Golfing in Czech Republic

When thinking about possible golf destinations, the Czech Republic is not the first country that comes to the average golfer’s mind. However, this country is just right for a short or longer golf trip in combination with other touristy possibilities. Overall, the country is not that far away from The Netherlands. It takes about 750 kilometres from Utrecht to reach the German-Czech border. Crossing this border takes you to a friendly and hospitable country that on the one hand still shows the marks of a communist and less prosperous past, but on the other hand obviously went through an impressive modernization revolution. You will easily find both rural cobblestone country roads that lead to drowsy romantic villages and fast four lane motorways, state-of-the-art brand new industrial buildings and a fully up-to-date international airport. There is something exotic and mysterious about the country as well.
But what about golfing opportunities? In plenty: there are 60 golf courses all over the Czech Republic (2 36-hole courses, 2 27-hole courses, 13 18-hole courses and 43 9-hole courses). Next to that, over 20 new golf resorts are “under construction”.
The golf sport goes way back in this country. The first courses date back to the beginning of the last century, which makes them over a hundred years old. During the communist episode (1948-1989), there was a short break in the golf history. According to Lenin and his comrades, golf was bourgeois and therefore not permitted to the working class. The first courses in the Czech Republic were constructed for the clientele of the health resorts, for which this country has been famous for a long time. After a couple of days of golf, it is also possible to visit one of the many castles and fortresses. It is said there are several hundreds in the Czech Republic. Many of them are open to the public and give an interesting idea of the sometimes romantic but mostly cruel events that took place there.