Acaya at Acaya Golf Club

Acaya Golf Club occupies a distinctive position in southern Italy's Puglia region, near the historic town of Lecce in the Salento peninsula. The course was designed by the American team of Jack Kidwell, Dr. Michael Hurdzan, and Dana Fry, who brought their collaborative expertise to this Mediterranean landscape. The design reflects their characteristic attention to strategic variety and environmental integration, adapted here to the flat to gently rolling terrain typical of the Puglian countryside.

The routing takes advantage of the area's natural features, including native vegetation, olive groves, and water elements that provide both aesthetic interest and strategic challenge. The relatively open landscape allows for wind to be a significant factor in play, particularly given the proximity to the Adriatic coast. The design incorporates multiple teeing grounds to accommodate different skill levels while maintaining strategic interest throughout the round.

The course serves as one of the few championship-standard facilities in Italy's heel region, contributing to golf development in an area better known for its baroque architecture, coastal scenery, and agricultural traditions. The club provides a modern golf experience within a region where the game has less historical presence than in northern Italy, offering both local players and visiting golfers a well-conditioned layout that balances challenge with playability in the warm Mediterranean climate.