The new course was designed by an englishman and an irishman, Cecil Blandford and Peter Gannon. They used the natural contours of the Chianti slopes to produce an outstanding course, threaded through the indigenous vines, olive trees, maritime pines and broom. The course is not long, but demands a high degree of skill. The greens are small and well defended by bunkers. The sloping fairways also present a great challenge. To play Ugolino is not just to indulge in a game of golf, it is to wander through a landscape of great natural beauty, surrounded by olive and other fruit trees. It is an unforgettable and uplifting experience. In his book “fifty places to play golf before you die”, the writer Chris Santella includes Ugolino as one of the fifty.
The clubhouse of Ugolino is an example of the futuristic or art deco school of architecture. Prevalent in the 1930s. the architect was Ghirardo Bosio, a noted city planner of the fascist period. It is a listed building, protected by the Florentine institute responsible for cultural heritage. The building sits strategically on top of a hillock surrounded by meadowland, studded with cypresses and pines. All 18 holes are laid out in a circle around the clubhouse. The building itself is a three-storey construction. The ground floor, classically, has the secretarial offices, locker rooms and pro-shop. The first floor is dedicated to a spacious bar, a restaurant and lounge. All round this floor is a huge terrace giving marvellous panoramic views of the hilly countryside. The second floor has a card room, a billiard room and a terrace which overlooks the eighteenth green.
The swimming pool is also an example of the futurist style and it too, falls under the supervision of the cultural heritage authorities. It is situated in a lovely wooded spot, not far from the clubhouse.