Europe - Austria - (contd.)

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.

The approach shot on the par-4 7th at Eichenheim.

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A view of the Schwarzsee course from the high point 

THE GREEN FEES

At Rasmushof the mid-week green fee is 25 euros for 18 holes and 15 for nine holes. The weekend rate is 35 and 22 euros respectively.

In the low season, from May 1 to June 30 and during the month of October, the green fee at Schwarzsee is 55 Euros midweek and 58 each weekend. In the high season of July 1 to September 30 the fees are 63 and 68 euros.

At Eichenheim the daily green fees for 18 holes are 74 euros in the high season (as above) and 60 in the low season.

The Tyrol Golf Association offers a Golf Alpine Pass which gives five green fees for 230 euros or three green fees for 145 euros. These are valid for any of the 39 courses in the region.

Visit: www.golf-alpin.at or e-mail golf@gstirol.at

THE GOLF FESTIVAL

The recent week-long Kitzbuhel Golf Festival will be repeated next year, in the final week of June. There will again be daily competitions, catering for for men, women and juniors with a handicap, on all three local courses, plus an array of evening functions and entertainment. For details please contact www.kitzbuehel.com www.kitzbuehel-golf.com

GETTING THERE
The nearest airports are at Salzburg (80km away), Munich (120km) or Innsbruck (100km). Some budget airlines service these routes and the editor highly recommends BMIBaby, which has regular flights to Munich from East Midlands and Cardiff. See www.bmibaby.com

Many Kitzbuhel hotels offer airport transfers and there is a first class rail link to Kitzbuhel's two stations.

Independent travellers should visit the web sites of the Kitzbuhel tourist board and the golf association at: www.kitzbuehel.com www.kitzbuehel-golf.com

THE HOTELS
Predictably, there are dozens of first class hotels in town, most complete with spa and health clinics, plus a host of smaller guest houses of high quality. Thanks to stiff competition the standards are exemplary. Personal research says none will disappoint.

The golf festival was partly sponsored by a group of 14 hotels, most of them four star. While we didn't see them all the following received high praise from competitors.

Golf Hotel Rasmushof 4*
Set in its own golf course and with the clubhouse attached, this hotel is a stroll away from the town centre. The place buzzes in the evenings. Like the setting, the cuisine and service were outstanding. Golf packages are available.
.E-mail: office@rasmushof.at

Hotel Zur Tenne 4*
A stylish hotel of great character in the town centre, the Zur Tenne is renowned for its peaceful ambience, spacious comfort and the standards of cuisine and service. (The buffet breakfast may be the best in town.) From personal experience, all were exemplary. Golf can be arranged as required. E-mail: info@hotelzurtenne.com

Sport & Spa Hotel Bichlhof 4*
A short drive from town and adjacent to the Eichenheim course, this modern-style hotel is famous for its spa, its wine cellar and its dining room (supplied with produce from its own farm). An outdoor swimming pool and golf practice facilities complete an appealing picture. There is also a golf cart transfer to the club next door. E-mail: office@bichlhof.au

Sporthotel Reisch 4*
This opulent town centre hotel is a favourite meeting place for locals who socialise at its pavement bistro-bar and in its acclaimed dining room. Lavish decor is enhanced by a warming ambience and friendly staff. Guests gave rave reviews of the bedrooms, most of which have balconies giving mountain views. E-mail: sporthotel-reisch@kitz.net

A PRICE GUIDE
As a guide, a Golf Alpine package to include seven nights sharing a double/twin room in a 4* hotel, with a Golf Alpine pass giving five green fees will cost 624 euros per person. For bookings and further information please visit :www.kitzbuehel-golf.com