Sea games in red-white-red
What could be better than jumping into pleasantly cool water after a sweaty round of golf? And if the golf hotel is right by the lake and offers every possible comfort, why on earth go to crowded Adriatic beaches with guaranteed heat?
On my trip to the most beautiful lakeside hotels in Austria, which you can find in the latest Connoisseur Circle magazine, the corresponding golf courses were also on my "to do" list. You can find a small, fine selection with absolute must's and benevolent recommendations here.
Curiosities from Lake Fuschl - the Waldhof Seeroas
Two 9-hole courses vie for golfers who are not afraid of slopes, steep climbs and ups and downs. The GC Waldhof, which belongs to Ebner's Waldhof Hotel, and the GC Fuschl offer fantastic views of the dark green lake. The former from the rustic Waldhof-Alm and the latter from Fuschl Castle, where it was founded in 1963. The course is therefore just as historically significant as Fuschl itself - after all, the greats of world history have sometimes played here. Those who prefer to pick up a club in atmospheric surroundings are in good hands on the par 60 course. What do the two courses have in common? On the one hand, the extreme slopes, but on the other, the romantic trip on a barge across the crystal-clear Lake Fuschl from one course to the other. www.golfclub-waldhof.at/seeroas
Wald - und Leadingcourse am Achensee
It is my favorite summer course and also a Leading Course Austria. Founded in 1934, the Golf- und Landclub Achensee is not only one of the oldest golf clubs but also one of the most beautiful in the Alps. Especially in summer, you can enjoy a round on the 18 holes at the foot of the Karwendel mountains in the pleasant coolness and refreshing forest air. Golf architect Diethard Fahrenleitner has extended and rebuilt it twice and this is what it looks like today: The first tee with the handsome clubhouse is practically in the middle of the village of Pertisau before you set off on a "hike" into alpine terrain at an altitude of 1000 meters. But don't worry, the course is only slightly hilly and mostly runs between magnificent fir trees, gnarled pines, flowering alpine herbs, gurgling streams and gently undulating fairways. Twice, however, you have to play over the dried-up bed of a torrent - over 20 meters wide, after all - and on the 16th there is the threat of losing the ball through a deep ditch, which is announced on the tee but only really visible on the approach. So - "keine gmahte Wiesn" - as the Tyroleans would say, but who cares about the score with this impressive mountain panorama. www.golfclub-achensee.at
Golfing pleasure in Carinthia
The offer in the southernmost federal state is hard to beat - with 200 bathing lakes and 13 golf courses, some of which are located near lakes, such as the GC Dellach, the grand seigneur among the courses here. I recommend it because you are chauffeured across the lake by motorboat from Seefels Castle. The 18 holes lead over the hilly landscape of Lake Wörthersee with fantastic views of the mountains and lake from hole 12. The Karawanken mountains also accompany you on the Leading Course Velden-Köstenberg. 18 holes with some narrow fairways, many slopes and hidden greens - more suitable for courageous players. Despite or perhaps because of this, the course has charisma and every nature lover will appreciate the view of the Karawanken massif and the peace and quiet in this secluded setting at 700 m above sea level www.golfvelden.at
By the way - with the Alpe-Adria Golf Card, Carinthia offers a special treat: golf on 20 courses in Carinthia, Slovenia and Friuli Venezia Giulia. www.golflust.at
With mountain and glacier views
The third in the group is the Zell am See-Kaprun-Saalbach-Hinterglemm Golf Club, which offers the largest golf course in the Austrian Alps with a total of 36 holes. With the 18-hole courses "Schmittenhöhe" and "Kitzsteinhorn", designed by golf icon Donald Harradine, it is also one of the "Leading Courses Austria". Enjoyable golfing is the order of the day here, as the varied courses are set in park-like, flat terrain with natural biotopes and reed-lined lakes and are easy to master without any great physical effort. Due to the different tees, from white to orange, both courses are ideal for single handicappers as well as pleasure golfers and rookies.
The offer for super athletes is also unique here: skiing on the glacier in the morning, golfing on lush green meadows in the valley with a view of the Zell mountains and the glistening snow-white Kitzsteinhorn at lunchtime - and then a dip in Lake Zell - what more could a golfer's heart want!
www.golf-zellamsee.at
