Prague golf

While Prague's charms are no secret, few foreign tourists know that, less than an hour away by rental car, lie a number of fine golf courses. Enjoy Prague golf when you visit Prague. Some golf courses might be surprised to read golf and Czech in the same sentence, but they shouldn't be. The Czechoslovak Golf Association was founded in 1931 and the country now boasts 70-plus golf facilities, including 15 18-hole courses. More than 15,000 Czechs have taken to the game in a serious way - an increase of about 13,000 since the time of the 1994 Czech Open. Visitors to Prague should save a little time on their itineraries in order to hit a quality golf course or two nearby. Golf Resort Konopiste and Golf Club Podebrady may be markedly different from each other, but these tracks offer a solid, affordable golf experience in a uniquely Central European setting. Golf Resort Konopiste lies just beyond the charming town of Benesov, some 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of Prague. The club's moniker is a tip of the cap to nearby Konopiste Castle, once home to Archduke Franz Ferdinand d'Este, who headed the Austro-Hungarian empire until 1914 when he was assassinated in Sarajevo, touching off World War I. Golf Resort Konopiste is among the newer 18-hole courses in the region, having opened in summer of 2002. The resort boasts a 7,091-yard, 18-hole track for members, resort guests and visitors with a valid handicap card. There's also a public nine-hole course and a second 18-holer is slated to open sometime next year. The courses surround a renovated country manor that houses the golf shop, restaurant, hotel rooms and conference facilities. The 18-hole course offers a fun - and fair - test of your game, not to mention an opportunity to burn off all the Czech beer you've been drinking, as everyone walks. There are a mix of long, open par 4 and 5 holes, and just for fun, a number of dandy tests such as the par-5 fourth hole, which is like driving down a tunnel, with tall trees lining both sides and a creek on the left. Fairways are hilly and rolling and some areas are bordered by thick, lush forest. The course still feels young, however, with a number of fairways divided by hardwood saplings. As the foliage matures, the course will have a better feel.

Thirty miles (50 kilometers) east of Prague lies the picturesque spa town of Podebrady. The course there, Golf Club Podebrady, was established in 1961, making it among the oldest facilities in the country. Today's par-72, 18-hole layout was completed in 2000 and last year the club leased even more of the surrounding land with an eye on expansion. The cavernous main clubhouse dates back to 1922 when it served as a radio communications center. Ironically, after the communist takeover in 1948, they used the equipment here to jam broadcasts from the West. All radio gear is long gone and now the clubhouse houses a golf shop and eight-tee indoor driving range, in addition to a restaurant, bar and hotel rooms. The entire facility covers some 247 acres and you'll not pass one residence during your round. The 6,566-yard course is quite flat, making is an easier walk than Golf Resort Konopiste. It's important, though, to bring more golf balls. The Labe river runs nearby and streams and ponds come into play on 11 different holes. The front nine is a pleasant mix of challenges and rewards. Rounding the turn, you might think you're in for more of the same. But once you reach no. 12, hold onto your spikes and hope for the best. There's a challenging barrage of doglegs and water carries. Coming up the wide-open approach to the 18th green, however, you have an unobstructed view of the clubhouse and can take comfort knowing that a cold draft beer awaits.

The list of golf clubs in Prague is following:

• Golf & Country Club Prague – 9 holes, Vltavanů 982, Prague 4 - Hodkovičky, tel: +420 244 460 435
• Golf Club Hostivař – 9 holes, Hornoměcholupská 565, Prague 10 - Hostivař, tel: +420 724 124 818
• Golf Club Motol – 9 holes, Plzeňská, Prague 5 - Motol, tel: +420 257 216 584
• Golf Club Zbraslav – 9 holes, K Radotínu 15, Prague 5 - Zbraslav, tel: +420 244 460 713

The list of golf clubs near Prague is following:

• Golf Resort Konopiště - 3 green fields: 18 holes, 18 holes, 9 holes, Tvoršovice 27, Benešov, tel: +420 317 784 044
• Golf Club Poděbrady – 18 holes, Na Zálesí 530, Poděbrady, tel: +420 325 610 928
• Golf Resort Karlštejn – 27 holes, Běleč 272, Liteň, tel: +420 311 604 991