Golf Asia — January 2018

72 GOLF ASIA

ESCAPE

Golf Club Schwarzsee’s 19th hole is a

lovely sunny terrace with magnificent views

of the Astberg, Rauherkopf and Wilder

Kaiser Peaks. Here we ordered a couple of

frosty beers that went down as smoothly as

a top-class skier. If you hear a local player

talking about the 20th hole, what insiders are

referring to is the nearby Schwarzsee Lake,

a wonderful spot for relaxing, swimming and

sunbathing before or after a round.

For some casual golfing action closer to

town, we headed for the quirky nine-holer

attached to the Golf Hotel Rasmushof. The

course has the distinction of being Austria’s

only rated par-3 course; such is the degree

of difficulty. Situated above Kitzbühel

Schwarzsee and Golfplatz Eichenheim.

Within close proximity of Golfplatz

Eichenheim, is the Sports & Wellness hotel

Bichilof that makes an excellent golf base

for the Kitzbühel region. “We offer special

golf and wellness packages and guests

have the use of our golf carts so they can

drive directly to the course,” said the owner

as we checked in. “You open the gate with

an electronic key and go in the back way, its

only five minutes away.”

Designed by golf architect Kyle D. Phillips

(whose impressive portfolio of layouts

includes Kingsbarns in Scotland and The

Grove in England), championship-class

Golfplatz Eichenheim is highly rated in

town, not only does it offer stunning views

(especially from the 7th, 8th and 9th tees),

but also it is positioned at the bottom of

the world famous 'Hahnenkamm' downhill

racing trail. It takes an ace skier just under

two minutes to negotiate the 2.5kms of

glittering ice cliff at close on 140kmh in the

annual 'Hahnenkamm' Downhill Race that is

the skiing equivalent of the British Open.

Rasmushof Golf Club is also part of June

Golf Week, six days of non-stop golfing

action that sets the benchmark for the rest

of Austria - offering pro-am competition,

a 100-hole marathon (eleven rounds at

Rasmushof), Longest Drive on the Streif and

a taste of its top courses including Golf Club

Sculpture of a skier

at the bottom of the

‘Hahnenkamm’ (world

famous downhill racing

trail) in Kitzbühel town

Golf Club Rasmushof’s

ninth green (with

Kitzbühel town in the

background)

ESCAPE

AUSTRIA