Verdura Resort launches inaugural Sir Rocco Forte Captain’s Trophy with Colin Montgomerie

Verdura Resort in Sicily staged the first Sir Rocco Forte Captain’s Trophy in September, pairing 36 holes of amateur competition with dining, wellness and cultural programming. Colin Montgomerie headlined the four-day event, which Rocco Forte Hotels and Raro Discovery say will become a fixture on Verdura’s golf calendar.

Why it matters: - Verdura Resort is adding a new golf event that mixes competition with hospitality, Sicilian culture and guest programming. - The inaugural tournament also gives Rocco Forte Hotels a new branded event to anchor Verdura’s golfing calendar. - The event widens Verdura’s appeal beyond golf by tying in food, wellness and travel experiences.

What happened: - Verdura Resort in Sicily hosted the first Sir Rocco Forte Captain’s Trophy in September. - Raro Discovery, a Milan-based travel agency and tour operator, organized the four-day event with the resort. - Colin Montgomerie headlined the debut, joining amateur golfers and guests at the resort. - The tournament used Verdura’s East Links and West Shore 18-hole championship courses. - The event opened with a sunset aperitivo and welcome dinner at Amare Restaurant. - The first round was played on the East Links course. - The second round was played on the West Shore course. - The event ended with a prize ceremony and gala dinner at Zagara.

The details: - The competition was a 36-hole Stableford format open to amateur golfers registered with their federations. - The event featured three handicap categories and awards for net and gross results across individual and club leaderboards. - Team Verdura Golf Club won the team title. - Massimo Calcara won the First Net Category. - Andres Jimenez Villa won the Second Net Category. - Rudy Botta won the Scratch Net title. - Montgomerie gave a driving range exhibition and talked through his technique and approach. - Montgomerie also took part in an evening interview covering his career. - The Scottish golfer has 31 European Tour titles and eight Ryder Cup appearances. - Companions joined cooking classes led by Fulvio Pierangelini, Creative Director of Food for Rocco Forte Hotels. - The culinary sessions focused on Sicilian heritage and seasonal produce. - Donato Di Ponziano, Golf Development Supervisor for Rocco Forte Hotels, directed the tournament. - Verdura Resort sits on Sicily’s southern coastline. - The resort is listed among the World’s Top 100 Golf Resorts 2026. - Verdura Resort was named Europe’s Best Golf Resort at the 2025 World Golf Awards. - Guests had access to the resort’s practice areas, private coastline, 4,000m² Irene Forte Spa and Sicilian-inspired dining experiences. - Raro Discovery unveiled 50 blockchain-certified NFTs for event participants. - The digital artwork splits Montgomerie’s swing into 50 frames, with each NFT representing one fragment of the motion. - Participants can claim the NFTs through the Raro Travel Atelier. - Raro Discovery said the NFT collection is the first in a new project exploring how digital collectibles can extend guest relationships.

Between the lines: - The event shows how luxury golf resorts are packaging tournaments as broader lifestyle experiences. - Montgomerie’s presence adds credibility and star power, which helps a new event establish itself quickly. - The NFT giveaway suggests hospitality brands are testing digital perks as a guest-loyalty tool. - Sir Rocco Forte framed the concept as a celebration of camaraderie, competition and setting.

What's next: - Rocco Forte Hotels said the Captain’s Trophy is now set to become a recurring part of Verdura Resort’s golf calendar. - Guests can contact Verdura Resort or event organizers for more information about future editions. - Raro Discovery’s NFT project appears likely to continue as a separate hospitality and digital-collectibles initiative.

The bottom line: - Verdura Resort is turning a golf tournament into a signature brand event that blends sport, luxury travel and local culture.