I Girasoli Golf Club
Address
I Girasoli Golf Club
Via Pralormo 315
Carmagnola
Torino (Piedmont)
Italy
Name of contact for environmental and social issues:
Prof. Luciano Roccia, President
Phone +39011 979 5088 and +39335 536 5841 
Fax +39011 979 5228
Email click here
Website www.girasoligolf.it
Course description
- 18 holes par 71 (5900 m.)
- 9 holes pitch and putt par 27 (800m.)
- Like an English links course, all local grasses and vegetation.
- Started operation: 1991
Special features/accolades
- Two swimming pools
- Farm hotel (14 rooms)
- Farm restaurant with biological vegetable garden
- Three pros (golf academy)
- Proshop, dogs accepted, medical assistance
- Lodging with 18-hole, American-style La Margherita Golf Club
Key achievements in environment/social activities
The “I Girasoli” Golf Club, located just outside Torino in the Piemonte region of Italy was one of the first in Europe designed with completely “natural” fairways and roughs. This natural setting represents approximately 99% of its total surface area.
“I Girasoli” is the creation of Professor Luciano Roccia, whose family farmed this land for generations. Roccia, known to club members and vistors as Luciano and to his staff as the “Professore”, transformed the lush rolling countryside into a challenging 18 hole jewel. Upon arrival first-time guests to the “agriturismo” hotel and golf club are treated to a personal tour of the course.
Professor Roccia has focused his medical training to make “I Girasoli” a healthy and sustainable environment. The turf is composed completely of local grasses of the Piemonte. They respond perfectly to the relatively mild climate, are disease-resistant, and do not need large quantities of water nor special treatments. The greenskeepers of “I Girasoli” do not use any chemicals such as weed-killers or any phyto-therapeutic materials.
The name "Girasoli" (sunflowers) was not chosen by accident. The course has been baptized “I Girasoli” because of the massive presence of tarassaco, a well-known grassy essence, commonly known as natural chicory. Chicory is excellent to eat, good tasting and has healthy therapeutic properties. It blooms with a small yellow flower, similar to the sunflower, that lights up the roughs in the spring. Luciano reminds us with a wink that it is better to keep our yellow balls in the bag when the tarassaco is in bloom!
Thanks to the absence of pesticides, before going back home in the evening “I Girasoli” players are often seen picking the plants to add gusto to their dinner salads. The only surfaces which requires any treatment are the greens (1% of the total surface area of the course) onto which are applied anti-germinative hormonal substances (not weed killers) in low, almost homeopathic doses. This to allows the greens to be consistent enough to allow the ball to roll easier.
Philosophy
“I Girasoli” is open every day of the year. In winter as some seasonal grasses do not vegetate and naturally whither, the course is not quite as green as in the other seasons. What a small price to pay for those who respect Nature, the true architect of this innovative course.
Luciano Roccia
President