A foray into the most record-breaking alpine golf courses
The golf courses in Tyrol and Salzburger Land have plenty of spectacular water hazards to offer. This is our highlight list.
In the golf rulebook, they were for a long time simply called frontal and lateral water hazards. Completely unspectacular. And yet they are much, much more. For the golfer, a hard piece of work, quite a few thrills - and often a huge, ball-eating monster. For the golf ball diver, a true treasure chest. And for the golf clubs, postcard motifs and unique figureheads. There are also spectacular water hazards on the alpine golf courses in Tyrol and Salzburg province - from raging rivers to large lakes with bubbling fountains. These are our top 10.
The Kössen Golf Course is located in the flat valley basin of the Kaiserwinkl. The 5,645-meter, 18-hole course was designed by British architect Don Harradine in 1988 to be environmentally friendly. At first glance, water doesn't seem to be the big problem here. Rather the old tree population. But that changes on hole 18, a 164-meter par 3. The coal, the river that cuts its way through the terrain, cuts off the direct path to the green. And then the all-important question is: full risk and directly to the green or rather put the ball down in front of the coal?
Away from main tourist routes, the 18-hole Golfclub Kitzbüheler Alpen, opened in 2014, is located on the magnificent sunny plateau of Westendorf, the youngest golf course in the region. Concentration should then, despite the wonderful views of the Tyrolean mountains, however, once again be fully directed to the fairway at hole 18: At the end of the 468-meter-long par 4, a large green awaits. However, water lurks to the right and left of it. And there is only a narrow passage to avoid getting wet.
At the Zillertal Golf Club in Uderns, the most spectacular of all 18 holes also has to do with water. Quite a lot of water, in fact. The ninth hole, a 377-meter-long par 4, is not easy to play anyway - and then there is also an island green waiting at the end in the midst of a wonderful ensemble of tradition and modernity. Here the view of the original Zillertal landscape, there the young architecture of the Sportresidenz, a four-star superior hotel.
While many clubs add water hazards to their "signature hole," the 18-hole championship course at Golfclub am Mondsee is actually one giant water hazard. Dragon Lake is omnipresent on this course. It gets particularly tricky on the last four holes. The wet is a permanent hazard here. Sometimes from the right, sometimes from the left, and sometimes even from both sides.
There's a lot of water on the 18-hole course at the Eugendorf Golf Club near Salzburg. The biggest challenge, however, is probably on the tenth hole - if you put your mind to it. Because the par 5 has another special feature: two greens. Depending on your skill level, the hole is either in front of or behind the water. To get over it, however, you need a solid shot of just under 140 meters.
At the Gut Altentann Golf & Country Club, you can tell that a good designer was at work. The 18-hole course in the immediate vicinity of Salzburg is the first golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus on the European continent. Two holes have made it into the shortlist. And they can cost quite a few balls. We think so: Hole 9 is particularly spectacular to play. A par 3 with 149 meters to the flag. The green is also part of hole 18, and anyone who wants to get on it has to cross water - and old trees, which are also cleverly placed.
On the round at the Hohe Tauern National Park Golf Club, golfers are accompanied by a small stream. But no, this is certainly not a monster that instills fear. The crowning glory on hole 18 is a different story. The 137-meter par 3 ends on an island green, directly in front of the clubhouse. It's all about the choice of club ... then there might even be applause from the spectators on the terrace.
The course of the Radstadt Golf Club has already made it onto many a bucket list. Primarily because of the Birdiejet, the gondola lift that takes golfers up to the tee. No wonder that this is also the highlight of the round for many guests. But the 18-hole course still demands a concentrated game. Especially on hole 8, which is also just a par 3, 161 meters long. The water is already behind the tees, and the hole is right in the middle of it - on an island green.
At the Lungau/Katschberg Golf Club, the action is at an altitude of over 1000 meters. The course is not for nothing one of the most beautiful and challenging courses in Austria. Water comes into play here from time to time. The last of the 18 holes (par 5, 479 meters) is a tough one. A beautiful pond on the right, deep rough on the left - and an island green on the other side of the moat. Here, full concentration and precision are once again required before it gets sociable at hole 19.
Almost every golfer who likes to play in the Golf-Alpin region knows this hole. It is a frequently used advertising motif: the "ten" on the Kitzsteinhorn course at the Zell am See Golf Club, a 459-meter par 5. With a good drive and a lot of courage, the island green can even be reached in two shots, but even the good player is advised to take the safe option. And don't let the panorama between glacier, mountains and lake distract you.
