#Stay at home - in the Allgäu
What was the run on the mountains when the coronavirus restrictions were eased? The Allgäu region was hit the hardest, as young and old alike could hardly resist the desire to go on excursions. No wonder, as this Upper Bavarian region is synonymous with pure nature with a breathtaking mountain world and lush green meadows, which are also perfect for golfing.
No matter where the Allgäu journey takes you - the landscape is interesting and varied. Whether westwards to Lindau on Lake Constance, where the mild climate produces wonderful fruit and fantastic wines. In contrast, the north is characterized by gentle valleys and hills like in Tuscany, with lush pastures and happy cows that make Allgäu cheese so famous. The east shines above all with Neuschwanstein Castle and millions of visitors every year, but also with a collection of picturesque lakes in which the mountains are reflected. The south, on the other hand, attracts hikers with challenging summit destinations, colorful mountain meadows and cozy alpine huts. In between, you will find traditional towns full of art-historical highlights, medieval flair and traces of former emperors and kings.
But what really makes golfers' hearts beat faster here is the game far away from the hustle and bustle on an area of approx. 50 km² with 20 very different golf courses - from Germany's highest course with a tee-off at over 1000 meters above sea level to the gently undulating valley courses. What they all have in common is the stunning view of the Bavarian Alps all around.
Golfing in unspoiled nature, with the Plus Golf Card and authentic hosts
They entice with magnificent views, challenging course design and unmistakable natural landscapes that guarantee varied rounds full of challenge and enjoyment. And - thanks to the altitude of over 1000m, the Allgäu greens are still bathed in sunshine in spring and fall when others are already covered in fog. There are also three special features to mention: In Oberstdorf, for example, you can golf on the southernmost 9-hole golf course in Germany and at the Golfclub Waldegg-Wiggensbach you will find the highest tee in Germany at 1011 meters. Certainly not for tired "lowland Tyroleans"! And in Oberstaufen you can play for free - if you have the guest card "Oberstaufen PLUS GOLF" . This means: play golf on five courses with a total of 94 holes without paying a green fee: At the Oberstaufen Golf Center with the 18-hole Bufflings course and 9-hole Zell course, 27 holes at GC Waldegg-Wiggensbach, 9 holes at Golfpark Schloßgut Lenzfried, 9 holes at GC Scheidegg and 18 holes at Memmingen.
As a guest at the 4-star superior Naturresort Hauber's in Oberstaufen, you even have the golf holes right on your doorstep - whether you start at hole 6, which is steeply uphill, or a little more moderately at hole 11. In any case, this course with its differences in altitude also guarantees the best panoramic views. "Genuine Haubers" is also the motto of the host family - with a climate trail, culinary delights on the mountain, mountain breakfasts and forest bathing. They call their own hay with valuable herbs from the unfertilized mountain meadow, which they also use for wellness treatments and the new wellness area, the "Haus am See" with a large natural lake and filled with their own spring water, "Echt Haubers". And if you decide to do a Schroth cure or therapeutic or intermittent fasting here - you're all set. A brand new package, "Reine Männersache", has just been launched, aimed at the stronger sex aged 35 and over. In addition to endurance training, strength training for back stabilization, fascia training, a nutrition workshop and two 50-minute massages, it also includes real forest work with Klaus Hauber and a genuine Allgäu snack.
Two outstanding courses are regarded as unique pioneers of this remarkable golf scene here: the Golfresort Sonnenalp-Oberallgäu in Ofterschwang and the Golf und Vitalpark Bad Waldsee , each with 45 holes and top-class hotels.
The former, with the "Sonnenalp" and "Oberallgäu" courses and the 9-hole short course "Gundelsberg", is one of the most beautiful far and wide and has rightly earned the title of "leading golf course". The praise also goes to architect Kurt Rossknecht, who designed completely different layouts for all three. While the 18 holes of the 40-year-old "Sonnenalp" course run through an idyllic alpine landscape between high forest, mountain flower meadows and small lakes, the more than 20-year-old "Oberallgäu" leads over a fantastic sunny plateau between Fischen and Bolsterlang. The ups and downs of the 18 holes, the many doglegs and narrow fairways are sometimes "challenging", but the 360° panoramic view of the Allgäu Alps makes up for it.
The exact opposite is offered at the "Fürstlicher Golfclub Oberschwaben" in Bad Waldsee, which with its 45 holes is located in a 300-hectare park area. The New Course is a challenging course with an 8-hectare lake and island green, while the Old Course, designed by Don Harradine in 1969, is a beautiful parkland course with some water hazards.
There are three attractive courses around Kempten: the Golfzentrum Kempten with 9 holes, Waldegg-Wiggensbach and Weitnau-Hellengerst with 18 holes each and a hotel right on the tee. There is no better place to stay than the "Hanuselhof", a family-run top-class country hotel with "unlimited golf! In Memmingen with its 18-hole course of the same name and Ottobeuren with the Allgäu Golf-und Landclub Ottobeuren (18 + 6 holes), the motto "Arrive and tee off" also applies, as they can be reached in no time at all. The latter is virtually in the shadow of the basilica, just 3 km from the town. In Ostallgäu, in the Swabian-Upper Bavarian Alpine foothills, we stopped in Lechbruck am See with a view of the Bavarian, Allgäu and Tyrolean Alps, which you can see from the golf club "Auf der Gsteig" within reach. A game on the 18 holes, which wind their way along a sun terrace, is particularly worthwhile in the golden autumn. The hotel of the same name in a modern country house style is located directly on the tee and spoils its guests with traditional, fine cuisine. Not far away is the Golfclub Neuschwanstein - although the course currently only has 30 range tees and is located at the foot of the two royal castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. With Lake Constance at its feet and the mountain panorama in view, star architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. was also motivated to create his masterpiece - the Weißenberg Golf Club near Lindau. The course was modeled between the gentle hills of the foothills of the Alps and is a real treat for golf enthusiasts, as it offers maximum golfing pleasure for beginners as well as the necessary challenge for demanding players: with relatively narrow fairways, 96 bunkers, elevated greens and plenty of lateral and frontal water hazards. The GC Lindau-Bad Schachen , which ranks among the top 10 in Germany, also scores points with its unique ambience, the most difficult par 3 on the 16th and the most beautiful par 4 on the 17th - or so they say, and we thought so too.
www.allgaeu.de
www.golfurlaub-allgaeu.de www.haubers.de www.hanusel-hof.de www.aufdergsteig.de
