Simple things make the human
heart happy. Simply perfect is the hospitality and professionalism of Andrea
Ruggeri who is the professional pro at Croara Country Club. The masculine name
Andrea spoken in Italian sounds very different than the spoken feminine name Andrea
in English. The “R” is rolled and the “E” sounds silent in the English
language.
The simple email response and invitation to Croara Country Club was greatly appreciated. Andrea professionally promptly replied to my golfing request via
email. Considering I've emailed a few golf courses in 3 countries so far in Europe and received little or no response, the simple reply email was very nice. I think the human touch and tradition in Europe is to mainly speak via face to face as the places I've emailed and visited have been very friendly. Andrea even speaks fluent English,
the email was not a google translate.
Andrea Ruggeri Golf Pro at Golf Country Club
The Croara Country Club
nestles along side of the Fiume Tribbia River. Around the course and river
there are newer homes built. The club was once home to a working village and today
that little village is now apartments or “summer villa’s.”
Fiume Tribbia River
Notice the beautiful manicured landscape.
In the distance an exquisite iron gate.
Horse stables are now functioning summer villas.
The practice range with a short game area and separate putting area is nicely set up for members to converse and practice. The holes on
the course are lined with disingenuous trees, some evergreens. I would have loved to seen the fall colors there. Some fairways have more tucked and
lined in trees than others to make for an interesting and challenging game. If you come from golfing in Fescue grass you will be right at home as the fescue here is not as thick at US fescue but still long enough to make your club tangle itself in the long grass.
Lovely Challenge.
Golf Pro Andrea Ruggeria takes great care and pride in helping his members to enjoy the game of golf. He plans and holds many golf tournaments for his members not only at the Croara Country Club but also in
other countries as well. The week I was there, Andrea was taking them to Rome for a tournament he organized. Dubia
and South Africa are also places Andrea organizes tournaments for his members.
That is one great Golf Pro for his members, right!
A simple Italian traditional tasty soup was available in the restaurant which I ordered. It was made up of ravioli looking pasta noodles that were in the shape of Reece's peanut butter cups. (Yes, I'm missing home.) They had cheese and some type of bits of veal, I think? The broth was onion based and served with crusty bread for olive oil and balsamic vinegar dipping. It’s interesting how Europe loves to dip bread in oil and balsamic. This is one tradition I will keep from Europe. Their balsamic is sweeter than I've had in the US. I'd buy a more expensive Italian Balsamic if you wish to try.
http://www.golfcroara.it/
A simple Italian traditional tasty soup was available in the restaurant which I ordered. It was made up of ravioli looking pasta noodles that were in the shape of Reece's peanut butter cups. (Yes, I'm missing home.) They had cheese and some type of bits of veal, I think? The broth was onion based and served with crusty bread for olive oil and balsamic vinegar dipping. It’s interesting how Europe loves to dip bread in oil and balsamic. This is one tradition I will keep from Europe. Their balsamic is sweeter than I've had in the US. I'd buy a more expensive Italian Balsamic if you wish to try.
Croara Country Club was one
of my favorite places to golf and visit while we were in Italy that week in October. If
you decide to fly into Milan and golf, make sure you email Andrea and ask him
for any tips to golf, he knows his country's golf courses like his own golf
course.
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