PGA National Czech Republic

Owned and operated by Arendon, part of the London-based Decimus Real Estate Group, the Oaks Prague is a luxury residential development of villas, townhouses and apartments on the outskirts of the capital that was more than a decade in the planning before the golf course opened for play in the summer of 2020.

Designed by Kyle Phillips, the PGA National Czech Republic course is the sporting centrepiece of the 350-acre Oaks Prague estate, featuring a clubhouse that was once a chateau listed in the historic building register to the Von Schuttelsberg family. It lies less than half an hour’s drive from Prague city centre, next to the small village of Nebřenice.

The course was constructed in two main phases over a four-year period. Holes in the north compartment, where the clubhouse is situated, were built first and a 9-hole layout (comprising holes 13-18 and 1-3) was available for preview play a year before the remaining holes in the southern section of the property were ready.

At the official launch in August 2020, Kyle Phillips indicated he’d worked on the project since 2006, keeping in close contact with the master planners to ensure the course was fully integrated with the other residential and recreational elements. The architect also revealed that more than twenty different concepts were considered before arriving at the final layout.

The finished article is certainly at the forefront of environmentally sustainable golf design, with fairways flowing across alluring Czech countryside, most memorably within the oak-studded valley on the par four 2nd, where a stream and wetland area runs along the left side of a tough, uphill hole which is rated stroke index 2 on the scorecard.

Other notable holes include the par five 9th (dropping down from a little ridge towards a really interesting green with a central spine); the par four 12th (a “connector” hole played through a narrow chute of trees); and the par four 14th, which doglegs right and down to the green with the city skyline providing a beautiful backdrop.

Troon Privé, the private club division of Troon Golf, manages PGA National Czech Republic, but as the course is initially operating as a semi-private golf facility, non-members who wish to obtain a tee time can pay a pre-arranged green fee.