Tegernsee Golf Club, Bavaria

The course is steeply undulating in parts. 

The golf course at Tegernsee was originally laid out in 1958 as a nine hole course. It is located in a very wealthy part of Germany and membership is exclusively reserved for the Bavarians, however visitors are made to feel very welcome.

There is a large lake about 800 m above sea level that is served by four main towns, all of which benefit from the fabulous views and opportunities around the lake. It is picture box perfect.

The course was extended several years ago to cover a full 18 hole layout, and at 6000 m in length, it is not particularly long, especially as the ball flies up to 10% further at this altitude. The front nine is scenic and more traditional with some pleasing undulations and quite generous fairways. The back nine was added later having to utilise ground which was less typical for a golf layout. The resulting course as a whole is quite hilly and only opens for play during the summer months. From November through to April it is normal for the whole area to be covered in snow when winter sports take over which is a very big theme in this part of Bavaria. 

Given that the course is only open for a short season, it is in remarkably good condition and benefits from high quality greens construction and an excellent maintenance budget. Recently a violent hail storm hit the area causing substantial damage to most of the greens, and many of the members cars were also wrecked by hailstones the size of cricket balls, so it is to the credit of the greenkeeping team that they are able to manage such extremes of weather.

In the summer months, this part of the world however normally benefits from excellent weather: a few showers are inevitable given the mountain backdrop, but for the main part, it is warmer than a British summer with plenty of sunshine and excellent growth for the fairways, greens and tees.

In the clubhouse, there is a warm welcome for everyone and the catering is highly regarded in the area. It is not unusual for the restaurant to be fully booked most nights of the week, even by those who do not play golf.

This area in particular is not one that benefits from a very vibrant, late night lifestyle, but it is a wonderful place to visit. All of the scenery in the area is stunning and there are plenty of opportunities for trekking and bike riding if golf is not your thing. 

Space is limited at Tegernsee so there is no room for a golf range on site. A few miles further down the valley towards the lake is the club’s practice facility, which is a fully fledged range complete with two full-time professionals and a club fitting service. If you wish to warm up prior to playing at the golf club, then a basic net and short game area are available.

The par 70 layout is a good challenge with plenty of opportunities for birdies, but also many chances to fall foul of your scorecard, particularly on the back nine, where some of the holes are particularly tight.

The pro shop is run by a delightful Scottish lady, called Dianne Pringle, who has made the area her home for the last few decades. The shop is beautifully presented and clubs, trolleys and buggies can be hired with ease. 

Golf in Germany is thriving and it continues to occupy an exclusive appeal to wealthier individuals who are looking for strong social fun, as well as developing the golf game.

With Martin Kaymer and Bernhard Langer both winning majors in the last few decades, Germany is becoming a strong golfing nation. A green card is a necessary part of learning to become a fully-fledged golfer in Germany. The green card system ensures that those taking up the sport have an excellent pathway into the game, with plenty of coaching, encouragement, and a level of detail that gives new German golfers considerably more confidence than some who take up the game in the UK. It is without doubt that golf costs more in Germany, than at the average club in the UK, but so do many other things in this particular neck of the woods.

As golf develops across Germany, they will undoubtedly create more champion golfers, both male and female who will encourage future generations to take up this wonderful game.