Golfland Upper Austria: 28 golf clubs between mountains, lakes and chocolate

From the sparkling lakes of the Salzkammergut to the rolling hills of the Mühlviertel: Upper Austria has quietly and secretly developed into one of the most versatile golf eldorados in Europe. With 28 facilities in a confined space, the region offers a density that inspires professionals and beginners alike. But what makes “golfing in four-quarter time” so special? A search for clues between championship aspirations and living down to earth.

Anyone who swings a club in Upper Austria quickly realizes that golf is more than just a sport — it is a way of life. “What sets us apart is our high density,” it says from the region. In fact, golfers can often find up to seven completely different courses within a radius of just 50 kilometers. From the state capital Linz, almost all of the 28 facilities can be reached in less than an hour. It is this uncomplicated diversity that makes Upper Austria a “golf paradise”.

Here you can find numerous other exciting travel reports from the most beautiful golf courses in the world.

The documentary in the video: Discover the Upper Austrian golf region

Tradition meets panorama: The legacy of the emperors

Our journey begins where Emperor Franz Joseph once had summer holidays: in the Salzkammergut. The GC Salzkammergut in Bad Ischl, founded in 1933, is the oldest club in the country. If you tee off here, you breathe history — and enjoy views that reach as far as Styria.

A fresher wind is blowing just a stone's throw away. At GC Attersee, former world sailing champion Andreas Hagara has created a retreat that focuses on nature. “You have no accommodation, no parallel lines,” is how Hagara describes the exclusivity of peace. Between biotopes and the deep blue view of the lake, stressed everyday guardians will find one thing in particular: deceleration.

Architecture and Innovation in Mühlviertel

The GC St. Oswald in Mühlviertel proves that golf in Upper Austria also takes bold architectural paths. The history of the club is as unusual as its design: Inspired by a training camp in New Zealand, ski legend Hans Pum brought the golf idea to his home country. The result is a complex designed by Irish architect Melf Flanagan, whose clubhouse — a winning design by Linz University of Arts — sits like a modern work of art in the hilly landscape.

Between championship claim and chocolate

For ambitious sports enthusiasts, there is no way around the Kremstal Golf Resort and the GC St. Florian. While Kremstal scores points on 15 holes with its 27-hole resort and challenging water hazards (“difficult but fair”), St. Florian stands out as a “Leading Golf Course.” The fairways there are “soft as a mattress”, the greens “extremely fast” — a royal treat at the foot of magnificent Tillysburg.

If you want to fill up the calories you've burned up after the round, you'll find a special highlight in the Kremstal: the largest chocolate fountain in the world. It is precisely this combination of sporting excellence and enjoyable leisure activities that defines the region.

The secret recipe: The “chilled” mentality

Despite the high density of elite places, elitarianism is sought in vain in Upper Austria. “With us, the lawyer sits next to the janitor,” they say in the clubs. Whether at the Danube Golf Club with its family atmosphere or in GC Schärding near the border — the hospitality is genuine and uncontrived.

Upper Austria proves that a top destination not only impresses with perfect greens, but above all with the people who care for and play on it. Regardless of whether you are looking for the 18-hole championship course or are a beginner venturing on the public nine-hole course: The golf country in the heart of Austria welcomes everyone with open arms and a panorama that you won't soon forget.

A conclusion for travelers: Anyone planning a trip to Upper Austria should pack more than just a golf bag. The region invites you to combine golf with hiking, sailing or culture in Linz and Salzburg — an ideal location for family holidays where not everyone has to have a handicap to be happy.