BERGAMO L'ALBENZA

The green foot-hills of the Alps are a splendid setting for this course situated 12 kilometres from the charming old city of Bergamo Alta, the jewel of Lombardy for art and medieval architecture.

Set amid luxuriant vegetation of conifers and broad-leafed trees which give a pleasantly cool climate even in summer, the Golf Club L’Albenza was established thirty years ago and is one of the best competition courses demanding and at the same time set in beautiful countryside.

Originally an 18-hole course, another 9 have since been added giving a course which is difficult in parts with a number of rather small well-progected greens, heavily wooded areas and streams. Special mention should be made of the seeral par 4 holes with fairways of over 400 metres and high greens.

Course: 27 hole course: 9 holes (blue), par 36, mt.
3,079, 9 holes (yellow), par 36, mt. 3,070, 9 holes (red), par 36, mt.
2,960, S.S.S. 72
Region: Lombardy
Year of construction: 1959
Designer: Cotton & Sutton

Taken from Peugeot Golf Guide
If we consider the "blue" and "yellow" 9-hole courses to be the 18-hole championship course, the "red" course is an excellent alternative to both and adds a little more spice to a layout that is pretty hot as it is, in particular on account of the par 4s and the par 5s that are tough to reach in two. Talking of spice, variety is certainly one of the key assets of "L'Albenza", which winds its way now though the woods, now over open space, alternating short and long holes, or target golf and the more British bump and run approach. YOu often have to work the ball one way or the other or an easier shot at the greens, and club choice requires careul thinking. This is a very "educational" course, judging by the career and very complete game of Costantino Rocca, who started off here as a caddie before becoming one of the world's best golfers. A colourful figure, Rocca could easily have figured in the "Commedia dell'Arte" which, as it happens, was founded in Bergamo.