If it’s a healthy and happy lifestyle you want away from the madding crowd, with copious amounts of sun, sea, golf and… err, oranges, then look no further than the Mediterranean – and the gorgeous resort of Riva dei Tessali on the Ionian coast of Puglia region.

An hour’s drive from the airports of Bari (to the north) or Brindisi (to the east), Riva dei Tessali truly is a rustic haven set among acres of Aleppo pines which give it, at times, an almost eerie feel of solitude and seclusion. It’s just you, nature, a set of golf clubs, and those oranges.

The little (or not so little) round, coloured, vitamin-packed goodies await the golfer on virtually every tee box – but not just at Riva dei Tessali, but also at its sister golf club at Metaponto 20 minutes’ drive down the road, whose course just happens to cut through a teeming orange grove among other things.

Riva dei Tessali itself is a phenomenal course and provides a tough test for the most accomplished of golfers.

The wiry pines which line many of the holes on the majestic par 71 parkland course are pretty imposing and considerably tighten the fairways, with anything off line among the pines meaning big trouble.

The feature hole is arguably the long par five 16th which, looking back from green to tee, gives a wonderful view of the rollercoaster fairway and the skinny pines, while the 18th is a great finishing hole in front of the whitewashed walls of the clubhouse with a delicate short-iron approach needed across a lily-covered pond.

The Riva dei Tessali Hotel & Golf Resort is under the forward-thinking ownership of Angelo Zella and Paola Giovinazzi. Its high-quality hotel offers the kind of style and comfort you would expect from a four-star establishment, complete with al fresco balcony-style dining area and a relaxed, stone-clad patio perfect for wiling away those balmy summer evenings after dinner with glass of wine in hand.

Away from the hotel, and arguably the coup de grace of the accommodation at Riva, are a series of rustic apartments which overlook the championship course. Complete with kitchen, living room, bathroom, shower room and two bedrooms, the apartments are perfect for smaller groups enjoying a trip to Puglia.

Metaponto, which is reached by driving 20 minutes, is a fairer track but still has teeth and will cause problems if errant tee shots find their way among the oranges. Just goes to show that fruit isn’t always good for you.

While never claiming to be in the same league as Riva dei Tessali in golfing terms, the real

feature of Metaponto, which opened six years ago and is laid out on the site of an 80-hectare farm, is undoubtedly its majestic whitewashed clubhouse and its stunning accommodation.

As Riva dei Tessali and Metaponto are linked by the same owners, visitors and guests have access to both courses when they stay in this charming and historic part of the world also known as the Magna Grecia, so called because of the quality of life and the beauty of its cities such as Heraclea, Metaponto itself and Taranto, which was founded by the Spartans and rivalled the great Greek cities for prestige before being conquered by the Romans.

Resort guests also have unlimited access to a stunning private beach of golden sand which stretches as far as the eye can see and edges the warm and welcoming waters of the Ionian Sea.

Surely a little piece of Heaven on earth, and no better place to eat those oranges.

Tour Operator

Barwell Leisure has signed a deal with the resort to provide the best available package holidays from the UK. A three-night package at Riva dei Tessali is available for £289 per person or seven nights is £589 per person. Packages are based on two people sharing a twin or double room on a bed and breakfast basis and includes transfers to and from Brindisi or Bari airport, unlimited golf at Riva dei Tessali and Metaponto golf courses, golf trolley hire, range balls, and one massage per person at Riva dei Tessali.

www.barwell.co.uk