Sitting on the elevated veranda overlooking the 18th green, I couldn’t help but think ‘life doesn’t get much better than this.’

OK, so I hadn’t played as well as I wanted but you rarely do. But hey, it wasn’t too bad - some good shots, some averages ones and the less said about the occasional three-putting the better!

My playing partners were good company and the sun was high in the sky above us. As I say, ‘life was good.’

I like to think I am a ‘glass half-full’ type of guy but there would be something seriously wrong with your outlook on life if you could not be impressed here.

We were at the five-star Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa in the sun drenched Sicilian countryside, just minutes away from the city of Ragusa and the sea.

The result of the restoration and conversion of an ancient country residence, Donnafugata has conserved many of the features of the area’s traditional rural residences.

From a distance, it resembles a small village, comprised of a cluster of brightly coloured houses. Once you pass the front gates, though, you are transported into unquestionably one of southern Sicily’s most exclusive properties.

If few Sicilian hotels can claim to have an 18-hole golf course, even fewer can boast having two.

The Championship Parkland hosted this year’s Sicilian Open won by France’s Raphael Jacquelin. The course was designed by Gary Player, designer of more than 200 courses worldwide and he is understandably delighted with the outcome.

He said: "Not only am I excited about this beautiful golf course, I am also pleased to see the renewed enthusiasm about the game in general in Italy. The Molinari brothers and young Matteo Manassero have brought tremendous exposure to the sport and have laid a foundation for the future."

The Gary Player Design team went to great lengths to protect and even incorporate the surrounding environment. Groves of olive trees were spared and ancient rock walls once separating family property boundaries were preserved and rebuilt as features of the course.

There is even an archaeological site adjacent to the 6th hole, where it is possible to visit a Greek necropolis from sixth century BC.

Player added: "I love history and you really feel the heritage of this remarkable part of Italy as you play. We have achieved something that doesn’t often happen – there is not a marginal hole on the course – all 18 holes are very playable and natural."

The Links course is also a par-72 and of similar length and was designed by Italian Franco Piras.

Unlike its sister course, the Links is situated within two large valleys, each with a lake. Between two nature reserves and with great views of the sea, this is a cool place to play golf.

The NH Hotel Group have done a impressive job of creating state-of-the-art facilities around the Baroque-style Donnafugata Castle. Rooms, restaurants and the spa offer everything you would expect in a modern resort.

With more than 200 elegantly styled rooms, Donnafugata is without doubt one of Europe’s outstanding golf resorts.

For more details, go to www.donnafugatagolfresort.com