Maria Bildhausen

Located between the four spa towns of Bad Kissingen, Bad Bocklet, Bad Neustadt and Bad Koenigshofen, the 18-hole golf course at Golf Club Maria Bildhausen is set within a spacious 350-acre property that’s attached to the local Abbey. There’s also a little 6-hole short course located next to the driving range on the other side of the clubhouse.

The main layout extends to 6,463 metres, playing to a par of 72, with holes arranged as two returning nines. The 2nd to 8th are routed in a clockwise direction in a big loop around some vacant land, with the remaining holes occupying a more compact tract close to the clubhouse. Twenty years after the facility first opened for play, all the greens were renewed in 2011/12.

Water comes into play on several occasions. The tee shot must fly a little pond on the par three 4th and a new pond has recently been installed to the left of the green at the par five 6th. On the back nine, there are ponds on the left of the fairway to carry with the tee shot on both the par four 10th and par four 17th – players must avoid these hazards and the bunkers further along on the right side!

Other holes of note include right doglegging par fours at both the 5th and 9th (with water behind either green to catch overhit approach shots); the last of the par threes at the 189-metre 16th (with a crescent-shaped bunker protecting the front of the green); and the shortest of the par fives at the downhill 18th, with three bunkers behind the green and a sneaky little pond to the front left of the offset putting surface.