Behind the history of Circolo Golf Torino

This week sees the DS Automobiles 83° Open d'Italia return to Circolo Golf Torino for the fourth time in the tournament's history.

First played in 1925, Italy's national open was previously staged at the club in 1999, 2013 and 2014.

In 1999, Scotland's Dean Robertson claimed his sole DP World Tour title, while France's Julien Quesne and South Africa's Hennie Otto earned their second and third wins respectively.

Located around 20 kilometers north of Turin, the venue is where DP World Tour winners Francesco and Edoardo Molinari spent much of their youth honing their games.

Established in 1920 by 11 golf enthusiasts following World War I, the club was formally affiliated with the Italian Golf Federation four years later.

It was first located near San Maurizio in the middle of a moorland also used for military exercises.

It moved to the Mirafiori Trotter course in 1927, nine holes being shared with horse racing, before it moved to its current location, the La Mandria Park, in 1956 when the Blue Course was constructed by British golf architect John Stenton Fleming Morrison.

It later underwent a redesign by Canadian Graham Cooke before the Open d'Italia in 1999.

This year, the tournament - an ever-present on the DP World Tour schedule since its inception in 1972 - is celebrating its 101st anniversary as the 83rd edition takes place.

There are 22 players – including defending champion Adrien Saddier - who were in the field when Italy's national open was last at Circolo Golf Torino 12 years ago.

Since then, new tee boxes have been put in place at the second and third, while the 514-yard 12th will play as a par four instead of a par five as it previously played 17 yards longer.

In 2014, the 12th played as the 17th easiest hole on the course as seven eagles and 193 birdies were made across the week.

By comparison, the par-three 16th - which this year has been lengthened by seven yards - was the hardest as it saw 11 or more double bogeys made over the four days of competition.

Narrow off the tee on several holes, a premium is placed on accuracy rather than distance.

Speaking in the lead-up to this week's event, Edoardo Molinari said of this week's host venue: "It’s a very fair golf course.

"There’s a few doglegs but you don’t have to shape the ball either way if you don’t want to.

"If you play well, you can score really well. If you’re not playing well it is going to be quite hard because there are a lot of trees.

"The greens are big but if they hide the pins it is difficult to hit it close.

"All in all, it is a test that I think the players will enjoy a lot."

In part due to the success of the Molinari brothers, the Circolo Golf Torino is the most successful club in Italy with a mix of trophies from international and national competitions.

Part of the club's roll of honour include the hometown heroes' victory together at the 2009 World Cup.

A year later, the pair made history as the first brothers to compete together in a Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in Wales.

Francesco, who won the The Open Championship in 2018, is a two-time winner of his home open and this year is bidding to win the title in a third difference decade having previously hoisted the trophy in 2006 and 2016.

Both the Molinaris are among 22 players who were in the field when the event was last played at Circolo Golf Torino in 2014 and will again tee it up.

Boosted by their intimate knowledge of the layout, they headline a group of 19 Italians in the field that features DP World Tour winners Guido Migliozzi, Matteo Manassero and Renato Paratore.