Golfing Gift Leads to Trip of a Lifetime

When Jayne Jukes walked into her local american golf store to buy her brother-in-law a golf shirt for a present, she couldn't have dreamed that it would give so much happiness to two lifelong golfing partners.

Jukes' purchase led to her winning a dream five-star golf holiday to the Donnafugata Golf Resort and Spa, in Sicily, a prize she subsequently donated to her brother-in-law, John Kenney, and his golfing partner, Geoff Bush.

Kenney, 65, from Loscoe, near Heanor, Derbyshire, and Bush, 57, are both members of Beeston Fields Golf Club, in Nottinghamshire, and are regular partners in club competitions as well as having known each other for 25 years after both worked for the Cooperative movement. The pair jetted off to the Sicilian sunshine in May for a memorable four-night golf break.

Kenney said: "Donnafugata is a lovely resort and the hotel is very high quality. The accommodation is very nice, the service first class and everyone was extremely friendly.

"Everybody went out of their way to make us feel very, very welcome and they couldn't have done any more for us. I had no idea what to expect before we went out there and certainly didn't expect it to be as good as it was.

"I have been to Spain and Mallorca on golfing trips but never thought about Italy or Sicily before. However, the resort has two championship golf courses and they are both absolutely superb.

"Being given the trip by my sister-in-law was a real bonus. She had gone to the american golf store in Nottingham to buy my present. She bought a shirt and was then persuaded to enter the competition and ended up winning.

"She knew I played golf so suggested I went in their place and took Geoff along with me. You could say I got two presents for the price of one!"

Donnafugata is located 90 minutes' drive from Catania airport and the resort offers the perfect recipe for those seeking a relaxing holiday in five-star surroundings on the largest island in the Mediterranean.

Named ‘Best Golf Resort in Italy in 2012' by Condé Nast Traveller magazine, Donnafugata boasts two 18-hole championship golf courses - the Links Course and the Gary Player-designed Parkland Course - with the latter being used to stage the 2011 Sicilian Open.

The luxurious resort lies near to the historic town of Ragusa, the cradle of Sicilian Baroque architecture, with its neighbouring towns listed among the pearls of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Modica, Scicli and Noto.

As well as two championship golf courses, Donnafugata offers a spa and wellness centre, swimming-pools and three restaurants and is the ideal destination for a holiday focused on sport and relaxation in a truly exclusive setting.

For further information, or to book a stay please call 0039 0932 914 200 or visit www.donnafugatagolfresort.com