Top 100 Golf Courses revises its Central Europe rankings 2020

February 10, 2020

Top 100 Golf Courses revises its Central Europe rankings 2020

There are almost two hundred courses located across the five Central European countries of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. We feature thirty-eight of these golfing layouts in five national ranking lists and we’re pretty confident these courses are the best you’ll find in this region as we’ve recently visited each country.

Only six months ago we were in the Czech Republic to have a look at a couple of new build projects near Prague but we also made time to check out another ten golf facilities around the country. To read the article, entitled Exciting times for golf in the Czech Republic, click the link.

We’re fortunate to have a tight network of correspondents to keep us fully briefed on golf developments in this part of continental Europe so we think we have the region well covered. If you think we could do better, by all means get in touch and let us know where we could improve our coverage.

Czech Republic

We have a new #1 for the Czech Republic, with Casa Serena Golf regaining the top spot it had held for two ranking editions, between 2014 and 2017. Laid out by Robin Hiseman of European Golf Design, this 18-hole layout hosted four editions of the Casa Serena Open on the European Senior Tour, starting in 2008, but it’s largely flown under the golfing radar since then. In fairness, with only three members attached to the club, this very private facility doesn’t get much play, therefore it remains largely in the shadows.

Top 100 Golf Courses revises its Central Europe rankings 2020

February 10, 2020

Top 100 Golf Courses revises its Central Europe rankings 2020

Czech Republic

The Red course at Karlsteijn Golf Resort climbs three places to No. 4 in the new standings. Routed over a hilly, forested landscape punctuated by limestone outcrops, ravines and a couple of lakes, the course is an early 1990s Les Furber design which successfully hosted a Ladies European Tour event last year. The Canadian architect returned to fashion another nine for the club in 2006 and this newer South course is well worth considering for a game when time is tight or the Red course is busy.

The Radecký course at Golf & Spa Resort Konopiště (up five to #11) comprises eighteen holes at a 45-hole golf facility that lies an hour’s drive southeast of the Václav Havel Airport outside Prague. Anchored by a beautiful château that now functions as an hotel and restaurant at the heart of the golf operation, this parkland complex offers members, guests and general visitors a really entertaining experience in a lovely rustic setting.

The only new entry in our Czech Republic Top 20 is the Meadows and Forest nines at the Panorama Golf Resort, entering at No. 15. The resort only opened for business in 2017 but it’s quickly gaining a reputation as one of the “must play” golf facilities in the country. With twenty-seven holes set out across an undulating, 350-acre property, this is a serious new player on the Czech golf scene and all three 9-hole circuits return to a very stylish, modern clubhouse.

The new courses at the PGA National (designed by Kyle Phillips) and Twin Chapels (where Jonathan Gaunt is the architect) are still under construction and we expect them both to make a very big impact when we revise our Czech Republic listings in 2022. Of course, there may be one or two other chart contenders vying to make the cut next time around but these two will definitely come under the spotlight.

The course at Zala Springs Golf Resort retains its #1 status in Hungary. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened for play in 2016, the layout is situated near the spa town of Héviz and its famous thermal lake, with the fairways forming the sporting centrepiece of a low density residential development. Due to its favourable location, the course is within easy access to discerning golfers in Austria, Croatia, Slovakia and Slovenia and its reputation grows with every passing season.

The course at Sand Valley Golf Resort remains the #1 course in Poland. It’s been operating for over a decade now under Finnish ownership and most of the golfers who play here are from the Nordic countries, arriving through nearby Gdansk airport. The club prides itself on its four pillars for a golf holiday – “golf, accommodation, catering and service.” Year on year, increasing numbers of visitors certainly indicates the club is delivering on its pledge of providing a leading golfing retreat.

The only course to make an upward move in the Poland Top 10 is Postolowo Golf Club, rising two places to the runner-up position at No. 2. Jeremy Tuner designed this terrific track and it can be stretched to an incredible 7,000 metres, with water figuring prominently at more than half a dozen holes. It’s a beast when played from the back markers but sensible golfers who choose their tees carefully will really enjoy their round here.

The Heritage course at the Penati Golf Resort fends off a strong challenge from the Legend layout at the same 36-hole facility to hold onto the No.1 position in our Slovakian rankings. As a reviewer posted just a few months ago after playing at Penati: “there is little to choose between the different courses… both are well designed, well-conditioned and easy to walk… Play both. Travel out of your way to play them.” There you have it; play Jonathan Davison’s Heritage layout and the Jack Nicklaus-designed Legend course then make your own mind up as to which is the premier 18-hole track at a very impressive golf complex.

The King’s course at Royal Bled Golf Club is still the #1 layout in Slovenia. Originally laid out in the late 1930s, it was re-designed by Donald Harradine in the early 1970s before a recent two-year renovation by Swan Golf Designs saw the course lengthened, greens and bunkers rebuilt, and several new water hazards introduced on the back nine – all of which resulted in the King’s course entering our Continental European Top 100 standings two years ago.