Bratislava (Black River)

In 1993, Bernolákovo was the first place in Slovakia to embrace golf after the country’s Velvet Divorce from the Czech Republic when a rudimentary 9-hole course was laid out for play. Two decades later, a 27-hole facility now exists within the same 18th century baroque manor grounds that lie just outside the village.

Established in 2006, the 18-hole Black River layout is the main course at the Bratislava Golf & Country Club and it’s an absolute brute from the back tees (with a maximum slope rating of 155) so first time visitors are strongly advised to choose their tee positions very carefully.

The first six holes are part of the original course, located inside the old manor estate, with the remaining holes situated on land to the south of the meandering river Èierná voda. Most unusually, golfers play holes 2, 3 and 4 as consecutive par threes (and there’s only one other short hole on the card at the 11th).

The 567-yard 12th, a double doglegged par five, is rated the most difficult hole on the course but, quite frankly, holes 17 and 18 look to be two of the fiercest closing holes you could ever imagine to finish a round with.

The 430-yard penultimate hole plays first to an island fairway and then to an island green – best of luck securing a four! The 18th then heads back across the river to a narrow, elevated fairway that doglegs immediately to the right towards the narrow home green.

Never mind playing to handicap over this difficult 18-hole course; how many golfers have ever walked off the 18th green at Black River with net par fours for the last two holes on their scorecard?

In 2009, the Black River Golf Resort in Bernolákovo joined forces with the White Eurovalley Golf Resort in Malacky under single ownership called Black & White, which now boasts 54 holes across the two facilities.