Go golfing in the Czech Republic

Why should you travel to the Czech Republic to play golf? The Czech Republic is the most developed golf destination in Central and Eastern Europe and it is easy to reach. The Czech golf tradition goes back more than 100 years and there are now close to 100 golf courses around the country. When you add high quality accommodation, fantastic Czech cuisine and the world renowned Czech beer you have the makings of a great golfing holiday. Plenty of novelties are in the pipeline for the 2013 season and are just waiting to be discovered.

Golf in the Czech Republic has a rich heritage. The country’s first golf course was opened in Marianske Lazne in 1905. A year earlier the first golf club was formed in nearby Karlovy Vary. Golf really began to grow in popularity in the 1990’s. The Czech Republic has come a long way since then and is now a much sought-after destination among professional, amateur and recreational golfers. 

Reflecting its growing stature in the game, the Czech Republic has become a regular venue for prestigious golf tournaments. Prosper Golf Resort Celadna in north Moravia has hosted The Czech Open on the European Tour on several occasions. A European Senior Tour event has been played at the Casa Serena golf course near Kutna Hora since 2008. The Ladies European Tour will return to the Czech Republic for the third consecutive year in 2013. The Raiffeisenbank Prague Golf Masters was played at the Albatross Golf Resort near Prague in 2011 and 2012 and will move to the Golf Park Plzeň – Dýšina. The tournament will take place from August 5 until 11, 2013 and the defending champion Melissa Reid is likely to face some of the leading women’s players in Europe including Laura Davies, Carly Booth and Gwladys Nocera. A European Challenge Tour event, the D+D Real Czech Challenge Open, will also be staged at the Kuneticka Hora Golf Resort near Pardubice from June 6-13.

The number of golf courses in the Czech Republic keeps growing and the country always has something new to offer golfers. Two 9-hole golf courses, the Golf Resort Lipiny by Karvina and Golfovy areal Kralovska vinice Tesetice by Znojmo, opened last year. The long-awaited Loreta Golf Club Pysely is expected to open in summer 2013. It will offer an 18-hole championship golf course designed by renowned architect Keith Preston and set in the charming countryside of Posazavi. Originally a 9-hole layout, Golf Resort Barbora near the spa town of Teplice in north Bohemia, will extend to become an 18-hole course in mid-2013.

Golfers who choose the Czech Republic for their golf holiday will appreciate high quality accommodation available close to the courses as well as other facilities providing pleasant relaxation after a busy sporting day. Golf Resort Konopiste, located less than one hour´s drive from Prague, increased their accommodation capacity by 11 rooms last year. There are now 55 luxurious double rooms and two apartments to serve the needs of travelling golfers. In March 2013 a new 2000 square metre wellness centre opened in the heart of the resort. It features outdoor and indoor swimming pools, saunas, Jacuzzis, fitness and gym area and much more. There are numerous spa treatments available at the wellness centre, including massages, inhalations, baths and wraps, to help guests complete the full rejuvenation.

Travelling golfers will be delighted to hear that Czech golf courses are most frequently found in the vicinity of the big cities, which makes them easy to reach. Albatross Golf Resort is just 30 minutes away from the capital city of Prague, Golf Resort Brno Kaskada is close to the largest Moravian city of Brno and the 36-hole Prosper Golf Resort Čeladna is just a short drive away from Ostrava in north Moravia. These three courses were rated the best in the Czech Republic by the prestigious American magazine Golf Digest last year. There are ten golf courses, including six 18-hole courses, in the West-Bohemian spa triangle formed by Karlovy Vary, Marianske Lazne and Frantiskovy Lazne. Among the most famous courses are Golf Resort Karlovy Vary, Royal Golf Club Marianske Lazne and Astoria Golf Resort Cihelny. In the immediate surroundings of Ostrava as well as Celadna there are three other 18-hole golf courses: Ropice, Ostravice and Silherovice.

Golf at the Czech courses is never boring thanks to the ever changing natural scenery and the unique environment in which they are located. At Karlstejn or at Hluboka golfers will enjoy the charming views of the castle or chateau. In Marianske Lazne and Karlovy Vary they will admire the decorative architecture of the spa towns and renew their energy while enjoying some of the healing spa treatments. In Liberec, Usti nad Labem or at Celadna they will fall in love with the mountain scenery and the healthy, fresh air.

The Czech Republic supports golf by being involved in a project called 1 fee for 2 players which is also backed by CzechTourism. Special vouchers enable two golfers to play for the price of one green fee at 40 golf courses in the country. The vouchers are valid until the end of 2013. For more information please visit www.1fee2golfers.eu.