Golf holidays in Karlovy Vary
Karlovy Vary is the largest of the old Czech spa towns on the German border and enjoys a healthy influx of tourists from the old East Germany. The town has two sides to it that could not be more strikingly different: the grim grey communist blocks of the industrial side are less than inspiring; the bright hotels and shops of the spa side are dazzling. The hot waters of the Tepla river run through the brighter side of town that is alive with holidaymakers enjoying all the good things that life in the modern day Czech Republic has to offer. Cafés, shops bars and restaurants line both sides of the river, pony and traps jaunt twixt the strollers and there is a pervasive feeling of well-being.
The town is alive with geo-thermal activity - fourteen hot-springs burst forth from the rock in Karlovy Vary: one is particularly energetic and forms a geyser in the centre of town. Each font carries a unique blend of dissolved minerals from the belly of the Earth, each an alleged cure for a variety of ailments. Czechs visit the springs to drink the waters from the specialised spa cup with a spout in the handle. Everybody carries one, so grab one from the street vendors if you want to fit in with the local look - you never know there might be a cure for three-putting...
Golf holidays in Marianske Lazne(Marienbad)
Marienbad has a string of fabulous old spas and hotels that interconnect with tunnels and covered walkways to form a chain from the top of the hill by the old church right down into the old Roman spa in the centre of town: so you can stay in any one of eight hotels and enjoy as many of the eight spas as you like – a truly unique spa-chain!
Marienbad is a much smaller town than Karlovy Vary but has enough to see and do to keep you entertained for a week. The centre of town is dominated by the arcaded market hall and surrounding gardens: the hub of the town. Foodwise, most of the visitors here stay on a half-board basis at their hotels, which we can organise for you too of course. However, there are enough independent restaurants too should you prefer to just have breakfast included leaving you free to stroll and select your evening dining option.
After dinner the town is refreshingly quiet (no wild party town) however there are a few bars open for a nightcap or the Bellevue Casino is open late for anyone who fancies a post prandial flutter.
Karlovy Vary & Marienbad Golf Clubs
There are half-a-dozen courses to play within easy reach of both Karlovy Vary and Marienbad. Between them they offer a nice contrast in styles between old and modern layouts.
The original two courses are Royal Marianske Lazne and Karlovy Vary; both are classic woodland layouts running through the original forest surrounding their respective towns. Karlovy Vary is the more demanding of the two with generally slightly longer holes: Royal Marianske Lazne is more technical with tighter holes and some tactical golf required.
Amongst the modern quartet of courses, the leader of the pack is probably Cihelny where a lot of money has been invested in a big Clubhouse and a big golf course designed by Gary Player that would be capable of hosting any Pro tournament on its testing layout spread across the wooded hillsides and the more open (and more watery) plain below.
The three remaining Golf Clubs - Sokolov, Franzensbad and Kynzvart - are all fairly new to the scene but have been well designed and well funded so they are both entertaining and kept in good shape. Their designers all had established forest to work with, which always gives the feel of greater antiquity to a new golf course. Franzensbad is the simplest of the three with a very natural feel to its intricate layout; Sokolov and Kynzvart are very much in the 21st Century style with judicious Driver use required from most Tees!
Getting to Karlovy Vary and Marienbad
The fastest route to Karlovy Vary from the UK is to fly to Prague. From the capital it takes about two hours to head west, along good roads, to the German border. We can arrange hire-cars for you (road manners are good), or alternatively we can arrange a local driver to ferry you around.
There are also some routes into Nuremburg, which might be convenient for you, depending on your departure airport.
We can advise on the best flights to the Czech Republic for your golf holiday just let us know your preferred departure airport.
Driving to the Czech Republic
If you wish to pack your golf clubs into your car and head off on your golf holiday under your own steam then it is not out of the question to drive yourself across Germany from the French ports. It will take a full day, but the autobahns are excellent (and as fast as you like!) or you could break the journey with a night in Germany if you prefer?
If you would like to break your journey with an overnight stop en-route then just say the word as we know of many great little places to stay - with golf courses nearby - or even without golf!
