Ragnheiður Jónsdóttir | February. 14. 2012 | 16:00

Introducing: Golf Pro Maurizio Veloccia from Italy

Maurizio Veloccia is an Italian Golf Pro and pilot from Rome, Italy  who won a prize at the Cádiz Cup at Arcos Gardens, in Andalucia, Spain on May 5th 2011.

Maurizio Veloccia receiving a prize at the Cadiz Cup at Arcos Gardens in Andalucia, Spain, May 5th 2011. Photo: Golf1.

Name: Maurizio Veloccia.

Where and when were you born?  I was born in Rome on Valentinesday, 14th of February 1968.

What is your family status?  I have a girlfriend, I´ve never been married and have no children.

When did you start playing golf? In 1996, 16 years ago.

Why did you start playing golf? Caso (Italian.: coincidence). I met a friend holding this strange thing (a golfbag) and I started playing out of curiosity.

What´s your occupation: I´m a pilot and a qualified golf instructor. I teach golf in Rome, Italy.

How´s the salary of a golf instructors in Italy? It´s OK up to €9.000 per month.

What golfteacher do you most admire? Hank Haney.

Which one do you like more parkland courses og links style courses? Parkland courses.

How many golfcourses are in Italy?  Approximately 250.

Which one is/are your favorite course(s) in Italy?  Olgiata GC, in the Northern Part of Rome  and Le Querce in Sutri a suburb of Rome. 

Olgiata GC north of Rome, Italy - the favorite golfcourse of Maurizio Veloccia.

What is your favorite golfcourse in the world apart from Italy?  Augusta National.

What is the most special course you have played on and why? La Querce because I got qualified there to become a pro.

What is your handicap? 0.

What is your lowest score and on which golfcourse did you get it?  65 on Eucalyptus GC, 60 km south of Rome.

Have you participated in other sports?  Yes, pentathlon.

Maybe this is a sterotypical question: Since your from Italy – do you like football and if so what´s your favorite team? Of course I like soccer and my favorite team is AC Milan. I´ve played golf with Dino Zoff  (former Italian national goal keeper).

Dino Zoff, former Italian national goal keeper in soccer. He´s started to play golf.

What kind of a golfer is Dino Zoff ? He is the perfect gentleman. He practices alot about 1/2-1 hrs per day and has played for 4-5 years now. He has a handicap of 18 and has a beautiful swing and good timing.

Are there any other Italian stars that are interested in golf? Yes, for example  Zebina, Claudio Amendola (former mayor of Rome) Rutelli, CoNi and more.

What is your favorite food, favorite drink, favorite music, favorite movie and favorite music?  My favorite food is Spaghetti alla Carbonara. I can tell you the story of it. It´s originally from  up north in Rome Rieti. It was a poor mans dish. It was originally made from the cheeks of the pork, guanciale, which is still the most common ingredient and is different from pancetta. The pork cheeks are fried in lard and black pepper, eggs, parmigiano regiano added and then the spaghetti; my favorite drink is Prosecco Valdodiadene; my favorite music is Fusion Icognito; my favorite movie is Pulp Fictionand my favorite book is Odyssea.

Who are your favorite golfers name one male and one female golfer?  Male: Rocca  Manasetroo. Female: Stefani Croce in Italy but of the international golfers my favorites are: male: Ben Hogan and female.: Michelle Wie.

What´s in your golf bag and what´s your favorite club?  In my golfbag there is the driver, a putter , irons  3-PW and wedges 52° and 56°. My favorite iron is the 7-iron.

Is golf a public sportsart in Italy or something reserved for the well off? Golf is the sport of the rich and well off, unfortunately.

Finally: What is your maingoal in life?  Having true people around me.