The transformation of the Marco Simone Golf Club in Guidonia Montecelio, Rome – host venue to The 2022 Ryder Cup – is underway with architects, engineers and agronomists starting work on the first phase of the project which will see the construction of a state of the art, purpose-built venue for Europe’s next home Ryder Cup match.

Led by European Golf Design and co-design with Tom Fazio II (son of the original architect of the Marco Simone Golf Club, Jim Fazio), the Roman site, controlled by the Biagiotti family, will undergo a complete overhaul with an entirely new golf course being built to stage golf’s greatest team event in four years’ time.

The vast infrastructural demands of the modern-day Ryder Cup will also see new roads, lakes, cart paths and irrigation systems incorporated into the redesign of the Marco Simone Golf Club to ensure the venue can accommodate the huge grandstands and hospitality structures required to accommodate the huge crowds in attendance at The 2022 Ryder Cup.

Marco Simone is an ambitious project created in the late 1980s by the fashion designer and entrepreneur Laura Biagiotti with the aim to transform 150 hectars of the Roman country in 27 spectacular golf holes surrounding Marco Simone castle with its antique tower of the year 1000. The Golf Club is located at 10.5 miles from the heart of Rome and offers numerous views of St. Peter’s dome. Marco Simone hosted the Italian open in 1994.

The entire project will be divided into four phases, with the golf course scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2020. The 2021 Italian Open will then be staged at Marco Simone before the Ryder Cup takes centre stage in September 2022. The four phases of the project will allow the members and visitors to play on a course of 18 holes during all the works and enjoy the change of Marco Simone Golf into an iconic Ryder Cup course.

Giovanni Malagò, President of CONI, stated: “The beginning of the works at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club is a confirmation of the strength and credibility of a project that is the pride of all the Italian sport movement. The Ryder Cup represents golf, i.e. history, tradition and charm and I am grateful to all those committed with their skills in this road to excellency.

“My special thanks goes to the Italian Golf Federation, headed by President Chimenti, Ryder Cup Managing Director Montali, the Biagiotti family and all those involved in this great adventure. I am sure it will be a great success for all the golf movement and for Italy, as well as a great reward for all stakeholders.”

Franco Chimenti, President of the Italian Golf Federation, stated: "After the beginning of the works to restructure Marco Simone - as agreed with the Board of Ryder Cup Europe – and after signing the agreement with Terna for removing the pylons present on the course, I am happy to announce that the Ryder Cup 2022 Project is finally taking shape. I wish to personally thank the President of Coni, Giovanni Malagò for his great support and Lavinia Biagiotti, President of Marco Simone, for her enthusiasm. They are the seal of an amazing operation for Italy and for Italian sport.

“Rome is getting ready to take over from Paris that will host Ryder Cup 2018 in which our Francesco Molinari will be a strength for the European team that will be facing the USA team in this unique event. I am very glad to highlight that the choice of such a renowned person as Gian Paolo Montali as Managing Director is the real strength of our team fully committed for the success of this great event. Italian golf has a great future ahead and the global success of our young players is a confirmation of all our hopes.”

Lavinia Biagiotti Cigna, President of Marco Simone Golf & Country Club said: “We are truly honored and fully committed to host an “epic” Ryder Cup. We are excited to share our passion and to open our doors to every player, amateur and fan who wishes to be part of the spectacular transformation that is taking place and we are working to build a strong legacy for the next generation of golfers. I thank my mother Laura and my father Gianni who had the vision to create Marco Simone. Thanks to another extraordinary visionnaire, Franco Chimenti and to the whole Italian Golf Federation starting with the Ryder Cup Project Director Gian Paolo Montali; thanks to CONI and its President Giovanni Malagò. Our heartfelt thank you goes to Keith Pelley and to the European Tour. Thanks to the anational and local institutions the partners, the members and all the contributors who are turning the “green dream” into The 2022 Ryder Cup which represents a unique opportunity for Rome and Italy.”

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “Ryder Cup Europe is naturally delighted to see work getting underway at Marco Simone and we applaud the tireless efforts of Lavinia Biagiotti and her late mother Laura, the Italian Golf Federation, through President Franco Chimenti, and Ryder Cup Managing Director Gian Paolo Montali – all of whom have been instrumental in getting this vast project underway. We are confident that the Marco Simone Golf Club will be an outstanding host venue for Italy’s first Ryder Cup. I would also like to thank Giovanni Malagò as President of CONI for their support from the outset of Italy’s Ryder Cup journey. In a year when Francesco Molinari became the first Italian golfer to win a Major Championship, Italy’s Ryder Cup dream is now becoming a reality”.