About
Cecil Blandford designed one of Italy’s most celebrated courses, Circolo Golf dell’Ugolino near Florence, a course that is consistently ranked among the country’s most beautiful and is featured in the book 'Fifty Places to Play Golf Before You Die.'
Cecil Blandford was an English golf course architect best known for his influential role in Italian golf history through his design of the renowned Circolo Golf dell’Ugolino near Florence. In 1933, Blandford, alongside Irishman Peter Gannon, crafted the 18-hole course at Ugolino, skillfully utilizing the rolling Chianti hills and incorporating the region’s vineyards and olive groves to create a layout both technically challenging and visually striking. The course is celebrated for its small, well-defended greens and sloping fairways, which demand accuracy and strategy from golfers of all levels. The enduring appeal and beauty of Ugolino have secured its status as one of Italy’s most important and picturesque golf destinations, earning mention in publications such as 'Fifty Places to Play Golf Before You Die.' Blandford’s work at Ugolino contributed significantly to the growth of golf in Italy and is recognized as a major part of the sport’s heritage in Tuscany.
