Details to Relaunch Donnafugata Golf Resort in Sicily
All Square 5min read •
2 Aug
Few golf resorts in the Mediterranean generated as much excitement as Donnafugata Golf Resort when it opened in Sicily. With two championship courses, a luxury hotel and a location surrounded by the island’s history, cuisine and coastline, it seemed destined to become one of Europe’s premier golf destinations. Yet after closing in 2020, the resort disappeared from the international golf travel scene.
Now, one of Italy’s most ambitious golf redevelopment projects is bringing it back to life. Backed by major investment and new management, the former Donnafugata Golf Resort is preparing for a complete relaunch, with a vision that goes far beyond simply reopening the doors. The project aims to redefine golf in Sicily and establish the island as a genuine luxury golf destination in the Mediterranean.
A Resort That Once Put Sicily on the Golf Map
Located near Ragusa in south-eastern Sicily, Donnafugata Golf Resort first opened in 2009 and quickly became the island’s flagship golf venue. The resort featured two 18-hole championship layouts alongside five-star accommodation, wellness facilities and extensive leisure amenities. It was also home to the 2011 Sicilian Open, bringing European Tour golf to the island and introducing the resort to an international audience.
What made Donnafugata particularly unique was the fact that it offered 36 holes in a region where golf has traditionally been underrepresented. Sicily is famous for its beaches, ancient cities, volcanoes and cuisine, but golf infrastructure has historically been limited compared to destinations such as Portugal or Spain. Donnafugata became proof that the island could attract travelling golfers seeking something different from the traditional Mediterranean golf experience.
Despite its early success, the resort eventually closed in 2020, leaving one of Italy’s most prominent golf properties dormant for several years.
Two Championship Courses with Distinct Identities
The original resort was built around two very different courses. The North Course was a parkland layout designed by Gary Player Design, featuring strategic bunkering and a more traditional championship feel. The South Course, designed by Franco Piras, offered a more exposed and demanding experience, with wind playing a major role in club selection and course management.
Having two contrasting layouts was one of Donnafugata’s greatest strengths. Golfers could experience different styles of play during the same trip, adding variety that many single-course resorts cannot provide. It is this diversity that developers are hoping to preserve while modernising the property for a new generation of golfers.
Details Takes Over in Its First International Expansion
The relaunch received a major boost in 2026 when Details – Hospitality, Sports and Leisure assumed management of the resort. The move was particularly significant because Donnafugata became the company’s first golf project outside Portugal, where it already manages some of Europe’s most respected golf venues.
Details will oversee strategy, operations, marketing, sales and the complete repositioning of the resort. The company has built a strong reputation for managing high-end golf destinations, and its involvement signals that Donnafugata is aiming for the premium end of the international golf travel market rather than simply reopening as it was before.
The planned relaunch is targeted for 2027 and is expected to transform the property into a fully integrated luxury destination where golf, hospitality and lifestyle experiences are designed to work together rather than operate as separate elements.
Major Course Renovations Are at the Heart of the Project
The redevelopment is not limited to cosmetic improvements. Both championship courses are set to undergo comprehensive renovation and redesign work as part of the relaunch. Developers have emphasised long-term playability, sustainability and alignment with the standards expected from modern international golf destinations.
In addition to the golf courses themselves, the practice facilities are also expected to receive significant upgrades. The overall objective is to create a complete golfing experience capable of competing with leading European resorts.
This reflects a broader trend in golf resort development. Modern golfers increasingly expect world-class practice areas, flexible tee options, sustainable maintenance practices and layouts that remain enjoyable for players of different abilities. Donnafugata’s redevelopment appears to be embracing all of these priorities rather than focusing solely on championship difficulty.
A New Identity Emerging: Costa Ragusa Golf
One of the most intriguing developments is that the revived destination is expected to operate under a new identity: Costa Ragusa Golf. Reports indicate that the project will feature reimagined layouts inspired by the spirit of the original courses while introducing a fresh vision for the future.
The redevelopment is also set to involve two of Spain’s most recognisable golfing figures, José María Olazábal and Miguel Ángel Jiménez. Their involvement would immediately add significant prestige and international visibility to the project while helping shape a distinctive golfing identity for the next chapter of the resort.
Rather than recreating the old Donnafugata exactly as it was, the intention appears to be building something entirely new while retaining the essence that made the original resort special.
Why Sicily Could Become Europe’s Next Great Golf Destination
The relaunch of Donnafugata comes at an interesting moment for Mediterranean golf tourism. Travellers increasingly want destinations that combine championship golf with authentic cultural experiences, and Sicily offers exactly that.
The island boasts UNESCO World Heritage towns, exceptional cuisine, world-famous wine regions, stunning beaches and unique landscapes shaped by volcanic activity. Unlike some established golf regions that focus almost exclusively on golf, Sicily offers visitors a destination where the sport becomes part of a much broader travel experience.
This combination could become Donnafugata’s greatest advantage. Golfers may come for the courses, but they will also discover Baroque architecture in Ragusa, Sicilian gastronomy, local vineyards and the distinctive atmosphere that makes the island unlike anywhere else in Europe.
The Start of a New Chapter
The return of Donnafugata represents more than the reopening of a golf resort. It is a statement about Sicily’s ambitions within international golf tourism. With major investment, extensive course renovations, luxury hospitality plans and experienced management behind the project, the relaunch has the potential to reshape perceptions of golf on the island.
If the redevelopment delivers on its promise, Donnafugata’s comeback could become one of the most important stories in European golf travel over the next few years—and perhaps the beginning of Sicily’s rise as a world-class golf destination.
