but to those at the top of the game why both the American and European teams had scouting trips in the last few weeks they found a course with an ageless charm befitting the host city And if the rolling countryside wasn’t enough to convince them of that fact the thousand-plus-year-old castle that serves as the course’s namesake logo and primary landmark should have done the trick James Colgan is a news and features editor at GOLF writing stories for the website and magazine and utilizes his on-camera experience across the brand’s platforms during which time he was a caddie scholarship recipient (and astute looper) on Long Island He can be reached at james.colgan@golf.com All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team 16 at the Marco Simone Club in Guidonia Montecelio If there’s one hole on the course outside Rome that is destined to be decisive in this year’s Ryder Cup between the United States and Europe The Ryder Cup will be held in Italy from Sept 29 to Oct.1 at the Marco Simone Club in Guidonia Montecelio caresses her Australian Shepard “Ryder” during an interview with the Associated Press at the Marco Simone Club in Guidonia Montecelio When Lara Arias started her job as course superintendent at the Marco Simone golf club outside Rome that will host the Ryder Cup from Sept 29 to Oct.1 there was hardly any grass to manicure no bunkers to rake and nary a green to shape the entire course was practically one big pile of dirt amid a complete restyling hits from the fairway during the Italian Open golf tournament at Marco Simone in Guidonia Montecelio Marco Simone hosts the Ryder Cup that starts Sept McIlroy believes winning an away Ryder Cup is among golf’s greatest accomplishments is flanked by her assistant Victor Wood Escutia during an interview with the Associated Press and United States Captain Zach Johnson pose with the Ryder Cup trophy at the Marco Simone course that will host the 2023 Ryder Cup FILE - Team USA players and captains pose with the trophy after the Ryder Cup matches at the Whistling Straits Golf Course Sunday The Americans will try to win for the second straight time outside Rome when the matches start Friday If there’s one hole on the course outside Rome that is destined to be decisive in this year’s competition between the United States and Europe 16 — as long as contests make it that far in the match-play format the safe play on 16 is a 200-yard downhill tee shot that sets up a wedge to the green with a pond to the right But it will be tempting to hit driver which must fly 300 yards to cover a creek with two bunkers guarding the green and the water on the right 5 and 11 are also potential driveable par-4s “What’s good about Marco Simone is it’s got a lot of long holes And I think that’s a sign of a really good golf course,” United States captain Zach Johnson said So for this tournament and for the format that we play Another signature of the Marco Simone course is the high brown native grass beyond the narrow fairways “The rough is thick,” Donald said after his team held a training camp on the course this month “The primary rough is pretty similar to what we played in the Italian Open Outside of that with some wayward tee shots it’s very thick where you could lose some golf balls.” The native grass is indigenous to the area — meaning it was probably around during the times of Ancient Rome as evidenced in colorful plant-themed mosaics unearthed in a a first-century Roman villa next to the 10th hole “The native grass does not get treated with water or fertilizers and it’s cut only twice a year so it’s low maintenance and highly sustainable,” Arias said “It also provides a great contrast in colors between the fairways and the greens she ordered most of the native grass to be cut down for Ryder Cup week to make room for the 50,000 spectators expected each day “Otherwise it would just get trampled on,” Arias said she is leaving 6 ½ feet of native grass inside the ropes at a height of five inches Two more key factors at Marco Simone figure to be the physical test of walking the hilly back nine potentially twice a day for some players — and doing that in sapping heat and humidity Temperatures are forecast to rise above 85 degrees Fahrenheit (30 Celsius) The elevation on the back nine allows for views of St Peter’s Basilica 12 miles (20 kilometers) away from the 11th green and other spots “The potential heat could be a challenge with the hills,” Johnson said “It probably will be one of the warmer Ryder Cups in Europe — certainly in my time it’s going to be the warmest that would be warm based on where we played in the past maybe the sun beating down: It’s going to be a tough test to walk And it’s also going to be a part of the equation of how we put guys out “So you’re going to try to take that all into play It’s going to be tough on our players but it’s going to be really tough on the caddies And they’re very much an integral part of the team.” the Americans used carts during their training camp “At one point we actually had (the caddies) invited,” Johnson said “But the players and a lot of the caddies were like We got four days to prepare for that golf course the Ryder Cup week They feel confident they can get their work done Four holes at Marco Simone are lined by water: No There are also a couple of creeks; and all of the water drains into the pond on No “So later on we can re-use the water to irrigate the golf course,” Arias said It might not be just Americans and Europeans on the course live on the Marco Simone grounds and have been known to roam the fairways Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome has announced the appointment of Marco Aquilino as its new general manager The appointment comes as the club continues to build on its reputation as a premier golfing destination following extensive upgrades and preparations for last year’s Ryder Cup matches Aquilino joins the team from Royal Park I Roveri bringing a wealth of experience in golf management and operations Aquilino’s expertise in managing high-profile events and enhancing member services will be instrumental in driving Marco Simone’s continued success Aquilino commented: “I am thrilled to join Marco Simone at such an exciting time The opportunity to lead a club that has recently hosted the Ryder Cup is a tremendous honour I am eager to leverage my experience from Royal Park I Roveri to further enhance the member and guest experience here.” He added: “My initial focus will be on continuing the momentum built during the Ryder Cup preparations This includes further developing our course and clubhouse facilities to ensure they remain at the highest standards and I am excited to explore new ways to maximise their potential.” the club has seen significant investments aimed at elevating the club’s infrastructure and member experience clubhouse enhancements and the integration of new technology across a number of customer service platforms Aquilino added: “Seeing the dedication of the team and the support from the ownership group has been inspiring I am committed to building on this foundation and ensuring Marco Simone Golf Club remains a top destination for golfers worldwide I invite everyone to come and experience the exceptional environment and services we offer.” Fashion and home furnishings designer Laura Biagotti owns Marco Simone Golf and Country Club which she and her husband Gianni Cigna opened in 1989 The club is built on 150 hectares and features a total of 27 holes.  Marco Simone Golf and Country Club was named host of the Italian Open in 1994 in 2015 it gained more exposure when it was named as the venue for the 2023 Ryder Cup The course has rolling fairways and undulating greens The tower of Marco Simone's castle can be seen from the first hole The course was redesigned between 2018 and 2021 The venue for the 2023 Ryder Cup is located among rolling Italian countryside The 2023 Ryder Cup returns to Europe following the match at Whistling Straits two years earlier The course chosen for the 44th edition of the biennial match is Marco Simone located just 10 miles from capital city Rome.  Marco Simone was designed by Jim Fazio and David Mezzacane and opened in 1989. The club has had its share of high-profile tournaments, too, having hosted the Italian Open in 1994 it was thrust firmly into the spotlight when it won the bid to host the Ryder Cup The main course (there is also a nine-hole resort course) is a par-72 affair that benefits from the natural beauty of its surroundings However, anyone who played the course when it opened would find it wholly different if they returned to it today. That's because it was redesigned in 2018 by European Golf Design and Tom Fazio II (son of the course's original designer) Work included making the holes longer and introducing more bunkers - a task that was finally completed in 2021 There are undulations and plenty of water for even the most confident player to think about as well as a generous number of bunkers guarding its immaculate greens.  the course has some challenging elevation changes with some greens perched high above the fairways There are hints at the country’s history as exemplified by the 1,000 year-old tower of Marco Simone’s castle which can be seen from the first hole. Players can also enjoy incredible views of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican from several of its tees the course won’t challenge players from a length perspective but the wind that regularly blows over it could give the 24 players competing in the Ryder Cup plenty to think about The devilish par-3 16th precedes a drivable par-4 and a dogleg par-5 finisher that features water hugging the green on the left-hand side Expect fireworks if there are a lot of matches that come down to the wire the par-3s are a real strength of the course undulating greens are not to be taken lightly Members of the public are able to play the course with green fees ranging from as little as €45 for juniors up to €350 for general members of the public in the weeks immediately following the Ryder Cup.  Green fees also vary depending on what time of the week you play whether it's in low or high season and whether you're playing as a guest of a member.  with annual fees starting at €1,050 for 13 to 18-year-olds and rising to €7,000 plus sales tax for business membership Another option is an individual annual membership at €3,500 while children under 15 accompanying members go free.  SeasonPublic RateRegional PlayersMember's GuestJunior (up to 18 years)Low Season (2 Jan-26 Feb 20 Nov-31 Dec)€190€100€9050%High Season (27 Feb-31 Aug 31 Oct-19 Nov)€220€120€9050%Ryder Cup Season (4 Oct-30 Oct)€350€175€9050%Saturday/Sunday/Bank HolidaysSwipe to scroll horizontallySeasonPublic RateRegional PlayersMember's GuestJunior (up to 18 years)Low Season (2 Jan-26 Feb 20 Nov-31 Dec)€190€120€11050%High Season (27 Feb-31 Aug 31 Oct-19 Nov)€220€140€11050%Ryder Cup Season (4 Oct-30 Oct)€350€175€11050%Marco Simone Key InformationSwipe to scroll horizontallyYardage6,937Par72Date Opened1989LocationGuidonia near Rome ItalyDesignersJim Fazio and David MezzacaneMarco Simone LocationWho Owns Marco Simone Golf And Country Club?Fashion and home furnishings designer Laura Biagotti owns Marco Simone Golf and Country Club Mike HallNews WriterMike has over 25 years of experience in journalism including writing on a range of sports throughout that time Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.  He has written hundreds of articles on the game from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.  Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997 He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.  Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography about golf’s founding father and son remains one of his all-time favourite sports books 2023 19:50 UTCPlayers and captains are typically considered the stars of the Ryder Cup but the competition cannot be staged without those working tirelessly behind the scenes the course is almost as important as any player and this year is no different for host Marco Simone Golf & Country Club which has hosted the Italian Open four times (most recently from 2021-2023) has spent the last few years getting into the best shape of it’s long history Below is a conversation with Arias on how she along with co-head greenskeeper (and fiancé) Alejandro Reyes are preparing the course for the Ryder Cup later this month in Rome How long have you and Alejandro Reyes been leading the agronomy team at Marco Simone Alejandro as director of agronomy and myself as superintendent responsible of Le Golf National and preparing for the 2018 Ryder Cup How much conversation does your team have with the Captains and respective leads from the Ryder Cup Europe and PGA of America teams regarding course setup or how much in advance are these factors discussed [since] the course was under construction and as we have the Italian Open every year from the agronomist's point of view and also to understand the setup of the golf course How much additional staff will you add to handle the increased workload leading up to and during the event From April to September there will be 23 greenstaff and during the tournament week That means three times more volunteers than for the Italian Open What made you want to get into this line of work I always say that it reminds me when I was an athlete you have to show the best version of the golf course during the tournament week which keeps you motivated and working daily with a great goal My experience in the United States preparing tournaments such as The Players at TPC Sawgrass or PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Have any of those changed since you arrived greens are bentgrass (Pure Distinction) and rough tall fescue How will the time of year the Cup will be hosted affect how those grasses are cared for It’s the perfect time to host the Ryder Cup Last Italian Open was a good example of how the golf course is gonna be during the Ryder Cup Do you have a favorite hole on each nine or one you are most looking forward to seeing the Ryder Cup teams compete on My favorite holes are hole nine and hole 12 but I think hole 16 is gonna be the most spectacular one It’s a Par 4 with the lake on the right side Did you ever think you’d be leading the preparations for a Ryder Cup course What does it mean to you to have this opportunity We didn’t expect to come here but the opportunity came in 2020 We knew it would be different because the golf course was under full renovation and in three years we had to organize three Italian Opens and the Ryder Cup so it was and is a challenge all the work done in just two years and I can’t wait to host the Ryder Cup The nearly 300,000 fans descending on the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club for the Ryder Cup this week will be able to see the 11th-century castle with the same name from various points of the course -- it’s wedged between the sixth and eighth holes and has a big Italian flag waving from its tower -- but they won’t be able to visit it That’s because it’s the private residence of fashion designer Lavinia Biagiotti Cigna Biagiotti Cigna’s parents bought the castle in 1978 -- the year she was born -- and then decided to build the surrounding golf course While the golf course recently underwent a $12 million complete restyling in order to host the sport’s biggest team event keeping up a 1,000-year-old castle is a job that never ends “I don’t really feel like I own this place I really feel I’m taking care of this place,” Biagiotti Cigna said in a recent interview with The Associated Press inside the castle walls So I really have to make a lot of maintenance because there are layers and layers of history.” which is accessed by passing through a series of three different security gates many of which feature Renaissance-era frescoes It was named Marco Simone for the son of a 15th-century owner who oversaw a massive restoration after centuries of invasions Astronomer Galileo Galilei once lived in the castle and there are remains of prehistoric fossils that date back 300,000 years in the dungeon A second-floor office is the room that holds the most sentimental value to Biagiotti Cigna “This was my mom’s original studio where she created most of her collections,” Biagiotti Cigna said as she sat in front of a portrait of her late mother “She was making sketches sitting right here where I am right now I used to do my homework in that corner right there This is really the place where everything began.” started the fashion house in the 1960s as a dressmaker So she started to work to support the family,” Biagiotti Cigna said “She was one of the very first women to become a manager in 1950s Rome.” Delia Soldaini Biagiotti became famous when she designed the uniforms for Alitalia’s cabin crew was studying archeology in college when the family business started expanding So she shifted her focus to fashion and eventually developed Laura Biagiotti into an international brand “She was the first Italian designer ever to hold a fashion show in China in 1988 -- that was really early,” Biagiotti Cigna said of her mother It’s an Italian story with three leading women.” “There was so much energy here in the Renaissance and I really feel that the Ryder Cup is a new renaissance for Marco Simone,” Biagiotti Cigna said. Laura Biagiotti died in 2017, thrusting Biagiotti Cigna not only into a leadership role at the fashion house but also for the Ryder Cup -- just as the family was dealing with getting the necessary work permits to finish the course redesign -- no small task considering Italy’s often befuddling bureaucracy. Then came the pandemic, which pushed the Ryder Cup back from 2022 to 2023, and a change in the captaincy to European Luke Donald. “It was not a smooth journey,” Biagiotti Cigna said. “It took a lot of effort to get through all of this. … And now we’re almost there.” All the while, Biagiotti Cigna has also been running her fashion house, which is still named Laura Biagiotti for her mother. The fashion house is located in a building next to the castle grounds. “We do women’s fashion accessories, home collections, kids collections and fragrances,” she said. “I work with about 50 people there.” One other building that Biagiotti Cigna has been working on lately is a first-century Roman villa adjacent to the 10th hole that was discovered during the original course's construction. “It has some beautiful mosaics in what was like a private spa,” Biagiotti Cigna said. “It took us about four years to dig it up and restore it. …It tells a lot about the story of people who lived here literally 2,000 years ago.” The Roman villa, as well as the fashion house, will be closed to the public during the Ryder Cup. “We cannot handle having so many visitors -- 300,000 people is a little too complicated to handle,” Biagiotti Cigna said. “But right after the Ryder Cup, visitors who come and play Marco Simone, by booking in advance, will be able to visit the fashion house as well. “There are so many cultural reasons to play Marco Simone,” she added. “(After) the Ryder Cup there will be an opportunity to embrace a new experience of golf, culture, fashion, food and archeology.” Rory McIlroy was the leading points scorer at the 2023 Ryder Cup. Two years on from his emotional interview having lost three of his four matches in a record 19-9 Ryder Cup defeat at Whistling Straits the tears were flowing again for Rory McIlroy as he stepped off the 17th green with a 3&1 win over Sam Burns and a fourth point of the week The four-time Major champion was only denied an unbeaten week by Patrick Cantlay’s 18th-hole heroics on Saturday evening – and that was the only time he fell behind all week 🗣️ "It fuelled me."A tearful Rory McIlroy spoke of how much winning four points during the Ryder Cup in Rome meant to him. 💙🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/5GfUmSzGxN It was McIlroy’s best-ever performance at a Ryder Cup and saw us name him as player of the tournament in our Ryder Cup grading His previous best had seen him win three points and remains the only time he hasn’t teed it up in every session (he sat out on Saturday afternoon) While the Northern Irishman was Europe’s leading point scorer had his most successful Ryder Cup to date with three-and-a-half points from four matches Jon Rahm gained three points from four matches with two wins and two ties while rookie Bob MacIntyre gained two-and-a-half points from his three matches The stunning 6.5-1.5 opening day saw all of Team Europe off the mark and only Matt Fitzpatrick Nicolai Hojgaard and Sepp Straka were unable to add further points to their tallies McIlroy and Rahm came into the week with suggestions they couldn’t be considered Ryder Cup greats due to their winning points percentages Both leave having vastly improved that number with McIlroy’s record improving from 12-12-4 to 16-12-4 and Rahm’s from 4-3-2 to 6-3-2 with Max Homa one of very few bright spots as he led their scoring charts with three points from a possible four on his Ryder Cup debut None of Zach Johnson’s team managed to avoid defeat with World No.1 Scottie Scheffler and five-time Ryder Cupper Rickie Fowler all failing to win a match Patrick Cantlay endured a disastrous start to the week with two defeats alongside friend and regular team golf partner Xander Schauffele but finished as the team’s joint second-highest points scorer thanks to his Saturday fourballs heroics and a 2&1 win over Justin Rose in the singles Open champion Brian Harman also took two points from four matches on debut who only played two sessions all week – the first and last – was the only player not to score any points and he’s now tasted defeat in four of his five appearances The 2016 victory at Hazeltine was his sole victory READ NEXT– How the Ryder Cup unfolded– All of the matches, hole-by-hole scores, and results – Do Ryder Cup players get paid? Rob Jerram is the Digital Editor of todays-golfer.com and has been a journalist for more than a quarter of a century joining TG in 2010. He specializes in the DP World Tour and has traveled the world watching the biggest tournaments and interviewing the game's biggest stars. Rob is also passionate about equipment and is a font of knowledge when it comes to golf balls having tested thousands over the years. Despite being father to three daughters he still manages to find time to maintain a 10-handicap all in the east of England. The best piece of golf equipment he's ever owned is the TaylorMade SLDR driver and the best course he's played is Turnberry's Ailsa. You can get in touch with Rob by emailing rob.jerram@bauermedia.co.uk By Rob Jerram The Marco Simone course has been rerouted and redesigned to host the 2023 Ryder Cup The par-four twelfth green is heavily protected by bunkers Marco Simone's par-five eighteenth has bunkers down the left side of fairway and a lake left of the green The unmistakably Italian setting of the short par-three thirteenth A view of the sixteenth green from where a hospitality stand will be located 2023 probably can’t come quickly enough And the opportunity to lay to rest its record-breaking defeat at Whistling Straits will take place on what is effectively a brand new course When it was chosen in 2015 as the venue for the third most-watched sporting event in the world – after the Olympics and football’s World Cup – it was seen as a surprise choice; most observers expected either PGA Catalunya in Spain or Sporting Club Berlin in Germany to be selected first opened for play in 1991 and hosted the Italian Open three years later submitted – with support from the Italian government the Italian National Olympic Committee and other stakeholders – a bid for the Ryder Cup it was on the basis that the course would be completely rebuilt having been involved in the redesign at both Le Golf National in Paris and Celtic Manor in Wales for the 2018 and 2010 events respectively EGD’s Dave Sampson was installed as the lead architect with the firm’s managing director Jeremy Slessor responsible for working with the club and various other organisations involved in the project “Having Jeremy overseeing the project from that side was great as it allowed me to concentrate on the design of the course,” says Sampson Construction began in 2018 with Italian firm Zeppieri overseeing the first phase (back nine) of earthworks and SOL Golf of Ireland handling feature and finish work SOL then took over both earthworks and finishing for phase two (front nine) with Tom Fazio II playing an important role in managing construction A supporting cast of specialists included Aquafert led by former Le Golf National superintendent Alejandro Reyes and his fiancé Lara Arias took over the grow-in of the course in mid-2020 Read more: Atlas Turf International and Pure Seed’s role in providing tournament conditions at Marco Simone The redesign was driven by the desire to create a course suited to match play golf and for the property to be able to handle mass crowds: 270,000 people descended on Le Golf National when it hosted the contest in 2018 nothing remains of the original course at Marco Simone with only the sixth hole even playing in the same corridor Every other hole is now in a totally different location or orientation “One of the issues with the old layout was that with links between greens and tees crossing numerous times,” says Sampson “For a Ryder Cup this becomes really difficult one of the big changes was rerouting the course to consider spectator movement with the first hole located in a natural basin which also accommodates the downhill par-three seventh driveable par-four sixteenth and the par-three seventeenth “This area is our little touch on the Colosseum with the basin giving a view of at least three holes from any one point,” says Sampson we felt this was the key part of the site for a Ryder Cup and we consciously made sure that we routed holes from different key points within the round back to this basin Players dip in and out of this ‘valley’ providing a great spot for spectators and hospitality units.” Significant tree management was also undertaken to maximise viewing opportunities “There were quite a lot of areas that had become unkempt and overgrown since Marco Simone first opened 30 years ago,” says Sampson “The trees and bushes had grown to the extent that the site had lost its great views We’ve stripped it back to clean up the site and open those views for both the golfer and spectator “The one thing that I think will be remembered from this Ryder Cup is the long-distance views of numerous golf holes What the club has done over the last three or four months is manage and trim the trees and it’s really given the course a neat and tidy look This trimming work has allowed the umbrella pines to take centre stage and you can quite clearly see that this is a Rome course and authentically Italian.” Marco Simone hosted the Italian Open for the first time in 27 years in early September giving spectators and television viewers a first opportunity to immerse themselves in what is undoubtedly an Italian experience The rolling site features views of the Castle of Marco Simone This is especially evident on the back nine which is routed on the property’s highest elevation “I consciously routed the course so most of the risk and reward holes come on the back nine: the eleventh twelfth and sixteenth definitely spring to mind but we’ve got flexibility on the fifth to push the tee forward to create a driveable par four,” says Sampson “All the par fives are reachable in two because having that excitement option is important for the Ryder Cup “One of the successes of the project has been the routing It builds through the round to those climax points on the back nine where you’ve got the risk-reward holes and the views across the course This constant build then reaches an emotional high at the short par-four eleventh followed by a great tee at twelve where you get a view of Rome for the first time which we come back to at sixteen and eighteen.” archaeological discoveries were encountered on the property close to where the twelfth and thirteenth holes are now located And given the tight schedule – work was completed in October 2020 – some design changes were made during construction “We’ve had to adjust holes twelve to seventeen the course has become better for it,” says Sampson “The twelfth is a far superior hole doglegging to the right than it would be playing straight particularly the time it was going to take to get a permit that led us to change the hole’s direction by 90 degrees turning the hole and playing 25 metres downhill with the tees set on a high point over Rome “The restrictions squeezed us in a way but what it will create for the Ryder Cup is an unbelievable atmosphere in and around the twelfth green It is going to be incredible when thousands of spectators are gathered there The restrictions made us look at things in a different way and you’ve got to make the most of it I really think that something good has come out of it.” While creating a course to host the Ryder Cup has been the main focus of the redesign Sampson has ensured the layout is also playable for the membership at Marco Simone The club reopened 18 holes to its members in January 2021 and according to golf course superintendent Lara Arias “This is a golf course that gives golfers of all abilities options,” says Sampson it is much wider off the tee for the average golfer and narrows down the further off the tee you go it’s 7,300 yards from the back tees and 5,700 from the front with the main defence being in and around the greens “One of the encouraging things that we saw from the recent Italian Open was that the course also plays really well as a stroke play event.” Some minor tweaks the club was considering will go ahead following the course’s tour debut such as expanding mowing lines closer to lake edges some other important projects will be complete a new driving range and the transformation of the nine-hole resort course into the spectator village Marco Simone will have also hosted two more Italian Opens giving the Marco Simone team additional valuable experience before it hits the world stage in September 2023 This article first appeared in the October 2021 issue of Golf Course Architecture. For a printed subscription or free digital edition, please visit our subscriptions page Golf’s 2023 Ryder Cup, held at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, boosted economic activity in Italy by €262 million (US$284 million), according to a report from Sheffield Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC) The €262 million in economic activity generated by the 2023 event is a record for a Ryder Cup held in Europe beating the figure set in 2018 when the biennial contest was held at Le Golf National in Paris Last year’s competition was also the first time the Ryder Cup had been held in Italy which became only the third country in continental Europe to host the event following Spain in 1997 and France 21 years later researchers from Sheffield Hallam University’s SIRC took into account spending by all spectators and other event attendees including by the Italian Golf Federation (FIG) on the course and infrastructure upgrades “The figures highlighted in this independent economic impact report demonstrate the major benefits that Ryder Cup delivers for a host country through spectator and visitor spending as well as an enduring legacy,” said Guy Kinnings chief executive of the European Tour Group providing a significant direct boost to the economy in Rome and in Italy.” The 2025 Ryder Cup will be held in the US at Bethpage Black in New York Ireland’s Adare Manor Resort will stage the next edition in Europe in 2027 when the event celebrates its centenary Already a member? Log in here Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome – site of the 2023 Ryder Cup between teams from the U.S and Europe – originally was designed by David Mezzacane and Jim Fazio and opened in 1989 The layout was completely renovated in 2018-2020 by a team of European Golf Design led by Dave Sampson in conjunction with Tom Fazio II a leading American architect and the son of Jim Fazio – Tom Fazio worked for his dad on the original layout The renovation included a complete rerouting of the hilly layout with the Ryder Cup in mind With 155 feet of elevation change across the course the holes were laid out to favor match play Marco Simone – a public-access layout with tee times available on the course's website – will play to a par of 71 with the scorecard showing 7,181 yards It’s likely the host European team will adjust yardages in attempt to benefit itself The rough has been reported to be deep and thick heading into the Ryder Cup putting an emphasis on accurate tee shots to relatively tight fairways Thanks to a yardage book provided by StrackaLine – the maker of detailed yardage books for thousands of courses around the world – we can see exactly the challenges the players face at the Ryder Cup When you write a Golf Advisor course review now through December 31 your review will be entered into Golf Advisor’s Rate to Escape: Maui Sweepstakes for a chance to win a five-star trip to Maui One Grand Prize winner and guest will travel in an AVIS rental car for six nights/ seven days of accommodations with the latest gear from OGIO to play on the finest fairways in Maui We’re also giving away 12 Golf Advisor Swag bags to lucky reviewers Human civilization has come a long way from the bloodsport that ruled the Coliseum in ancient Roman days Our bread is better and our circuses are somewhat more refined Even though we may root for nail-biting drama and heroics everyone is expected walk away from the 2023 Ryder Cup with their limbs intact RELATED: Is Team USA the right fit for Marco Simone? However similarly Marco Simone may be set up to Le Golf National novel taste of golf in the countryside east of Rome Originally built in 1991 and redesigned by Tom Fazio II and European Golf Design in 2018 Long-range views from some holes will add a sense of grandeur deserving of the Ryder Cup and its throngs of rabid fans What earth Fazio moved should prove helpful for spectators as mounding gives many tee boxes and green complexes an amphitheater feel - with and without grandstands Marco Simone uses bunkers to dictate directional play in areas of milder terrain with 77 in total spread across its 350-acre tract Water and wetlands come into play on half of the holes The medium-sized greens skew in the direction of complexity and occasional chaos with a stern start giving way to a topsy-turvy final 11 holes that includes all four par 5s (holes 8 12 and 18) and the latter two of three potentially drivable par 4s (5 where birdies and trainwrecks are both in the cards For the occasional design awkwardness caused by the property's overall slope especially for matches that reach the volatile closing trio A slight reverse camber to the fairway on this uphill slight dogleg-left will prompt players to shape their opening tee shots from right to left on a hole that promises to be a much sterner starter than recent Ryder Cup host venues have typically offered up tiered greens at Marco Simone juts back and to the left A downhill tee shot threaded between trees opens up to the first of many Italian countryside views although a large bunker narrows the landing area considerably Large protective mounds feed into the putting surface Although Marco Simone's sub-7,300 yard distance is not particularly fearsome by modern standards whose fairway pinches considerably at driver range as it may prompt a layup for accuracy off the tee Such safe play will leave a long iron to a shallow green that will spit shots that land short 20 or more yards backwards slender greens characterize Marco Simone's par 3s with two bunkers protecting middle and rear hole locations while a broad fronting bunker can obscure views of the front of the putting surface this could be the first of as many as three drivable par 4s at Marco Simone with a pond fronting an angled green that is also fortified by three bunkers There could be fireworks here in the Fourball or Singles sessions Playing too far away from the large right-side fairway bunker could leave players blocked out by trees on the left straight shots and try to make a putt on the elevated green a deep putting surface means that different hole locations will drastically affect players' ambitions on this long A pond could come into play when the cup is cut front-left while rear hole locations will likely force bailouts to the right Technically listed as a par 4 for the Italian Opens that have been contested at Marco Simone shallow and wavy green fronted by a lake will likely yield up a roughly equal share of 4s and 5s, A lone bunker pinches the entrance to the putting surface and will likely catch many long approaches The second-longest hole on the course will likely play as the longest The second of two fairway bunkers may deter some players from hitting driver off the tee especially since getting home in two is unlikely Those who do try to push the ball as close to the green as possible will do well to bail out left into expansive fairway-length pitching areas This uphill dogleg-right begins what should be a volatile inward nine A creek will catch tee shots that stray right while the amoeba green sits well above the landing area with three bunkers waiting to snare overly ambitious mid-irons this short two-shotter will tempt several players to try for the green in one huge swing but missing on the wrong side will mean par will be the best players can hope for A central fairway bunker could catch lazy layups The sweep of this downhill dogleg-left off the property's high point will have long hitters salivating but they'll have to sling a right-to-left tee ball with the curve of the fairway in order to hold it as it narrows to less than 20 yards wide past a nest of bunkers a tree encroaches on the second shot just enough to complicate the approach as the hole twists back to the right An old farmhouse serves as the rustic backdrop to this short hole where a large heave across the middle of the deep green will gather or repel just-misplayed approaches The first of two bruising par fours is similar to the 12th in that only a precisely-shaped right-to-left tee ball will do two nasty fairway bunkers on the inside of this dogleg-left will get a lot of business from which reaching the elevated green will be nearly impossible This uphill beast is heavily bunkered all the way with three of them pinching the fairway on the right a fourth waiting to snare approaches from the rough and three more stair-stepping up the right side of the green but the gnarly greenside rough there suggests otherwise The beginning of a rousing closing stretch presents a momentous choice: lay up to a generous fairway (albeit with two bunkers in play) or brave a pond and three bunkers that guard an angled green Players who find themselves down in a match could pull off some heroics here One more long green could cause players to hit two or three different clubs in as many sessions from the tee Any miss to the left will sputter downhill to a short-grass chipping area or worse: a stream trickling down the hillside into which the hole is benched Matches that go the distance will have no shortage of drama as this plunging risk-reward par 5 has it all: the prospect of a huge drive a green that could gather approaches to back-left hole locations set perilously close to a pond Ryder Cups seldom come down neatly to the final hole of the final match it will take place at a hole fit for such a stage Course looks beautiful and the many play options will make each match unique and exciting Dave Sampson of European Golf Design is the architect responsible for the redesign of 2023 Ryder Cup course Marco Simone Marco Simone director of agronomy Alejandro Reyes The driveable par-four sixteenth is expected to bring drama The par-three thirteenth is another from a back nine full of risk-reward opportunities the European Golf Design architect responsible for the redesign of the Marco Simone course near Rome which will host the European and US golf teams Sampson completed a redesign of the course in 2020, totally transforming the original 1991 design by Jim Fazio and David Mezzacane, with the Ryder Cup in mind. GCA reported on the work in 2021 after the revised course hosted the Italian Open for the first time It would be fair to say that there’ll be a premium put on accuracy One of the challenges of Marco Simone is the amount of elevation change and the undulating lies think of another Ryder Cup that’s been played over more elevation poses its own challenges and asks different questions which is a good thing – you don’t want to necessarily have a Ryder Cup course that is similar to others summed it up really well when he said Marco Simone is a golf course that demands the player has every shot in their book I think that in the last couple of Italian Opens the green speeds have been pretty much spot on especially for the angles into the greens and the slopes on them setup guys and Lara – there were some great lessons from those three Italian Opens and good experiences which are going to help this coming week One of the positives I have personally taken is that Marco Simone is not an overly long course – it’s 7,200 yards – but it definitely presents a good challenge for these players The tournaments had winning scores of 12 and 13 under so I think that from a design point of view It hasn’t been the smoothest project we’ve ever worked on as it is a project unlike any other Normally you are just working with one client but here there were so many other bodies that had to be involved – Ryder Cup Europe It has been a great example of working as a team We’ve had to overcome various challenges such as the gas line and electric line – including moving pylons The work the Federation did to help get that over the line was incredible which led to tweaks to the golf course mid-construction It definitely had its challenges but we’re a week away and we’re all really excited for what’s to come Watching the Ryder Cup? Aching to plan your next golf trip? Well if this weekend’s Ryder Cup host is motivating you at all It’s also hosted the Italian Open for the past three years The par-72 championship course is a bit of a question mark entering this week since there’s never been a big-time match-play event held there but pros (and fans sitting at home) will find out how it performs soon It’s also a course you can tee it up on The public rate for weekdays and weekends during the off-season is €190 — about 200 U.S dollars — and €220 during peak season During the Ryder Cup season — basically the month of October — you’ll pay the highest greens fee at €350 charged a peak rate of $485 two years ago.) There’s also discounts for guests of members and regional players. A one-year membership at the course (which consists of 10 18-hole rounds) is €1,060, or $1,120. You can check out the entire pricing structure below. To learn more about the course, click here As GOLF.com’s managing editor, Berhow handles the day-to-day and long-term planning of one of the sport’s most-read news and service websites. He spends most of his days writing planning and wondering if he’ll ever break 80 he worked at newspapers in Minnesota and Iowa A graduate of Minnesota State University in Mankato he resides in the Twin Cities with his wife and two kids You can reach him at joshua_berhow@golf.com Lara Arias, golf course superintendent at Marco Simone, poses for a photo with her Australian Shepard "Ryder" during an interview with the Associated Press. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy -- When Lara Arias started her job as course superintendent at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club outside Rome that will host the Ryder Cup next week, there was hardly any grass to manicure, no bunkers to rake and nary a green to shape. That’s because the entire course was practically one big pile of dirt. It was June 2020, in the middle of a heat wave, and Marco Simone was undergoing an 11 million euro ($12 million) redesign project that meant there were more bulldozers than lawnmowers on the hilly layout. Making matters more complicated was that Italy was still struggling to regain its footing after becoming the first Western nation to be slammed by the coronavirus pandemic. A month after Arias’ arrival, the Ryder Cup would be postponed from 2022 to 2023 -- adding another full year to her job. Arias, a rare female superintendent in a male-dominated industry, was undeterred, though. As soon as the restyling was completed and the grass was planted, she got down to business with the growing process and had the full course opened by December 2020. “Those first six months were really hard work,” Arias said. Now, after hosting three Italian Opens, Marco Simone is in perfect shape for golf’s biggest team event, and Arias, a 33-year-old Spaniard, has become a trailblazer for women in the industry. Superintendents are responsible for a golf course's maintenance, management, budget and safety. “It’s an honor and it’s a huge responsibility,” Arias said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. “I saw this golf course from zero. … We don’t prepare the Ryder Cup in only one week. It’s been three years and I’m very proud of the team." Arias is also proud of breaking a gender barrier. Women account for only 2% of the superintendents registered with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. In Europe, there are a number of female superintendents in Scandinavia, “in particular Finland and Sweden,” as well as Spain, according to Dean Cleaver, the executive officer of the Federation of European Golf Greenkeepers Associations. “I know that there’s been an impact in the world of greenkeeping,” Arias said. “I hope it causes a lot of golf clubs that still have doubts about hiring a female superintendent to step back and reflect. I know a lot of other really great women who can do this job.” Marco Simone will become the third venue in continental Europe to host the Ryder Cup after Valderrama in Spain in 1997 and Le Golf National outside Paris in 2018. Having earned degrees in agricultural engineering, Arias first worked at a nursery in Spain that grows the grass for Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and the greens at Valderrama. Then she spent 18 months in the United States working at three different courses through a program organized by Ohio State University. She started at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, moved on to the TPC Scottsdale in Arizona and finished at the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. “The first week (of the PGA) I worked 90 hours and when I called my family, they asked if that was legal,” Arias said. “I was happy to do it, though, because I learned so much. I wanted to keep going.” At the 2018 Ryder Cup in France, Arias was an assistant superintendent under Alejandro Reyes. Fashion designer Lavinia Biagiotti Cigna, who owns the Marco Simone club and hired Arias after seeking advice from Reyes, said she was looking for a leader and believes that “leaders have no gender.” Biagiotti Cigna selected Arias ahead of two men whom Reyes had also proposed. Arias' resume and her skills got her the job -- not her relationship with Reyes, who is now her fiancé. “She deserved the spot,” Biagiotti Cigna said. "She was as good as Alejandro.” Reyes is also at Marco Simone as a consultant and director of agronomy. But Arias is in charge. “I’m the superintendent this time, but it’s clear that I need him as a consultant,” Arias said. “So we’re a team.” The rest of the greenkeeping team at Marco Simone is all male, and Arias’ gender has never been an issue with her multicultural staff, which includes workers from all over the world: El Salvador, Ecuador, Italy, France, Britain and Sweden. “There are 20 guys,” she said, “and they’re like my sons. We talk to each other in English, French, Italian and Spanish -- a bit of everything.” For Ryder Cup week, 100 experienced volunteers will be added to Arias’ team -- with most of them familiar with Marco Simone after having helped out during the Italian Opens. Superintendents can make a significant impact on the results of a Ryder Cup by manicuring the course to favor the home team. Arias, for instance, has made the fairways at Marco Simone narrower upon request from Europe Captain Luke Donald because the Europeans are known as more accurate off the tee than the big-hitting Americans. Altering the course first started under Henrik Stenson, who was removed from Europe’s captaincy after joining the breakaway LIV Golf tour last year. “The course is like the 13th player,” Arias said. “There are 12 players and the course can also help you win.” Suzy Whaley, the first female president of the PGA of America, said that while there's always worldwide focus on the condition of the course during a Ryder Cup, “In this case, the pressure is more significant.” “The world is used to male figures in the top positions at courses and facilities, and to see a woman in charge of the host venue for the Ryder Cup is a celebration for all in the game,” Whaley wrote in an email to the AP. “Lara will inspire young girls watching to know agronomy is an option in golf for them, too.” Europe's team mascot figures to be Arias' and Reyes’ dog, a black-and-white Australian Shepherd aptly named Ryder. As Arias roams around Marco Simone day after day, Ryder accompanies her running along beside her golf cart or hopping aboard for a ride. Ryder also likes to swim in the ponds. “But she knows she can’t go on the greens or into the bunkers,” Arias said, adding with a laugh that she’s “the most important member of the team.” Arias and Reyes met while both assisted on the course at the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National in Minnesota. “Our story revolves around the Ryder Cup, because I met him at Hazeltine, then we worked together again in 2018, we named our dog Ryder and now we’re here in Rome doing another Ryder Cup,” Arias said. Arias is now pregnant with the couple’s baby and is due to give birth to a girl named Alejandra in December. Despite her growing belly, she's still hurrying around the course every day. “If you told me, ‘Lara, you have to go mow the greens,’ then, yes, I would have a hard time,” Arias explained. “But my job is more organizational. I have to organize everything so the Ryder Cup has the best course possible.” Before her family expands, Arias wants to inspire other women to become superintendents. “I hope my experience, my position," she said, "can be an example and can help other women in this industry.” All the golf world’s eyes will be on Marco Simone Golf & Country Club this week for the 2023 Ryder Cup Before you get your first look at the course on television or online coverage check out the following photos of each hole to see what the U.S Marco Simone opened in 1989 with a layout by David Mezzacane and Jim Fazio The whole layout was renovated and rerouted in 2018-2020 by a team from European Golf Design led by Dave Sampson with American architect Tom Fazio II serving as a consultant The current hilly layout – 155 feet of elevation change in all – was designed with the Ryder Cup in mind It will play to a par of 71 with a yardage of 7,181 yards for the biennial team competition 2023 15:38 UTCThough his side owns the home-course advantage Rory McIlroy has long believed that the U.S Ryder Cup Team won’t be going down without a fight at this 44th Ryder Cup needs to glean every advantage it can — and that includes setting up the golf course they are very good sort of from 150 [yards] in," McIlroy said at the 2022 Italian Open held at this week's Ryder Cup host venue it's a challenge to get your tee shots within that range You'll see even this year compared to last year some of the tee shots have been brought in and the rough has been brought in on either sides You've got bunkers that you can carry at 300 or 310 but the angle it's created is very very tight and you're hitting into smaller win dose "I think by forcing people to play more conservative off the tee I think that helps the Europeans a little bit I think that's part of the strategy." how have the Europeans ensured themselves a leg up in this competition the Europeans possess more experience at Marco Simone than their American counterparts as the DP World Tour's Italian Open has been staged there since 2021 Many of Europe's top players have performed well in the event Team had played the course before their scouting trip earlier this month The European team has two Italian Open winners Nicolai Højgaard (2021) and Robert MacIntyre who beat Ryder Cup teammate Matt Fitzpatrick in a playoff in 2022 Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood all have top tens at Marco Simone And sense a common theme from those players they're all top-notch drivers of the golf ball Højgaard is second on the DPWT this season in strokes gained: off-the-tee Fleetwood was 31st in that category and Hatton was 13th McIlroy just broke the Tour record for average driving distance in a season at 326.3 yards there are certainly some long-bombers — Scottie Scheffler who all ranked top 40 in driving distance on Tour this year the Europeans have two in that same window Team member Collin Morikawa was second on Tour in driving accuracy in 2022 — and inside the top 50 on Tour Cantlay and Scheffler) to the Europeans' four (Sepp Straka Fleetwood was 53rd and Europe's final captain's pick has displayed a fearsome tandem of being long and straight since turning pro in June Maybe the Americans can muster a performance and take down the Europeans on foreign soil for the first time in 30 years Marco Simone is reminiscent of a few other European Ryder Cup tracks in which the U.S "I would say that the two Ryder Cup courses that this most reminds me of would be Gleneagles (2014) and Celtic Manor (2010)," McIlroy said last year "They were both similar-style courses I think the back nine here is a wonderful layout and a wonderful setup for match play I think it's going to create some really exciting finishes to matches You've got two drivable par fours on the back nine You've got a few holes with water and you've got that wonderful closing hole which could be really exciting." And playing in front of spirited European fans on a course the European team has experience — and success — on will be a tough hill to climb for the Americans Captain Zach Johnson believes both teams are presented with an equal task at Marco Simone — and the thick rough capable of wreaking havoc across the board is one of the main reasons why Johnson isn't buying into home-course advantage “I think it's a challenge for anybody that hits it in (the rough),” Johnson said Monday I feel like fairways are a premium but you could probably say that any given week Whether it's bermuda or bent or fescue or bluegrass you've still got to keep that ball in the fairway with a couple blind shots but that's Marco Simone Captain Luke Donald took his entire side to Marco Simone Golf Club for a practice session in September 2023 Europe’s Ryder Cup players have revealed how becoming “vulnerable” with each other during a “fireside chat” helped spark their triumph in Rome a day before all 12 players travelled to Wentworth ahead of competing in the BMW PGA Championship The move paid off handsomely with Europe regaining the Ryder Cup in emphatic fashion and a behind-the-scenes story of that triumph is set to be revealed in a new documentary being launched on December 3 “We had a great fireside chat where we opened up together as a team It really created this amazing sense of togetherness,” Donald says in the 90-minute film who broke down in tears after winning his singles match in the crushing defeat at Whistling Straits in 2021 adds: “Playing the golf course and seeing Marco Simone was great but the magic of that trip was what happened on either side of the golf “People became vulnerable and told their story and I think that led others to open up in ways we’ve probably never opened up to each other.” Spain’s Jon Rahm echoes McIlroy’s sentiments I think it creates a bond and a sense of security that you can’t replicate.” Rahm made a shock move to LIV Golf a few months after playing his part in Europe’s victory and Donald admits in the documentary that he views the Ryder Cup as “an antidote” to the acrimonious split in men’s professional golf McIlroy also speaks about his fallout with Patrick Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava which came after Cantlay and Wyndham Clark had fought back to beat McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick on the 18th in the second day’s fourballs “As soon as I saw anyone with an American jersey I went after them,” McIlroy said of losing his cool in the car park following the day’s play but I felt like what happened on the 18th green and then spilled over to the car park almost made us feel we were ready more than ever to go out on the Sunday to all win our points and get the Ryder Cup back.” December 3 on the Ryder Cup YouTube channel Friday, September 29, marks the return of the biennial Ryder Cup This year's tournament will take place at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club located in Guidonia This will be the first time an Italian course has hosted the event and just the second time the Ryder Cup will be hosted on the European mainland the first being the 1997 Ryder Cup in Sotogrande Named after the castle of Marco Simone the course was designed and built in 1989 by American architect Jim Fazio When bidding for the 2023 Ryder Cup finished in 2015 the course underwent redesigns in 2018 and 2021 with an emphasis on match-play The remodel was conducted by European Golf Design The course's new design is meant to create a consistent theme of "risk-reward" and "high-stakes." How long is the course?Course Campionato at the Marco Simone Golf Club is a Par 72 The most difficult hole is arguably Hole 7 a 203-yard Par 3 with a kidney-shaped green Not only are there sand traps on the short side of the green tempting golfers to sail the ball to the far side but the green itself is rather difficult when putting from a distance Par 3's tend to be the most difficult holes in golf but this one sounds particularly unforgiving Failure to reach the green in one will almost certainly result in a bogey How familiar is the US Team with the course?Not very the DP World Tour is very familiar with the course The Marco Simone Golf Club has hosted the Italian Open four times in its history, most recently between May 4 and May 7 earlier this year. European Team member Robert MacIntyre and European Team captain Luke Donald both played in that event While neither finished particularly well – MacIntyre withdrew from the tournament after shooting a 73 in the opening round; Donald missed the cut after shooting 74's in both the first and second rounds – that experience could pay off massively Nine of the 12 U.S. Ryder Cup team members, plus the captain and co-captains, arrived in Rome on September 10 though hoping to gain more familiarity with the course and Jordan Spieth were unavailable for the scouting trip Ryder Cup coverage: How does this U.S. Ryder Cup team compare to past ones? Plus odds, captains and qualifiers Europe has regained the Ryder Cup after a 16.5-11.5 victory at Italy’s Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. The home team was dominant from the start, sweeping the first session and holding the United States winless on the opening day. Europe’s five-point lead entering Sunday Singles would’ve required its opponent to make an unprecedented comeback if it wanted to retain the cup. While the United States made things interesting, Europe’s lead was too large to overcome. See below for each player’s record from this year’s competition: Lara Arias is the superintendent at Marco Simone With the 2023 Ryder Cup about to kick off at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club near Rome GCA spoke with course superintendent Lara Arias She explains how her team has prepared for the matches and what she has learned from her time at another Ryder Cup host course Arias is no stranger to preparing for a Ryder Cup She took on the role of superintendent at Marco Simone with a successful stint at Le Golf National in Paris It’s amazing to think back to 2020 when Alejandro [Reyes Lara’s agronomist husband] and I arrived here with architect Dave Sampson with the golf course under full renovation We have seen this golf course from the beginning all the way through to now I love eight and nine and how Dave designed these two holes together I like the creek that is in the middle and the fact that all the rainwater goes into the irrigation lake that is between these two holes The position of bunkers on nine are great and the original trees that Dave has incorporated behind the green as a backdrop are amazing The eighth is a favourite because it was the last hole we seeded which probably makes it a bit more special The experience of the Ryder Cup at Le Golf National has helped me a lot to understand what it means to host the competition It is super important for a superintendent to understand what goes on inside the ropes and outside and what a Ryder Cup-level means and what is expected I am very proud to be the golf course superintendent of a Ryder Cup course – but it is very important to understand the full project and how to collaborate with everyone at the Ryder Cup because there are contractors everywhere working to build up all the hospitality areas and grandstands when building the new grandstand at the first hole they needed to ask me where sprinkler heads were but we also need to collaborate during the Ryder Cup especially with 45,000 spectators arriving we learned how important it was to have the team outside the golf course before all the spectators arrived In other tournaments it is not a problem; if you have 2,000 spectators You need to be organised and that’s why we have more volunteers and more machinery to make the setup faster and to go out on the golf course as quickly as possible is that our greenkeeping team is young and we felt the benefit of these experiences Around 80 per cent of the team in 2020 had not worked on a golf course before daily setup and how to set up a course for a tournament I saw a huge difference between the Italian Open in 2021 and 2023 relating to how the team moves around the golf course Around 75 per cent of the volunteers that we have for the Ryder Cup worked on the Italian Opens so that makes my life easier because everyone already knows the golf course and the way we work – that is amazing Imagine Ryder Cup week with 100 volunteers and they don’t know the golf course or how we work – that would be very stressful is for the agronomists to understand the areas that we need to improve so we can prepare the golf course to the highest level We list them and then address them to make sure the Ryder Cup is going to be perfect A lot of the team have been here since the golf course was under renovation; imagine how special it has been for them to see the grow-in of the golf course and now with all the spectators all the grandstands and hospitality areas on television 2023 15:33 UTCIf one considers Rory McIlroy past comments on this year’s Ryder Cup venue Marco Simone Golf & Country Club should provide the blank pages for a dramatic story that gets better as the competition progresses “The front nine is like the first couple of chapters of a book,” McIlroy said last year “It gets you into the book a little bit and sort of sets the story but the real juicy bits come on the back nine The prologue of Marco Simone begins in 1978 when Italian fashion designer Laura Biagiotti and eventual husband Gianna Cigna purchased Marco Simone Castle less than ten miles from Rome’s city center Marco Simone had its 18 holes – the other nine no longer exist – renovated by the collaboration of American architect Tom Fazio and Euro Golf Design’s Dave Sampson the renovation included redesigning every hole as well as the longest closing par five in Ryder Cup history Those three holes are among the five that provide views of St Marco Simone has previously hosted the Italian Open on the DP World Tour every year since 2021 This week the course will play to a par of 71 and a yardage of 7,181 yards There is also 170 feet of elevation change and the grasses are as follows – paspalum fairways "I think the beauty of Marco Simone is that it already has a canvas that is really and so whatever Luke and his team decide to do to it Here is a hole-by-hole breakdown of Marco Simone Golf and Country Club provided by the official Ryder Cup media guide: The green is well-protected on this opening par four which doglegs slightly left Players wanting to be aggressive will be opting to drive over the bunker located on the left corner of the fairway The more conservative play is down the right of the fairway which will leave a longer iron in Any pin placement on the left-hand side of the green will be hard to attack this long dogleg left challenges a player’s accuracy off the tee Over the bunker in the middle of the fairway is the perfect shot to leave a medium iron in to the green Players deciding to lay up short of the bunker with their drive will have another bunker to avoid with their approach shot which is positioned 40-45 yards short of the green Most players will be trying to cut the corner of the dogleg on this hole but will need to be careful not to stray into the rough on either side With the front left side of the green protected by two bunkers hole placements throughout the week will decide whether a player attacks the pin or plays into the heart of the green Any pin placement down the left-hand side of the first of four par threes on the course will be a much easier challenge then players will decide whether the risk of going at the pin is worth the reward Going at a back-right pin will bring two bunkers in to play A water hazard to the front left of the green will be in play for the longer hitters on this 376 yard par four Keeping to the right of the fairway is vital an undulating green will then test a player’s short game The par four sixth is 383 yards but plays longer as it runs up a slight incline from tee to green The best play here is down the right-hand side over the bunker which allows for a better shot in to the green Go too far right and past the wall which stretches the length of the hole This is one the trickiest holes on the golf course the position of the flag will make a big difference to how you approach the green but a back pin will require a longer iron on to a small landing area putting from distance will be tough with the green sloping down to the right this hole is set up to give players an opportunity at eagle It doesn’t come without its challenges though The water hazard is in play both off the tee and with your approach shot to the green which slopes up Leave yourself short and you’re faced with an uphill putt Send your approach long and it’ll be difficult to get up and down the par five ninth has water running down the left side from tee to green It plays long and is difficult to reach in two shots the second bunker on the right side of the fairway is in play lay up and try to get close on an undulating green and a water hazard on the right- hand side faces players on the tenth The fairway maximises the natural rolling countryside of the Marco Simone course but the centre of it is where you want to be That will allow for a medium iron into the green which has two bunkers on the right side this hole is well within driving distance for the longer hitters and will present eagle opportunities throughout the week so any putts out of gimme range will be a challenge land your drive on a downslope and it will chase up If you don’t choose to go for the green in two placing your second on the left side of the fairway will give you a chance to attack the flag Three bunkers protect an undulating green on this risk-reward hole Players will need to make sure they don’t play to the left Doing so will leave a treacherous chip or putt back The course provides exciting challenges on each of the last five holes the ideal line off the tee will see players pass over the bunker on the left corner of the fairway to leave a shorter second in to the green Play down the right-hand side of the fairway and you’ll face a longer shot in The deep bunker on the right of the green can be tough to get out of 15 | Par 4 | 479 Yards | 438 Meters Teeing off from an elevated tee box the ideal line is down the left side of the fairway Stray too far right and the fairway bunker is in play There are a further seven bunkers on this hole to be aware of including one on the left as you approach the green and three guarding the right-hand side of the green Pin placement will be important when deciding how to tackle the 15th 16 | Par 4 | 303 Yards | 277 Meters Another picturesque hole where accuracy off the tee is rewarded The safer play is to drive short of the green to leave a wedge in as you could be on a downhill lie which makes it extremely difficult to stop the ball on the green With a gallery running the length of the hole this is one of several iconic holes at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club As well as a water hazard down the left of the hole bunkers protect the front of an undulating green where pin placement will decide whether to go at the flag or play into the heart Play away from the right side of the green though as it can be a tricky two putt from there The longest hole on the course greets the players down the last as well as a huge gallery down the right and a grandstand to welcome them when they reach the green There’s water down the left of one of the widest fairways at Maco Simone A big drive can see players go for the green in two but more likely is a lay up on the left side of the fairway which provides one of the few flat lies on the course That opens up a green with hard to read slopes Among the things the Americans learned on their pre-Ryder Cup trip to the venue in Rome is that the Marco Simone Golf Club is a relatively strenuous walk The course is undulating and quite hilly in spots which means captain Zach Johnson likely won’t have as much difficulty with the decisions concerning sitting players One of the more stressful issues for the captain is having four players have to sit out each session Friday and Saturday And there are strategy implications as well Do you go with your top players in all the matches Do you stick with a hot team if you had otherwise decided to change things up Is it important for everyone to rest at least one session to be better prepared for Sunday singles only eight of the 12 players compete in each team session But with 36 holes per day on Friday and Saturday there is a pretty good chance that all of the U.S players will play both days—barring injury or poor form "I think the golf course is going to solve some of that problem because it’s so hilly and the temperature could be pretty hot that I think guys are going to be happy to probably rest," said Stewart Cink who made the trip to Rome to scout the course on Sept "There’s not going to be a lot of disappointment for not playing." Johnson called it a "brutal walk" and Cink added that "it’s probably the most demanding physically of any Cup course I’ve seen that I’ve been part of." Cink and fellow team member Justin Thomas came back from Rome to play at the Fortinet Championship said there were some tactical issues that could be sorted as well "It was very nice to see the golf course," Homa said at least that's what I felt at the Presidents Cup You're rushing to get to know things about the golf course you're rushing to get some extra practice in "At Quail Hollow (for last year’s Presidents Cup) we all played it a billion times and this one we had never been to So just between the first day that we played it and then the second day completely changed my view of how we play the golf course I can tell (caddie) Joe (Greiner) now what clubs we're going to hit on certain tees "Plus being around all the guys and seeing how tight-knit the group is it almost gave me a bunch of confidence that not only is it going to be a fun week but I do think we have that camaraderie to get things done and break that 30-year drought (of not winning in Europe) We had a tunnel out at Quail Hollow and it was nuts you could already tell how different it is and how amplified it will be." Nine of the 12 U.S. players made the trip, with Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele skipping due to other commitments The entire 12-man European squad paid a visit last week prior to competing in the BMW PGA Championship. where Marco Simone Golf Club will host the biennial competition For the first time in history, the Ryder Cup pays a visit to Rome where Marco Simone Golf Club awaits some of the best players in the world American players do not have much experience with this picturesque layout, but many on Team Europe do Marco Simone has hosted the DP World Tour’s DS Automobiles Italian Open for the past three years In 2021, Nicholai Højgaard, who will make his Ryder Cup debut this week, won the Italian Open by a stroke over Tommy Fleetwood and Adrian Meronk. Højgaard’s victory two years ago was his first DP World Tour victory Robert MacIntyre defeated Matthew Fitzpatrick in a playoff which marked the second instance in which the Scotsman triumphed on the DP World Tour who was overlooked for this year’s Ryder Cup but it is undoubtedly foreign territory for Team USA and its fans let us look at four critical holes on the back nine at Marco Simone When standing on the tee at this little par-3 you are immediately reminded of being in the seven hills of Rome It is perhaps the most picturesque hole on the course The Italian countryside extends as far as the eye can see but do not let the beauty take away from the fact that this is one of the toughest greens on the course A large knoll runs through the middle of this green so players must hit their tee shots on the proper tier Considering match play always comes down to putting this putting surface will undoubtedly have an impact throughout the Ryder Cup Perhaps the most challenging tee shot on the course players must hit a right-to-left tee ball to find the fairway on this dogleg left par-4 Two devilish fairway bunkers will swallow any tee shot that misses left while gnarly rough awaits those tee balls that miss right If players do not find the fairway on the 14th they will have little to no chance of finding the putting surface which is somewhat elevated and features a false front One bunker lurks to the right of the green The trap on the left should rarely come into play but the deep bunker on the right will see some action This may prove to be the most difficult hole on the course Every player in the Ryder Cup has the length to reach this green off the tee If someone finds themselves down in a match perhaps they pull out the big stick and try to stick it on the green to spark some magic maybe one player gives the green a go while the other lays up to the generously wide fairway in front of the pond The bunker in the middle of the fairway sticks out like a sore thumb so players must avoid it should they choose to lay up The fairway slopes downward towards the tributary that runs 50 yards short of the green meaning players could face a downhill lie for their second shot Those are always difficult to control from short range considering the lower trajectory a downhill shot forces if a player decides to give the green a go they must fit their tee shots between two bunkers and avoid the water that extends up the right side of the green The penultimate hole at Marco Simone is a gorgeous uphill par-3 that will test the world’s best players The tributary that bisects the 16th fairway runs down the left side of the 17th Any shot pulled or anything that caroms off the sidehill to the left of the green is at risk of finding the water But the right side of the green has numerous undulations so do not be surprised to see players hit various clubs from the tee This difficult par-3 will likely decide numerous matches this week Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko for more golf coverage. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough too 2021 17:22 UTCMarco Simone Golf & Country Club today formally welcomed its first major event following extensive renovation work as the venue on the outskirts of Rome continues its preparations ahead of hosting the 2023 Ryder Cup the Federazione Italiana Golf and Marco Simone Golf & Country Club gathered outside the clubhouse for a ribbon cutting ceremony to acknowledge the occasion on the eve of this week’s DS Automobiles Italian Open on the European Tour It is the second time Marco Simone has hosted Italy’s national open and this week represents another important milestone for the venue built and owned by the Biagiotti family who run global businesses in fashion and fragrance as it showcases its significant redesign to a global audience for the first time Italian Ryder Cup player Francesco Molinari who entered the history books by winning a maximum five points in Europe’s victory at Le Golf National in 2018 is among the first players to take on the spectacular course which underwent 18 months of renovation work including the redesign of all 18 holes led by European Golf Design in co-operation with Tom Fazio II focused creating a golf course specifically with the drama of match play in mind with the previous layout rerouted not only to provide numerous risk and reward opportunities for the world’s leading players but also to maximise the natural rolling countryside terrain It means spectators will have unrivalled vantage points of the on-course action as well as distant views of the famous Eternal City including spectacular views of St Peter’s Basilica and of the Castle of Marco Simone which together will provide the backdrop to golf’s greatest team contest President of the Federazione Italiana Golf said: “With the first Italian Open at the new Marco Simone Golf & Country Club the path to the 2023 Ryder Cup comes alive it is our pride not only for golf but for all Italian sport combined with the adrenaline of the match between Europe and the USA will make the Italian edition unique Ryder Cup Europe and Marco Simone Golf & Country Club for supporting the development of the project.” said: “With just three weeks until this year’s Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits today marks another significant step in Italy’s own journey toward hosting its first Ryder Cup in two years’ time “The redesign project at Marco Simone is spectacular and we are delighted to showcase it to a global audience at this week’s Italian Open giving fans a glimpse of what to expect when the venue welcomes golf’s greatest team contest in 2023 “The global pandemic has restricted our opportunities to share several key moments in the reopening process so we are also delighted to be able to join Lavinia Biagiotti and her team today Gian Paolo Montali and everyone at the Federazione Italiana Golf for this significant occasion which is the culmination of months of hard work and collaboration.” President of Marco Simone Golf & Country Club said: “After 27 years Marco Simone Golf & Country Club is excited to host the prestigious Italian Open and we are delighted to welcome the world’s best golfers to our newly renovated course We are proud to showcase our unique destination to a global audience and we hope to inspire the next generation of Italian golfers as we look forward to hosting our national open and the 2023 Ryder Cup in the coming years “I would like to thank the Federazione Italiana Golf and its visionary President Franco Chimenti and the dedicated Marco Simone team that are all part of this incredible journey.” General Director of the Ryder Cup 2023 Project said: “We are very proud to inaugurate the new Marco Simone Golf & Country Club golf course with a great international tournament like the Italian Open the golf course is ready thanks to the tremendous effort and coordination between the Italian Golf Federation The redesign of Marco Simone Golf and Country Club began in August 2018 with the back nine completed and reopened in October 2019 followed by the full 18 holes in October 2020 In addition to the extensive work to the golf course the clubhouse is currently undergoing further renovation which will be completed in 2022 and a new practice ground which will be constructed in the spring of 2022 Part of the European Tour Destinations network Marco Simone will host two further editions of Italy’s national open in 2022 and 2023 before becoming the third venue in continental Europe to host the Ryder Cup following Valderrama in Spain (1997) and Le Golf National in France (2018) GOLF fans are loving life as the 44th Ryder Cup is underway - but are confused about the name of the venue The Marco Simone Golf and Country Club has won the right to host this year's mouthwatering competition And Team Europe will be determined to reclaim their crown from Team USA on the iconic Italian course. But before our day-by-day coverage of the event, SunSport delves into exactly who Marco Simone is. Marco di Simone along with his nobleman father Simone dei Tebraldo, transformed a tower of stone built in the 1000s, into a stunning palace according to Italian history books. It is said to have the best-preserved structures of its kind from the Agro Roman area and its dungeon is home to the remains of fossils that have been pegged at approximately 300,000 years old. This was the first remarkable transformation and three areas of typical fifteen-century architecture then surrounded the old tower. After Marco Simone died, the castle and property fell into complete disrepair for most of the 20th century due to a malaria outbreak that stopped the rich from living in the area. But famous Italian fashion designer Laura Biagotti and her husband Gianni Cigna purchased the remains in 1978 before restoring and honouring it in the name of Marco Simone. And then the golf course which was designed by Jim Fazio, was fully restored by son Tom Fazio before opening in 1989. Laura's daughter Lavinia also told the Associated Press in 2021: "This is what we want to offer to the world "A unique destination with amazing golfing features but not just that Tragically Lavinia's mother Laura didn't live to see Marco Simone experience its greatest glory for the Ryder Cup as she suffered a heart attack on the castle grounds in May 2017 and died two days later The 44th Ryder Cup will officially get underway on Friday Macro Simone Golf and Country Club just outside Rome is the allocated venue for this huge competition and it is an 18-hole championship course Furthermore, Marco Simone previously hosted the Italian Open in 2021 A flurry of social media posts showed nine of the 12 U.S. Ryder Cup Team members dropped in on Marco Simone Golf & Country Club over the weekend, no doubt hoping the advance scouting trip helps them end a 30-year win drought on the road. Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, who had prior commitments, and Jordan Spieth, whose wife is expecting the couple’s second child, did not make the trip. The team’s account on X, formerly known as Twitter, showed players getting off the team bus, warming up on the driving range, posing for a picture on the first tee and having a team dinner at which U.S. vice-captain Jim Furyk wore the distinctive “pizza shirt” from the last day of the 1999 Ryder Cup at the Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. There was also a picture of vice-captain Steve Stricker monitoring Justin Thomas’ putting stroke. Max Homa posted a photo of Thomas in distress over the loss of his beloved Alabama Crimson Tide football team, with Texas product Scottie Scheffler smiling broadly at the Longhorns’ win. If there was a quick and easy explanation for the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris, where Europe won easily, 17 1/2–10 1/2, it was that the Americans never looked comfortable on the golf course. Marco Simone had the potential to be just as unfamiliar – DP World Tour players know it from playing the Italian Open – but U.S. Captain Zach Johnson tried to rectify that over the weekend. “The common sentiments that I heard on the golf course was they really liked it, which is awesome,” Johnson told the Associated Press. “And I knew they would because Marco Simone is very, very good. The rough was very thick. That was the other nugget that we talked about a lot. “The putting greens were very good, very true, very nice,” he continued. “The fairways were awesome. It’s a great test and it’s a really, really good match play golf course. So the guys are excited about the competition.” The 44th Ryder Cup heads to Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome Team arrives in Italy as the slight favorite having won the previous Ryder Cup by a 19-9 margin at Whistling Straits in 2021 those odds have been shrinking the last two months Oddsmakers at BetMGM Sportsbook had the U.S as high as -190 to lift the trophy back in July That number is now -150 in the two-way market and -110 in three-way betting (including the tie option) Europe was as high as +200 to lift the trophy and has now come all the way down to +120 The Ryder Cup format is unique in the sense that the teams can tie 14-14 When looking at a three-way bet for Tournament Winner has slightly higher odds to win the event outright at -110 the previous winner will retain the trophy Europe remains at its +150 number in a three-way bet because they must win outright to lift the trophy Perhaps the juiciest betting number comes in the event of a 14-14 tie (+1200) The Ryder Cup has only ended in a tie two times in its 43-event history: 1969 and 1989 we’ll dive into the various secondary betting markets available let’s look at some of the more straightforward odds available at BetMGM Why have the betting markets shifted towards Europe the past two months Scottie Scheffler (+700) leads all 24 players from both sides in odds to lead scoring Scheffler started 2023 on a serious hot streak he rattled off 10 consecutive events with no finish worse than T11 That included eight events inside the top five and Scheffler has finished outside the top 20 in two of his last four tournaments Rory McIlroy (+900) is the next best favorite to be Overall Top Points Scorer His 2023 campaign has been a mirror opposite of Scheffler’s His win at the Genesis Scottish Open in July was part of a 10-event stretch to end the PGA TOUR season where he finished inside the top 10 The other was a T6 at The Open Championship Patrick Cantlay (+1100) and Xander Schauffele (+1200) represent the next best U.S They have been an iconic duo in recent team formats including a 2-0 record when paired up at their only other Ryder Cup together in 2021 Cantlay and Schauffele will be hoping the team concept elevates their play They also combined for only four top-five finishes in the last nine events of the year Schauffele and Cantlay’s interview after Round 2 at Zurich Classic Jon Rahm (+1200) will bring a lot of intrigue on how he performs Rahm was one of the lone bright spots in the drubbing Europe took in 2021 His form on the PGA TOUR was not as sharp in the last half of 2023 (zero wins) as it was in the first half (four wins) but he’s hoping a T2 performance at The Open will help light a fire in his game Perhaps the most anticipated performance will come from Viktor Hovland (+1200).His blitz to end the PGA TOUR season has many wondering if he will be the next great European Ryder Cup stalwart Hovland won the last two events on the TOUR schedule at the BMW Championship and the TOUR Championship to capture the FedExCup title Hovland still has something to prove in the Ryder Cup Many American fans are hoping Collin Morikawa (+1400) represents a new era of U.S Morikawa excelled in his Ryder Cup debut in 2021 going 3-0-1 He tied Cantlay and Rahm as the second highest overall points scorers that week The one concern for Morikawa is that he has not won on the PGA TOUR since his Ryder Cup debut as his last win came back at The Open in 2021 Matt Fitzpatrick +2500: Rickie Fowler +2800: Justin Rose Wyndham Clark +3300: Shane Lowry +4500: Sepp Straka +5000: Brian Harman Wyndham Clark (+275) and Brian Harman (+450) Recent history on the road suggests it could be difficult to pinpoint who the top rookie will be based on name recognition alone Scott Hoch took home top rookie honors in 1997 at Valderrama Jeff Overton was the top rookie (2-2) at Celtic Manor ahead of a bevy of U.S popular names like Jordan Spieth (2014) and Justin Thomas (2018) each earned top rookie honors in the last two road Ryder Cups despite losing six straight Ryder Cups on European soil points leader was a rookie in four of those six matches while a rookie never led in scoring for the Europeans in that span The European team also has four rookies: Ludvig Aberg (+160) Sepp Straka (+300) and Robert Macintyre (+400) The two most recent European victories on home soil involved a massive rookie success story Jamie Donaldson posted a 3-1 record and the second-most points on the team in 2014 en route to a 16.5-11.5 victory at Gleneagles Tommy Fleetwood posted a 4-1 record in Paris in 2018 and famously earned the nickname “Moliwood” with Francesco Molinari as the duo went 4-0 as a pairing Aberg currently leads the odds list here thanks to his strong play the past month He broke through for his first DP World Tour win at the Omega European Masters That was sandwiched between two other top-10 finishes Aberg began 2023 ranked 3,064th in the Official World Golf Rankings He’ll enter the Ryder Cup as the 80th-ranked player in the world Straka has been a winner on the PGA TOUR each of the past two seasons most recently at the 2023 John Deere Classic His T2 finish at The Open two weeks later also makes him an interesting candidate for Top European Rookie A strong argument could be made that the heart of any Ryder Cup team comes from the captain’s picks it’s hard to believe Scottie Scheffler was considered a controversial pick in 2021 He went 2-0-1 and took down Jon Rahm in the Sunday Singles Justin Thomas (+475) fits the mold of a “heart and soul” captain's pick His recent form is what made him a controversial pick with five missed cuts in his last nine events and only one top 10 from March through August A fifth-place finish at the Fortinet Championship coupled with his knack for the Ryder Cup could make him an enticing selection in this market Justin Thomas’ Round 3 highlights from the Fortinet Championship Ryder Cup regulars could also be intriguing options Jordan Spieth (+450) didn’t have the success he’s used to this season but his Ryder Cup history cannot be ignored Rickie Fowler (+450) played his way into the Ryder Cup conversation with a comeback season that included a win Fowler didn’t make the 2021 Ryder Cup team but played on four of the previous five teams His overall record of 3-7-5 mirrored the success that most of those American teams had The captain’s picks are where Team Europe often does its most damage the four captain’s picks went a combined 9-4-1 Tommy Fleetwood (+225) is the favorite and the highest-ranked pick at 23rd in the OWGR Though his results in 2023 have been scattered Fleetwood’s 4-1 performance at the 2018 Ryder Cup is still fresh on the mind He’s also shown some signs of life with six of his last eight PGA TOUR events being T3 T10 and a playoff runner-up at the RBC Canadian Open Justin Rose (+350) brings the most Ryder Cup experience of any player the European team’s bread and butter format Other odds for Top Captain’s Pick (Europe): +350: Ludvig Aberg +550: Shane Lowry +700: Nicolai Hojgaard +800: Sepp Straka Check back later this week as we’ll detail additional prop bets and secondary markets available for those looking to bet on the Ryder Cup as the first tee shot draws near 2024 10:05 UTCLara Arias made history at the 2023 Ryder Cup as she became the Ryder Cup’s first female Golf Course Superintendent when the biennial match between Europe and the United States came to Marco Simone Golf & Country Club But this feat was made even more special when you take into consideration Lara produced an immaculate Ryder Cup course all while 32 weeks pregnant PlayIconBreaking barriers as the first female in her role at the Ryder Cup was testament to Lara’s progression through the agronomy industry with the Spaniard saying it all started when she was a child this was the catalyst for Lara’s career on the golf course Lara said: “I have really good memories growing up at home in Spain “Memories with my family and outdoors with animals It’s probably the reason why I started my career as a forestry engineer I made the decision to focus my career on golf courses and it was a really good decision Lara headed across the pond to join a Global Turfgrass Training Program at The Ohio State University where she was fortunate enough to work on many golf courses including Quail Hollow “They gave me the opportunity to work on many different golf tournaments and learn more about the different types of grasses,” Lara added “It was probably one of the best experiences of my life “When I started my internship I couldn’t really speak English and maybe only understood about 20% of what was being said I finished the internship being able to speak English.” Lara’s love for the Ryder Cup stemmed a year previous when she had the opportunity to work on the golf course at Hazeltine ahead of the 2016 Ryder Cup before again joining the agronomy team at Le Golf National It was in Paris where she first worked with her partner Alejandro Reyes and once again at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in 2023 Reyes said: “2023 was a very challenging project from the beginning somebody able to build a team from scratch and somebody with experience to move forward that type of project.” Lara knew this would be an amazing year but what would transpire is truly special Lara led the agronomy team during the 2023 Ryder Cup and delivered a perfect golf course all while 32 weeks pregnant “We hosted the Italian Open and I was already pregnant but nobody knew,” Lara said “And during the Ryder Cup I was 32 weeks pregnant “It helped me get through the event to be honest At the end of the week it was one of the best professional moments of my career but I also knew I was soon to have one of the best moments in my personal life “All week I was thinking about how we are going to have a family after the Ryder Cup.” life is very different for Lara after welcoming their baby girl “From a golf course superintendent to a few months later having a baby – it’s a lot in a short time “The next challenge is to get back to work I don’t want to stop working but I also want to be part of Alejandra’s life “Many nights I am awake with Alejandra and I think that one day when she grows up we are going to talk about the Ryder Cup “We are going to share with her that she was part of the Ryder Cup because she was there “She’s going to understand what the Ryder Cup means to myself and Alejandro and why she made it so special for us both.” Lara’s story will hopefully inspire more women to get involved in golf this International Women’s Day The highly anticipated 2023 Ryder Cup is almost here with the three-day biennial competition between 12 of the best Americans against 12 of the best from Europe starting on Friday But it's never too early to start the hype train Golfers from both sides are on the course at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome on Monday for practice rounds The grandstands have been in place for a while now with the first hole in particular awaiting the raucous fanbase to arrive There's nothing like the player entrance to the first hole at a Ryder Cup Golfweek's Eamon Lynch is on-site and captured a walking tour of what that entrance will look like it'll be much crazier once fans are also in the area Peter's Dome in the background of the Marco Simone Golf Club (Photo: Alessandra Tarantino/Associated Press) Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas (AP Photo/File) A capsule look at the American team in the Ryder Cup Italy (listed in order they made the team): Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: Bryson DeChambeau Ryder Cup moment: Opening with four straight birdies to build a 4-up lead and beating Jon Rahm 1 player is the premier ball-striker in golf The attention over the last half of the year was not making putts Ryder Cup moment: Winning his first major to secure a spot on the team 204 in the world ranking the last time the Ryder Cup was played Open over Rory McIlroy and the Wells Fargo Championship over Xander Schauffele Ryder Cup moment: Never finishing higher than 17th in the Ryder Cup standings until winning the British Open and finishing third Backspin: His putting and grit always suited him for match play and he has a particular toughness about him when it comes to playing for the flag Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: Xander Schauffele Ryder Cup moment: Going unbeaten in four matches in his first Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: Tony Finau Ryder Cup moment: Seeing the size of the first tee at Marco Simone and realizing this wasn’t the Presidents Cup Backspin: Homa went 4-0 in his first team experience at the Presidents Cup and is capable of pairing with several players Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: Patrick Cantlay Ryder Cup moment: Lighting up his cigar after the U.S he has no real weakness to his game except for not winning more often Brings a no-nonsense attitude to the matches Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: Brandt Snedeker Ryder Cup moment: Tying for fourth in the 2016 PGA Championship on an injured ankle in a bid to make his first Ryder Cup team (he did) Backspin: The only player from LIV Golf at Marco Simone His record in the majors speaks for itself Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: Patrick Reed Ryder Cup moment: Nearly running into Lake Michigan after an incredible shot on the side of a steep hill at Whistling Straits Backspin: Renowned for his putting and his partnership with Justin Thomas He has never won a singles match in four Ryder Cups Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: Dustin Johnson Ryder Cup moment: Getting the Ryder Cup-clinching point at Whistling Straits in the only match he didn’t win all week (it was a halve) Backspin: His driving and iron play is getting back to his standard The two partners he’s had in team competition are not on the team Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: Scottie Scheffler Ryder Cup moment: Getting left off 2021 team in favor of best friend Scottie Scheffler Backspin: He won the Dell Match Play in March based on his putting He and Scheffler were ineffective at Presidents Cup Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: Jim Furyk Ryder Cup moment: Falling 3 down to Edoardo Molinari and then winning the last three holes for a halve at Celtic Manor in 2010 Backspin: He ended a four-year winning drought in July mainly because he has a 1-6-5 Ryder Cup record on the road and went three Ryder Cups before winning his first match Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: Rickie Fowler Ryder Cup moment: Taking down Rory McIlroy in singles in his Ryder Cup debut Backspin: He will get scrutiny for being a captain’s pick without reaching the FedEx Cup playoffs His Ryder Cup record and passion make him hard to leave off the team