Sonnenalp-Oberallgäu (Sonnenalp)

The Donald Harradine-designed Sonnenalp course at the Golf Resort Sonnenalp-Oberallgäu lies at one of the most southerly points on the map of Germany, close to the Austrian border, so expect to ski here rather than golf during the winter months.

First opened for play with the 18-hole Sonnenalp course in 1975, the resort added Kurt Rossknecht's Oberallgäu layout in 2004, along with a 9-hole executive track. The Sonnenalp course is routed through the old Tiefenberger Moor, extending these days to 6,133 metres from the back markers, with par set at 73 (36 out then 37 back). Water comes into play occasionally, with ponds positioned close to the green on the par three 4th, the par four 10th and the par four 18th holes.

Highlight holes include the par four 3rd (“Schwefelmoos”) which is rated stroke index 1 on the scorecard and the par four 8th (“Kastanienbaum”) which doglegs right at almost 90 degrees to the green. On the longer back nine, three of the last four holes are par fives, which is rather unusual, and the pick of these is probably the 446-metre 15th (“Spitzbichel”), where the fairway veers sharply left then narrows towards a sand-protected green.