The 5 Most Beautiful Golf Courses Around Munich

The Munich area has many great golf courses to offer. Since we live near Munich ourselves and play a lot of golf in the surrounding area, we thought we’d put together our own list of the top 5 golf courses around Munich.

To ensure that this list isn’t based solely on our subjective impressions, we’ve also established three criteria for evaluating each golf course. As a little bonus, we’ll highlight the unique features of each course—details that might not immediately catch every golfer’s eye. Here are the criteria:

Our criteria for the 5 most beautiful golf courses around Munich:

• Course condition and maintenance – what counts here is our overall impression over the years, not just a single day.
• Food and atmosphere —for many people, these are essential after a great round of golf, and for us too!
• Course design and challenges – here we focus on the unique features that set the course apart!

And here is our ranking for 2021:

1. GC Feldafing, Inc.
2. GC Eichenried, Inc.
3. GC Valley, Inc.
4. GC Wörthsee, Inc.
5. GC Olching, Inc.

Our No. 1: Feldafing Golf Club

The golf course in Feldafing, south of Munich, is nestled in a beautiful park right on Lake Starnberg.

Special Feature:GC Feldafing stands out in our ranking thanks to several unique features. First, it is nestled in abeautiful castle parkright onLake Starnberg. The atmosphere is unbeatable! In the summer, you can combine your round with a swim in the lake; the beach is located right next to the 13th hole. In addition, the club boastsoutstanding dining, which even non-golfers enjoy visiting. And last but not least, thecourse design isunique. The course has been in existence since the 1920s and is one of the oldest in Germany. As a result, the course is somewhat short overall, but the narrow fairways demand everything you’ve got.

Not so great:Due to the very strict environmental regulations in this area near the lake, the greens suffer a bit. Common fertilizers and herbicides cannot be used. Unfortunately, the greens can't keep up with others, but on the whole they're usually fine.

Tip: When the weather is nice, play golf first, then go for a swim, and finish with a meal. A truly wonderful day! From holes 10 and 15, you have a fantastic view of the lake and the Alps.

Website: Feldafing Golf Club

Our No. 2: Eichenried Golf Club

The Eichenried Golf Course in northeast Munich is home to the BMW Open, and for that reason alone, it’s worth a round of golf.

Special feature: GC Eichenried is known as a German venue for the European Tour. Every year, the BMW Open is held here, a tournament popular with both players and spectators. This brings in revenue for the golf club, and it shows. Almost every year, there are minor or major renovations and improvements to the course. That’s great—you don’t get the impression that they’re resting on their laurels here. After all, the course must meet the European Tour’s standards, even if it’s actually quite easy for the pros to play. For us amateur golfers, it’s definitely interesting to play on the same course and get a sense of just how big the difference really is. There aren’t many opportunities to do that in Germany. Especially after the renovation of the greens in recent years, the GC Eichenried has developed into a fantastic 36-hole course —everything about it is just right. The huge clubhouse, the sprawling grounds. One could easily get carried away raving about it.

New for 2019: The greens have been completely rebuilt and redesigned for the tournament. And they turned out great!

Not so great: There’s really nothing to it, except that the course isn’t exactly spectacular. We’re not too fond of the 9 holes that aren’t played during the BMW Open.

Tip: You might get the chance to play the course shortly after the BMW Open. By then, it will still be in rough shape.

Our No. 3: Golfclub Valley e.V.

The golf course in Valley, south of Munich, was built for the Ryder Cup in Germany. That alone gives you an idea of the challenge!

Special Feature: GC Valley is a unique course in many ways. It was designed specifically for the Ryder Cup, so it is very spacious, long, and challenging. There were no space constraints during the planning phase, so there are no cramped holes, as is often the case with many other golf courses. Every hole is well thought out and has its own charm. The obstacles are cleverly placed and—in addition to the length—challenge you to play strategically. The course was designed in the links style, even though it is located in the foothills of the Alps, far from the coast. Unique! When it’s windy, it can get brutal.

Not so great: On really hot days, there’s not a speck of shade to be found. That’s just how links golf is.

Tip: Great practice facilities and three 9-hole courses. You can really let loose here.

Our No. 4: Wörthsee Golf Club

The golf course near Wörthsee, west of Munich, is situated around a beautiful estate and is a real gem.

Special feature: GC Wörthsee offers an all-around fantastic golfing experience. It starts the moment you arrive at the course, with its beautiful buildings and surroundings. You immediately feel at home and look forward to your day on the course. It’s a great course with excellent greens that’s a pleasure to play but also quite challenging. To round off your day, we recommend the excellent dining options and the lovely terrace at the Schlösschen.

Not so great: There’s really nothing to complain about here, except that the course might not be very spectacular. But the great greens more than make up for it.

Tip: Great practice facilities and a short course make it the perfect place to practice.

Website: Wörthsee Golf Club

Our No. 5: Olching Golf Club

Following its renovation, the Olching Golf Course in northern Munich offers challenging shots.

Special feature: GC Olching underwent extensive renovations a few years ago, and the greens were redone. Especially from the white tees, the course really shows its teeth and is anything but easy to play. It’s no coincidence that the Bavarian Championships are often held here. The course is a complete success and ,following the renovation ,features very undulating greens thatare sure to provoke the occasional three-putt. If you’re looking for a golfing challenge, the white tees are the perfect choice.

Not so great: If you're looking for something, it's the relatively narrow driving range with a road running right next to it.

Tip: In the evening, the large wooden deck offers a great view of the square as the sun sets.

Our bonus tip: Golfpark Gut Häusern

The Gut Häusern golf course, located north of Munich, hosts the European Ladies Tour’s Ladies German Open and is well worth a round! The spacious grounds invite you to practice and play on the 18-hole course. And afterward, be sure to enjoy the excellent club dining.

If you have a different opinion or would like to share your own experience with the 5 most beautiful golf courses around Munich, please feel free to leave a comment below.