A Conversation with César Burguière, Director of Golf at Antognolla
César Burguière’s list of accomplishments is a long one. One does not need to look at his resume to understand his contribution to golf, but rather simply play the course at Antognolla and see it in reality. César joined Antognolla as Director of Golf in November 2017. At that time, the golf course — a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design which opened for play in 1997 — was in very poor condition and needed serious investment to place it at the level that such a historic backdrop in the shape of Antognolla castle deserves.
Under César’s supervision and with the support of the owner, Antognolla underwent extensive reforms, earning it the WGA title of ‘Italy’s Best Golf Course’ twice and putting Umbria on the global golf map.
Antognolla is not the first golf course that César developed, but it is the one he crafted and continues to upgrade after gaining a lifetime of experience in the industry. In Antognolla, he saw unique potential, and with the hard work of his team, and the ambitious vision of the owner, he is developing one of the best golf projects in Europe.
César’s Experience in the Golf Industry
César started working as a golf professional with teaching during his university years in Valencia before getting into golf retail. Once he graduated, he began working for a golf shop, Golf USA. Seeking to develop the brand, the owner made César responsible for all operations and together they opened five shops in the course of three years.
Following this, César completed a postgraduate program at Les Roches Marbella International School of Hotel Management, ranked within the top 4 in the world for hospitality and leisure studies.
His first position after that was at Troon Golf, the first luxury operating management company for golf courses. At the time, Troon was working in Morocco with the Doha group, and required a French speaking retail manager to assist with one of their properties. With his experience working in golf retail, he qualified for the role and subsequently spent just over a year in North Africa before relocating to Troon’s international office in Geneva as Office Manager.
He went to Morocco because of Vision 2020, and as a French speaker, was able to assist with the project that the company envisioned there. Alongside working in Morocco and Geneva, he has also consulted on the development of golf facilities in France and Spain, and developed and managed budgets, business plans, and retail agreements for courses all over Europe. In 2011, he became Golf Operations Manager at Costa Navarino in Greece before moving to Director of Golf at Lumine Golf and Beach Club, a 45-hole course designed by Greg Norman in Spain.
If his experience wasn’t enough, César’s charm and fluency in four languages (French, Spanish, English, Italian) is a bonus when it comes to Antognolla’s international partnerships. With his ideas, extensive network, and work ethic, he has achieved remarkable growth for the course and has established relationships with renowned personalities in sport, fashion, and culture, in Italy and abroad.
César remains in constant motion, as he is fully engrossed in the daily hands-on running of the golf course. Fortunately, we managed to capture a glimpse into his day-to-day life.
Q: You’ve worked for golf clubs all over Europe. How did you decide to relocate to Italy?
A: I was approached by Antognolla in 2017, and I saw the enormous potential an opportunity like this could have. I thought it would be a wise move to relocate to Italy, especially since I knew that the Ryder Cup would be taking place in Rome.
My job has given me the opportunity to live in different countries, experience incredible cultures, and meet amazing people. This is something I love about my work. In Italy, I not only get to restructure a golf course, but to be part of the exciting development of the country’s golf industry before, during, and after the Ryder Cup.
Q: What is a day in the life of César Burguière?
A: My role is an incredibly active one. In the morning, I usually go on the course and review all the maintenance work that is being done. I have a chat with the superintendent who briefs me on the programme of the day. After that, I go into the office to answer emails, get up to speed with bookings, and deal with the administrative side of things. Then comes the fun part — training the golf staff so that our service standards are continuously raised. The staff is taking on more and more responsibilities and we are really evolving as a business. In the past, we had very few rounds, no booking centre and no computerised systems. But now we’re implementing changes to upgrade the golfer experience at Antognolla.
The second part of the day is dedicated to the management of the restaurant La Boiola, which is part of the golf complex. Developing a restaurant in Italy, where the cuisine is internationally recognised, has been very exciting — and delicious! We created a concept in accordance with the golf strategy. During the day, I always try to make time to have an aperitivo and a chat with our guest golfers and golf club members.
Q: What is it like living in Umbria?
A: It’s wonderful. Umbria is not at all polluted, the environment is pure and the air is fresh. It’s beautiful, and wherever you go the gastronomy is highly satisfying and the people are extremely nice. I very much enjoy living here and working here. I don’t think there is an office in the world with a view like Antognolla’s. I get to answer my emails amidst tranquil natural scenery and a medieval castle that makes one think about eternity. Coming to Antognolla will raise anyone’s level of gratitude and feeling of presence with themselves.
Q: What has it been like to develop Antognolla Golf?
A: The golf course has seen immense improvement since November 2017 when I joined. We hired new associates and created our core team. I think it is fair to say the team and I have invested sweat and tears into the project, and we are working exceptionally hard to provide a service
that is above any standard in Italy. We are very much aware that there is still room for improvement and while it is true that we’re not yet finished with the infrastructure or facilities, we always remain focused on maintaining a high level of service, since we understand that this is fundamental for ensuring repeat business.
We are also working towards hosting highly acclaimed international golf events. Antognolla is already becoming the place to be, and that’s a major achievement considering that Umbria, or Italy even, has not traditionally been considered a golf destination.
Q: Can you tell us about the work at the Golf Clubhouse that is currently underway at Antognolla?
A: The clubhouse has been designed to be very efficient operationally, and fully integrated within this incredible landscape. At other facilities, it is quite usual to see reduced operational efficiency in the clubhouse, as there is no golf expertise involved during the design stages. We had the chance to come in early during Antognolla’s development so we were able to provide important input on the overall design of the golf facilities.
The clubhouse will be a contemporary and welcoming club, providing a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere where guests and members can enjoy their time with friends, family, and business colleagues. The clubhouse’s elegant golf restaurant will offer an exceptional dining experience with a warm ambience and attentive hospitality to complement the course.
Q: What sorts of brands will guests be able to find at the Antognolla Golf Shop?
A: We are already collaborating with some of the top brands in the golf apparel and lifestyle industries. We’re looking at potentially having some distinct apparel from the region, mainly from globally recognised local luxury cashmere brands in order to provide guests with an authentic and unique shopping experience.
Q: How do you envision the future of golf in Italy?
A: I’d say that the transformation of Italy as a golf destination is already underway. The golf infrastructure is increasing and will be a key driver of growth for golf tourism. Antognolla is currently leading the way with its unique offering. The Ryder Cup is the third most important sporting event after the World Cup and the Olympic Games — and for only the third time in history, the European leg will be leaving the British Isles to take place in Italy, paving the way for the creation of an Italian golf legacy. I think international golfers should consider Italy as their next golfing destination, as it is truly a hidden gem for golf, and in addition to that, guests will enjoy gastronomy, culture, and incredible beauty.
Antognolla Golf is considered one of the most spectacular and challenging golf courses in Italy. It’s maintained to a 5* level with stunning views of Antognolla luxury resort and residences.
Antognolla Golf was recognised as 'Italy's Best Golf Course' by the prestigious World Golf Awards in October 2020, November 2022, and again in November 2024.