Best of 2019
Before a golf year comes to an end, it's usually time to take stock: Where did you tee off, what were the best courses and which ones will stay in your memory forever? A review that could well be an incentive for you to choose a destination in the coming year. And these were my favorites...
AGAINST THE WINTER BLUES
South Africa is always a must for me! And even if you've been there for the umpteenth time, you always find something new. For example, in Johannesburg - known as "Jozi" for short. South Africa's greenest city offers golfers over 40 golf courses - from the exclusive Club Royal Johannesburg to the club in the Soweto townships. The former is my favorite, as the 36-hole course has been around for over 130 years and hosts the biggest annual event, the Joburg Open. This is one of the reasons why the course is one of the ten best in the country - with two 18-hole courses, the West and the East Course, also known as "East, the Beast". The abundance of plants, the gently rolling fairways and water lily ponds, where exotic birds come together, make this course an unforgettable experience.
Jordan was a completely new golf destination for me, unlike South Africa. Admittedly, I was primarily attracted by the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as Petra and the Wadi Rum desert and Aqaba, known as the Golden Triangle. But the real surprise came in Ayla, Jordan's brand new future project covering 4,300 square kilometers. Two beach clubs, the Island and Golf Apartments and the 5-star Hyatt Regency Aqaba Ayla Resort hotel with spa, four restaurants, several pools and the Ayla Golf Club have already opened. Designed by golf icon Greg Norman, it is considered one of the most environmentally friendly in the world and, for me, one of the most beautiful in the Orient. With views of the mountains, the Red Sea and nearby Israel, the 18 holes run like green ribbons through the desert landscape. A layout with streams, lakes and bushes makes it particularly attractive. Simply unforgettable!
FRÜHJAHRS-ZIELE
In addition to trips to Italy and Portugal, I was particularly impressed by Spain's Rioja region . Of course, this included Bilbao with the Guggenheim Museum as a starter. Then it was a quick trip to Logroño to the Hotel Gran Via right in the old town and therefore ideal for wine tastings (a glass of Rioja for 2 euros!) and the tapas trail (group price with food and drink from 30 euros). Last year, the Logroño-La Rioja golf region with its four golf courses was selected from 60 destinations by the IAGTO as the "Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year". So the motto was 'let's go'. My "best of" here was the 18-hole course designed by golf icon Seve Ballesteros, the "Club de Golf Sojuela" in the hills above Logroño. From here you have the most beautiful view of Logroño and the Sierra de Moncalvillo with the mountain El Serradero at 1,495 m. You can read a detailed "Golf & Wine" story here shortly.
A second golf highlight was then added in Sweden - on a cruise with the MS Astor from Sweden and Norway. From Wismar we went to Malmö on the Öresund in Sweden. In the trendy cult district around Möllevång Square (Möllevångstorget) there are not only the best gourmet temples but also the Chocolate Museum, so it's not just a must for ladies. In September, the final of the European Street Food Awards takes place here - you should also be there as a golfer. Malmö is also the "capital of golf" in Sweden, with more than 50 golf courses within an hour's drive. I've always wanted to get to know Falsterbo GC, which has just turned 110 years old and is the third oldest GC in Sweden. It is said to be the only real 18-hole links course in Sweden. You can see that as soon as you arrive and walk from the parking lot to the clubhouse. There are no high dunes on the course, but I am lucky enough to see the Falsterbo seal colony on the beach between holes 16 and 17 - unforgettable! I then experience the second golfing highlight of this trip in Gothenburg, where I take the train to Mölndal to the Hills Golf Club. As the name suggests, the 18 holes wind their way up and down hills through forests and meadows, offering the best views of Sweden's unspoilt countryside. From the stylish clubhouse with restaurant, you have the best view of the masterful layout. Pure Sweden!
On the onward journey to Frederikstad and Kristiansand in Norway, there would have been many more golfing opportunities, but the country program was undoubtedly more interesting. More about this trip will follow in a separate story.
SUMMERS IN GERMANY
It's really difficult for me to pick out the best of the best here, as all the places we played were a story in themselves: in Hardenberg, in Thuringia and Saxony, on Lake Constance and in the Saar-Lor-Lux region. Not to mention the opulent celebration for the opening of the new Öschberghof with its two 18-hole courses. Things really got down to business at Lake Constance with pure culture, water sports and 14 golf courses all around. But which is the most beautiful? If you decide to travel there, you should read my story in "Simply Golf". Here you will find all the important cities, golf courses, sightseeing hotspots and much more under the motto "Go blue at the lake". The next planned story should also whet your appetite for a city tour to the border region of Lorraine, Saarland, Luxembourg (Saar-Lor-Lux) with savoir vivre and great golf courses. Here's a little foretaste: The "Golf de Bitche" golf course is considered one of the most beautiful in France - with 200 seasonal flowering plants and a layout that does credit to a parkland course. As the first choice for the perfect place to stay, the Hornbach Monastery is the best recommendation. It's not just couples who love this historic house with a total of 33 rooms, which was founded in 742 as a Benedictine monastery and restored in 2000 with great attention to detail. We golfers also find peace and quiet here - relaxing in the monastery garden or in the spa and enjoying the historical flair with the modern character of a four-star superior hotel. Read all the stories and more in Connoisseur Circle/Column, Simply Golf and Golf Yearbook. Enjoy browsing and Merry Christmas!
