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The Rasmushof Golf Hotel
The nearest course to the town is at the Rasmushof Golf Hotel, only a five minute stroll from the centre of Kitzbuhel. It is a nine hole short course of 1,540 yards, par-27, with holes ranging in length from 110 yards to 230 yards.
Don't be mislead by those statistics. This is a proper course with greens that are, by repute, among the finest in the region. The terrain predicates that many greens are elevated, with tee shots up-hill or across a valley in which sits the elegant hotel and clubhouse.
Despite this, only a couple of holes impose physical demands or strenuous walking, those from the fifth tee to the seventh tee. Once beyond that all is easy going. We played 18 holes as part of the festival and had no difficulty. You can always take a mid-round glass of something reviving at the clubhouse, or even stop for lunch and make a day of it, a delightful prospect.
En route from town to the hotel-clubhouse you'll pass the extensive practice facilities that include a driving range and a golf academy.
Eichenheim Golf Club
All of the Kitzbuhel courses are scenic but this one is a joy visually and a considerable challenge to boot. Both factors are attributable to the wooded terrain which can best be described as voluptuously undulating.
Consequently you shouldn't even contemplate playing this one on foot. After the first hole the next four are an up-hill climb and even the gentler slopes to follow offer little relief to the fatigued. So take a golf cart and enjoy!
A further word of caution: unless you're a low marker play the yellow tees. From here the card reads a touch over 6,000 yards, par 71, but it will seem much longer. Because of the terrain many of the tee shots are blind, most holes are dog-legged and many greens are raised. The fairways are generous, but re-load if you miss one. The rough is fierce and there are several lakes. The greens offer perfect putting surfaces but most are two level, some three level, and frequently surrounded by cloying rough and some wicked bunkering.
It's a big driving course, a big second shot course and, for those who lack a sound short game, a demanding third shot course! Spectacular sums it up, as you'll see when you peruse the opening tee shot to a bottle-necked fairway where you'll need a three wood second if you hit the perfect tee shot into the gap!
You'll have a grand day here but phone the day before to book a cart, eh? Wonderful clubhouse facilities, too. In keeping with local standards it wants for nothing.
Schwarzsee Golf Club
This is another classy lay-out and one of considerable quality, good enough indeed to stage an annual Challenge Tour event, won the week after our visit with a 72 hole score of 21 under par that included a course record 61! The bare statistics read 6,750 yards from the tiger tees, 6,450 from the members and 5,560 from the ladies markers, all to a par of 72.
For the most part it is appreciably flatter than the neighbouring courses, although a couple of holes call for a modicum of exertion. Those beyond the first flush could take a golf cart, which is also recommended if you intend playing 36 holes.
A series of lakes and a water course are the dominant features. The latter cuts through the course; the former influence shots to a number of greens and add to the visual distractions on other fairways.
The water comes into play early in the piece, where a lake guards the green at the first hole, a par-5 with the green tucked behind a stand of trees that form a gentle dog-leg, a pattern that's repeated elsewhere.
The other par-5s all come on the homeward loop, hence its par of 37, but the par-4s hold the key to scoring here. Some are short and tricky, like the 3rd and the 17th; some are long and testing, like the 2nd, which is index 1. The par-3s are, in a word, outstanding. Individually or collectively they would grace any course.
Like the design, the presentation is first rate with good course furniture and facilities and a most welcoming staff.
All this combines to make a resort course out of the top echelon. The clubhouse, too, is outstanding. You'll want to play here more than once.
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