'Boat to the first tee, Sir?'
Golf in Austria's Carinthia region can start with an unusual mode of transport
Posted: 26 July 2007
by Tim Beard
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Magnificent clubhouse at Seltenheim
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During 25 years playing golf, I have arrived at – and left - golf courses by several different modes of transport, usually by driving myself, occasionally by taxi and on one ostentatious occasion, by helicopter.
But a visit to Austria’s southern province of Carinthia offered the chance to put another 'notch in the bedstead' - when I travelled to Karntner Golf Club at Dellach on the banks of Lake Worthersee, while adopting a relaxed pose in the padded luxury of a speedboat!
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The author awaits his lift to the course
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When staying at the splendid Hotel Schloss Seefels on the northern shore of the lake, a round of golf at one of Austria’s three oldest golf clubs, seen tantalisingly across the water can involve an hour’s journey, either east towards Klagenfurt or west towards Velden.
But - as I had my wife Diane with me - far more romantic is to load the clubs aboard the hotel's speed boat and cross the water to the clubhouse in a cloud of spray in less times than the Rules of Golf allow to find a wayward tee-shot.
On the eve of the club championship, the spectacular tree-lined course was in superb condition with greens fast and true.
The course (70 euros per round) opens with a tricky par-4 with a lake and stream in play followed by picturesque but fairly standard tests until the fifth (stroke index 1), a 430-yard par-4 dogleg where anything less than an arrow straight drive of atleast 220 yards keeps the green out of sight and out of reach. A long second shot across a water-filled gulley to a plateau green requires some nerve. |
Karntner's viciously sloping tenth fairway looking back to the tee
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At the tenth hole, a 330-yard dogleg right where only a well-struck drive to the left half will cling to a steeply sloping fairway, my tee shot flew a little right of centre and tumbled down a bank into semi rough. Only the good fortune of a decent lie and the execution of a lengthy chip below the overhanging branches allowed me to grab a welcome par.
From the 110-yard ladies' tee on the 11th my wife struck 7-iron into the heart of the green only for two putts to roll back down the tier to her feet again. Best shut up or make sympathetic noises if invited to do so!
The 12th hole is a 600-yard monster demanding a good drive from an elevated tee overlooking the panoramic views of fairways and wooded hills, while 16 is an equally challenging par-3 across a valley to another plateau green with a stream running around it. Here I have to tell you I flushed a 5-iron to within three feet and missed the putt!
A dogleg 17th and a friendlier par-3 brought us full circle for lunch and cold beers on the terrace overlooking the first tee and a small practice ground where players fire their practice balls across the 18th fairway, subject to a warning bell from those leaving the tee! Sounds like an accident waiting to happen for those hard of hearing!
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Challenging tee shot at Karntner's par-5 12th hole
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After summoning our water transport back to the luxury of our hotel, we later had the opportunity to play the Seltenheim courses, near Klagenfurt, with its 27 holes close to the local airport, much of it featuring extensive mounding and rolling fairways.
The original 9-hole Romantik course winds along tree-lined fairways set out in farmland. Eighteen holes of links-style golf (69 euros for 18 holes) have been added to form a championship layout, which presents its challenges quickly with a 580-yard, par-5 second hole featuring a lake down the left and out of bounds to the right.
Stroke index one is the sixth hole, where only a straight drive and long iron avoid water on the left which runs for the full length of this 440-yard, par-4.
Signature hole is the par-3 eighth, with its 165-yard carry to an island green for the guys and a 130-yarder for the girls. We both claimed our pars and skipped off to the next tee hand in hand! Well almost...
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Island green 8th at Seltenheim
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I was impressed by the variety in the holes, including the tricky par-3 at 11th and 15th, and the 360-yard 18th with more water down the right and partially across the front of the green. With six different tees - three for men and, uniquely in my experience, three for women, Seltenheim ensures that golfers of all abilities can find their niche.
Klagenfurt airport less than two hours flying time with
Ryanair from Stansted and with a wide variety of hotels in the region is an area largely undiscovered by UK golfers but highly recommended during the summer months well into September and beyond.
Carinthia boasts eight courses with three more just over the nearby borders of Italy and Slovenia. Golfing skiers can also combine the two sports at Bad Kleinkirccheim (63 euros), 45 minutes’ drive north of Klagenfurt, home course of downhill legend Franz Klammer.
The £50 round hasn't yet reached Carinthia and if you book your golf as part of a
Golfland Karnten golf package is available at most courses for just 50 Euros (£35) whether weekdays or weekends.
For further information contact the
Austrian Tourist Board in London and the
Carinthia golf and hotels.
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