Gut Häusern

Situated an hour’s drive to the northwest of Munich, the course at Golfpark Gut Häusern is a Peter Harradine layout that hosted six editions of the Ladies German Open up until 2013 so its tournament pedigree tells you this is a test of golf.

The layout extends to a meaty 6,710 metres from the back tees, with par set at 72. Holes are laid out as two returning nines, with the par four 9th and par five 18th concluding at the same shared green complex in front of the clubhouse – and with water lurking on either side of the fairway at both these holes, it’s hardly surprising to find that they’re rated stoke index 1 and 2 on the scorecard.

Other holes of note include the first of the par threes at the 174-metre 4th (where a massive horseshoe-shaped bunker wraps round the front of the green) and the severely left doglegging par four 7th on the eastern perimeter of the property. On the back nine, the par five 15th features long, narrow sandy waste areas running along either side of the fairway, almost from tee to green.

There are further aquatic challenges to face at both the par three 15th and par four 16th: ponds are positioned on either side of the former hole, creating effectively a bunker-free island green, while another large pond lies to the side of the fairway on the right doglegging following hole, which plays to a sand-protected green.