Golf courses in the Czech Republic boast not only beautiful natural settings and vibrant nature, but the opportunity to visit nearby historic monuments, museums, and more. And then there’s the golf – championship quality courses with some Bohemian quirks and challenges. These nine courses are recommended by Mikuláš Ordnung, captain of the Czech Golf Federation’s national golf team.
Golf Prague Hodkovičky
A 2005 VIP tournament opened the nine-hole course here which offers good play with three water hazards. Training greens with putting green and chipping area, including training bunkers, are available. The course is open to the public, and a full range of amenities including clubhouse and restaurant, and a range of courses for moms and children, are provided. The course is located in Prague 4, Braník, on the Vltava River; the website is currently in Czech only.
Golf Prague Hostivař
Beginners are always welcome here, or to take part in the golf academy, recently expanded to 9 holes. There’s an extensive program for children as well as mothers; a driving range and indoor facilities are also available. Interestingly, Golf Prague Hostivař’s regular 9-hole course actually contains 11 holes. This course is located in Prague 10, on the east side of Prague; the website is in Czech and English.
Golf Prague Motol
This course offers hilly terrain on the west side of Prague. The 9-hole course is even located near the trams which, far from providing a hazard, permit easy access to the entrance of the course. There’s a training area, driving range, and putting green. The clubhouse offers a terrace and a restaurant; the website is in Czech and English.
Golf Beřovice
Never mind the weather, you can practice your golf skills indoors here, too, with four simulators. Outdoors, you can enjoy 9-holes (one with a sand trap), and the whole course is situated at the end of a charming Czech village. Nonetheless, a pro shop, restaurant, and even a guest house are located on the premises. Golf Beřovice is located near the town of Kladno, west of Prague; the website is in Czech and English.
Golf Karlštejn
If you like culture and golf, Golf Karlštejn is the perfect place to visit. Not only can you enjoy the 18-hole course, you can also visit Karlštejn castle, one of the most popular and famous in the country. The course is situated in meadowland in hilly terrain, and aside from the gorgeous view of the castle, perhaps the greatest distraction is the sometimes strong wind on holes 10 and 11. A driving range, training equipment, and equipment rental are available, along with a swimming pool, hot steam room, massage, and fitness. Golf Karlštejn is located about an hour’s drive west of Prague; the website is in Czech and English.
Golf Konopiště
Continuing on the castle theme, this course offers a restaurant and pro shop in a reconstructed chateau. The course itself, however, makes a few more demands on the golfer: the landscape here is slightly undulating, surrounded by forests and green, and Hole 12 on one of the two 18-hole courses contains a double dogleg. The 9-hole public course is accompanied by an indoor facility with simulators, putting green, chipping and pitching greens. Golf Konopiště is near the town of Benešov, about 40 minutes south of Prague; the website is in English, Czech, and German, with basic information in several other languages.
Golf Mladá Boleslav
This golf area, open since 2007, offers an 18-hole championship “Sand Martin’s holes” – named for the birds that nest here. Climb up the little mountain at the center of the area, and you’ll have a great view of all the greens and 18 holes. A special viewing platform on the 18th hole offers you a great view of the holes 9 and 18. Mladá Boleslav is located about an hour’s drive north of Prague. Services at the club include Thai and regular massage, solarium, sauna, and hairdressers; the website is in Czech, German, and English.
Golf Mstětice
This 18-hole golf course opened in 2004, and soon golfers will be able to go for a full 27-hole course. The course may look a little easy at first, but don’t be fooled. Most of the holes have hazards, such as water, sand, and the 8th green with a large sand bunker on three sides. There are indoor and outdoor ranges, training and chipping green, restaurant and golf shop, and something extra – horseback riding, indoors or outdoors. Mstětice is a small town east of Prague; the Golf Mstětice website is currently under construction.
Golf Poděbrady
This golf course features 18 holes, driving range, and putting and chipping greens, and water, water everywhere: hazards in the form of a gulley, stream, swamp, or pond. (The steamship you may see passing by is actually not part of the course, it’s sailing on the nearby Labe River.) Due to temperate winters, it may be possible to play year ‘round here. But just in case, the clubhouse offers a restaurant and indoor driving range. Poděbrady is about an hour’s drive east of Prague; the website is in Czech and partially in English.