Features

Golfing around... Munich

29 Jun 2015 by GrahamSmith

Minty Clinch tees off at some high-calibre courses surrounding the German city

Munich golf course map

GOLF CLUB WORTHSEE

WHERE IS IT? 20km west of Munich.

WHAT'S IT LIKE? A regular host to European Ladies and Senior tour events, in open parkland, Kurt Rossknecht’s classy layout maximises a relatively flat rural landscape marked by mature woods and traditional farm buildings. The result looks walkable and relatively free from threat but, as always with golf, appearances can be deceptive. Beware holes ten to 12, a mini minefield, with water everywhere.

CONTACT Gut Schluifeld; tel +49 815 393 4770; golfclub-woerthsee.de

PRICE 18 holes weekdays €70, weekends €85 (€30 in winter), six-hole course €25/€30. Buggy €35, electric trolley €25, trolley €5.

CLUB HIRE €25 for a set (check availability of brands in advance).

CLUB HOURS Open 8am-7pm March-November; closed December-February.

MAXIMUM HANDICAP 36 (men and women); certificate not required.

FACILITIES 18 holes 6,310m, par 72; six-hole par-three course; double-ended driving range €20/€25 with range balls (free with green fee); practice area and putting greens.

AFTER THE GOLF There is an intimate clubhouse with several dining areas, a conservatory and a corner bar. Breakfast 9am-11am, all-day German menu prepared by chef Till Weiss 11am-9pm. Don’t leave without trying his Bavarian-style roast pork dish (€12.50).


GOLF CLUB MUNICH EICHENRIED

WHERE IS IT? 27km north-east of Munich.

WHAT'S IT LIKE? From its opening in 1989 until 2011, the BMW International Open, Germany’s leading European tour event, was an annual fixture on Kurt Rossknecht’s well-manicured track. Winners include John Daly, Ernie Els and Martin Kaymer. Now, Eichenried hosts the championship in alternate years, including June this year.

On a layout as flat as a table top, the A, B and C loops combine with “sleeping beauty” hole 17 to form the course for the tournament. Stands of oak and ash provide formidable hazards on the front nine, with the danger shifting to strategically sited reservoirs on the back.

CONTACT Munchner Strasse 57; tel +49 812 393 080; gc-eichenried.de

PRICE Weekdays 18 holes €80 (guests €55), nine holes €40; weekends 18 holes €110, nine holes €60. Electric golf cart €30 for 18 holes (guests €40), €20 for nine holes (guests €25); electric trolley €20 for 18 holes (guests €25), €19 for nine holes (guests €14) (both should be reserved); trolley €6.

CLUB HIRE €30 (check availability in advance).

CLUB HOURS Open 9am-6pm March 15-November 15; closed rest of the time.

MAXIMUM HANDICAP 36 (men and women); no certificate required.

FACILITIES Three nine-hole loops: A is 3,196m, par 36; B is 3,419m, par 37; C is 3,180m, par 37; floodlit driving range and practice area.

AFTER THE GOLF The contemporary clubhouse was refurbished in 2010. Its restaurant serves breakfast from 9am and hot food 11.30am-9pm; Wiener schnitzel (€18.50) is the most popular dish. Hotel Jagdschlossl (opposite the entrance gates) has an atmospheric bar and a restaurant serving Bavarian specialities; B&B rates from e89; jagdschloessl-eichenried.de


WITTELSBACHER GOLF CLUB

WHERE IS IT? 85km north of Munich.

WHAT'S IT LIKE? A stylish, welcoming club built on a former stud farm, Wittelsbacher’s flat layout was designed by former Dutch amateur champion Johan Dudok van Heel in 1986. The imposing 200-year-old oaks that once sheltered mares from the sun provide an effective defence against wayward golf shots. Water is an occasional hazard, but long, straight hitters can expect to beat their handicaps.

CONTACT Rohrenfeld 102; tel +49 8431 908 590; wbgc.de

PRICE 18 holes €70. Buggy €30 (reserve in advance), trolley €5, range balls €2 for 36.

CLUB HIRE Callaway €25 (reserve in advance).

CLUB HOURS 7am-9pm mid-March to mid-December (depending on daylight). Play may be possible in January and February but the clubhouse is closed.

MAXIMUM HANDICAP 36 (men and women), Germans may be asked for a certificate, foreign visitors taken on trust. 

FACILITIES 18-hole course, 6,775m, par 71; covered driving bays, large practice area, putting green, Wolfgang Lutz golf academy with video analysis.

AFTER THE GOLF Colonial-style clubhouse with white pillars and wide verandas. The interior is well appointed, with a gourmet restaurant. Breakfast is served from 7am, last orders at 9pm – the sea bass with saffron risotto (€21.50) is a treat. Luxury rooms are available in the on-site guesthouse, with B&B rates starting from €108.


GOLF VALLEY

WHERE IS IT? 30km south of Munich.

WHAT'S IT LIKE A family-run newcomer in an agricultural landscape, forcefully evoked by the pungent smell of stabled cattle. Distant Alpine foothills and evergreen forest add to the attraction.

Long walks from green to tee signify North American input, in this case from Canadian architect David Krause, a student of Robert Trent Jones. His payoff is landscaped fairways, strategically separated to eliminate monotony and prevent crossfire from their neighbours.

Conquering the monster par-5 fifth and landing on the island green at the par-3 seventh on the C loop guarantees a deep sigh of satisfaction.

CONTACT Am Golfplatz 1; tel +49 802 490 2790; golfvalley.de

PRICE 18 holes weekdays €75, weekends €95, twilight (from 2pm) €50/€60; nine-hole golf park €30/€40. Buggy €35 (18 holes), trolley €7.50.

CLUB HIRE €40 (nine holes €20), reserve in advance.

CLUB HOURS Opens 7.30am-8am, closes 7pm-8pm mid-March to mid-November (closed rest of the time).

MAXIMUM HANDICAP Main courses 36 (men and women), certificate required. Nine-hole golf park 54.

FACILITIES Three nine-hole loops: A 3,528m, par 36; B 3,545m, par 36; C 3,311m, par 36; golf park nine holes 1,912m, par 33; covered driving range, extensive practice area and putting greens, Arne Dicker golf academy.

AFTER THE GOLF Restaurant and bar with a terrace; open from 10am until the last guest leaves and serves Bavarian and Italian fare. Wine lodge with a choice selection of vintages.


GOLF CLUB MUNICH RIEDHOF

WHERE IS IT? 25km south of Munich.

WHAT'S IT LIKE? Heinz Fehring’s hilly layout celebrated its quarter-century last year. Approached down a handsome avenue of mature trees, this exclusive club is characterised by views of snow-capped peaks to the south. An attractive mix of deciduous and evergreen trees line the rolling fairways.

Bernhard Langer is a fan, negotiating the tricky signature 13th – a sweeping downhill challenge with water in front of the green – with aplomb, but even Bavaria’s finest should take account of the resident lone swan by the 14th tee.

CONTACT Riedhof 16; tel +49 817 121 950; riedhof.de

PRICE 18 holes €100, before 10am €80, Mondays €60. Buggy €40, electric trolley €20.

CLUB HIRE Taylor Made, €30 per set (reserve in advance).

CLUB HOURS Open 8.30am-7pm April-October; weather-dependent winter opening using temporary greens.

MAXIMUM HANDICAP 36 (men and women); certificate required.

FACILITIES 18 holes 6,178m, par 72; driving range with free balls (with green fee); practice area and putting green.

AFTER THE GOLF Smart bar with an international restaurant. Breakfast from 9am, food served until the last guest leaves. The Hungarian chef’s signature dish is goulash with sauerkraut (€13).


Minty Clinch travelled on the overnight Harwich-Hook of Holland ferry (stenaline.co.uk). Prices from £113 with car and cabin (September). Lindsay Gomer of Bavaria4golf (tel +49 89 6930 7936; visit bavaria4golf.com) can arrange tee times on all courses in the Munich area.

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