Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Simplicity Makes the Human Heart Happy

Croara Country Club Italy


  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. 
                                          A church with a steeple in the distance.



                                          Yes I said a prayer, it got me a par here.



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. 


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.

http://www.golfcroara.it/


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