Lindau

Bernhard von Limburger originally designed the golf course at Lindau-Bad Schachen in the 1950s, when it must have been a very scenic spot looking out over Lake Constance to the Alps beyond. Lake and mountains are still present, of course, but modern times have added a busy road and industrial as well as residential developments. This caused several changes and redesigns of the layout, which lies on two distinct levels today. The lower area holds the first six holes, the 7th plays up to the higher plateau and the 17th back down to the level of the clubhouse.

Prolific Lindau-based golf architect Kurt Rossknecht was president of the club for many years and took charge of the necessary changes, while adding quite a few touches of his own. Despite his stewardship, a number of slightly awkward challenges posed by the site's restrictions remain: A short dogleg par five with an unreachable bend, an excessively long par three with no straight line to the green and a par four that is completely surrounded by internal out of bounds. But there are also many fascinating holes, especially in the last two thirds of the round, where the most interesting terrain is found.

The general conditioning is held back a bit by less than great drainage and loamy soil, but the greens are in good nick, so there is some solid golf to be played. To be sure, many par fours are tightened up at the green, often with a frontal water hazard, making the course anything but a pushover.

With the exception of some ultra-bizarre signage at the first tee, which authorises members to take the law into their own hands against misbehaving trespassers, it is a very agreeable experience to play here. The routing – a classic out and back affair – has a good flow to it and the view from #16 and #17 is as great as it ever was. Despite the practical deficiencies, Lindau Bad Schachen manages to be more than the sum of its parts.