Amidst the vines for Austria’s great wine,

Lives a course so beautiful, lovely and fine.

Between the walls of a palace so old,

Stories of centuries past surely are told.

A walk in the park through glorious trees,

Another set of holes to bring you to your knees.

The GC Schloss Schönborn is true to its core,

An experience of a lifetime always in store.

Göllersdorf, a town in the district of Hollabrunn in Lower Austria is site to the Schönborn Palace at Göllersdorf, now a part of the Golf Club Schloss Schönboron.  Built between 1712 and 1717 by the Austrian baroque architect and military engineer, Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt, the Palace is a beautiful representation of the monumental works of the time.  Also known as the creator of The Upper and Lower Belvedere, St Peter’s Church (Vienna), Schloss Hof, Palais Schwarzenberg, and many other stately buildings, before his death in 1745.

The Göllersdorf Palace was designed as a summer house for Friedrich Karl von Schönborn, the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg and Bamberg (Germany) and vice chancellor of the Holy Roman Empire.  Though his roots were of German descent, he was a firm supporter of the house of Austria after securing a diplomatic appointment in Vienna (thus the need for the summer house!).

Schönborn Palace

Centuries later, and much history, the 104 hectare parkland parcel lent itself to the design of a future golf course.  IN 1989, eighteen holes of the course opened, meandering through the forest of the once play ground of the family Schönborn.  German born architect, Kurt Rossknecht, was commissioned to build a course within the castle walls, amidst the lush flora, keeping nature at the forefront.  An additional 9 holes was then opened in 2008, allowing for three very different 9 holes gifts.

GC Schloss Schönbrunn is a 30 minute drive from the middle of Vienna into the Danube region of Austria.  Known for Grüner Veltliner and Rielsings, passing grapes growing just asks you to stop and enjoy.

The Wine Country of Austria

Driving through small towns and onto the grounds of Schönborn is taking a step back in time.  With foliage centuries old and energy          it is hard not to encapsulate          

The golf shop is in the courtyard, across from the restaurant and very near the 1st tee.  With a structure that is reminiscent of years gone by and an air to match, you know the minute you walk the grounds that you are somewhere very special.  Just look around, close your eyes, imagine what it would have been like to “summer” here a mere four hundred years ago.

The staff at GC Schloss Schönborn are kind, generous, beyond helpful.  As you check in, there are options of riding in a cart, pushing a cart, or the hybrid, push the electric hand cart.  Depending on your fit level, your desire, and overall gumption, this is a walking course, if you want.  And with all the other courses near Vienna, my suggestion is at least take the electronic push cart.  There are a number of hills, long walks between holes, and just time to take a minute.  Pathways carved within the course take you on a story, you just have to be open to the chapters.  But getting back to the course…

The first hole is a short but demanding par 4.  Starting out of the gates with driver down the right side, just be aware of the bunker on the right side of the fairway.  A bunch of trees cover just the left part of the green, but other than that, it is a straight shot in.  The green is deep so just take note of the yardage before selecting the club for approach.

Looking from the second green back toward the fairway

Just to the right of the first green are the tees to the second hole.  A slight dogleg to the left and a fairway to tilts up, an average distance becomes longer and harder.  Fairway bunkers dot both sides of the landing area, asking you to be precise and understanding of the task at hand.  Anything center leaves you a chance of a GIR and opportunity of securing a nice score.

From the second green to the third tee box is but a short walk.  A slightly elevated drive sends you on your way.  Resembling a small boomerang to the right, this hole opens up on the second shot and into the approach.  Miss a few fairway traps along the left and the tree that guards the right half of the green and you are home free.  However, the distance is great and you need three amazing shots to get you where you need to be.  The green is long, receptive and tame.

Green on the 3rd

Another deep and intense hole ahead for the 4th.  However, with a bit of a decline halfway through the hole, the yardage plays a little shorter than the hole before.  Taking a driver just over the initial left half of the fairway will cut off a few meters, but make sure you leave room away from the trees to the left.  A big drive will give you ample opportunity of making your par, whatever that might be.

Picturesque and perfectly framed green on 4

The first par 3 of the day, and it is a mighty one.  The 5th hole is long, brutal, and just huge.  A green-side bunker slides in on the left side making it difficult to do anything but run it up to the right.  If you can hit your long irons, hybrids to fairway metals high, then great.  Another way to play the hole is short ready for a bump and run for the up and down.

A beautiful par 4 rounds the corner for #6, back into the magnificent architecture of the early 18th century.  A little shorter hole and perhaps a tad wider than the others thus far, tempts you to take the driver and swing for the hills.  But there is a pond to the right that will snap any slide forward and move to the right.  Fairway bunkers to the left also give a bit of angst, so best just take something to hit to the front of the pond.  The green is narrow and short so play with confidence!

Wonderfully deisgned 6th hole

A shorter par 5 is a welcome sight on #7 after the bearish beginning of the course.  The tee short shoots out a little to the left, swings shortly to the right and then back to the left.  If taking to points to a straight line, then tee to green, here you go.  Slightly uphill all the way and into a very narrow green.  There is only one menacing bunker to the right of the greens running it up left is the shot.

The eighth hole is a downhill par 4 that seems straightforward but traps right and left in the landing area make for a wee bit of challenge.  Three right, three left, miss them and you are can take ride to the bottom of the hill.  From there a shorter approach demands you take it in high as more sand takes guard.  The green is wide but narrow, so make sure your club selection matches.

Downhill into the 8th green

A par three finishes the nine.  Paralleling the first hole, the green tucks back into the clubhouse for a sweet look.  With all opportunity of completing the last couple of hours with a positive notch.  Straightaway, not much to it, but if you have to bail out even a little, make it to the right.

The turn at GC Schloss Schonbrun is just like every other Austrian venue.  There is food, beer, laughter, time… if you need it.  Golf in Europe is about the game, the walk, and not about fitting in as many players for revenue as possible.  So take a few minutes, grab a bite (maybe a few more golf balls) and head to the 10th tee.  The back nine is vastly different than the front.

The first half of the 10th hole lines up with the 6th hole, bringing in the pond to the right.  It shouldn’t be too much trouble so just put the blinders on and aim for middle of the fairway.  Bunkering does create a

few obstacles, but again, no worries.  Just blow the drive past them or keep it short.  The green is straight ahead and easy to navigate.

Whether you are walking or riding from the 10th to the 11th, the journey takes you near the entrance and the fortress.  As you make the turn left onto the tee, the sight ahead is something to beholden.  A short par 3 with a view past the green of the palace.  It is just glorious. Not sure if this is the signature hole, but it is certainly one of them.   Mid-length from all tees, it is important to hit all the yardage of the club at hand.  Four bunkers take refuge al along the green.  Personal experience… the bunkers are a fine place to be.

The 11th hole is something out of a James Bond movie

One of the easier holes on the course comes in at 12.  Since the distance is short, a good thought is to swing a hybrid or 3 wood  over a little burn and onto the fairway,  Those with big length can go ahead a work it to the green but it may or may not pay off.  Personal experience… with the 3 wood up the center.

The path to 12 to 13 is something out of a novel.  Statues, gardens, peace.  Take it all in as you move along.  The par 5 bends to the at a 90 degree left. The drive is the key here, hit it in the middle and you are good to go.  The second shot is fairly straight with little time for a misfit.  With a small green, missing it short is okay.  Personal experience… play for the bump and run.

The walled green of the 13th

The 14th is a short but good par 3.  Slightly uphill adds yardage but not too much.  It is the easiest hole on the course, so play for it.  Keep your focus and aim for the middle of the green.

Par 3 - 14th - a chance to improve the card

Hole 15 is long and a beast.  Even though it is straight, it takes everything you have to get to the green in regulation.  Tree lined fairway and a narrow shoot on the tee shot, the approach doesn’t have much of a story, but it will create a twisted plot in your mind.  Just keep it simple and keep the ball moving.  Personal experience…miss the right bunker that sits 50 yards from the green.

You gotta love the 16th hole.  It is so well designed, giving you a nice chance for happiness.  Just for a little bend at the very end, the hole is straight.  You can even take a 3 wood off the tee and still have enough in the tank for 2-3 shots in regulations.  The green is narrow so if anything, miss it short and rely on your short game.

Well hidden green amidst the reeds - #17

The par 4, 17th looks like it will be a sure thing, but with a pond to the right front of the green, the play is a high shot in to stop the ball on a dime.  The green is narrow and demanding. Bunkering is like Picasso with a canvas just getting started.  Personal experience, hit something about 200 yards off the tee.  No need to press.

So the other signature hole should be the 18th, a beautiful par 5 toward the palace.  A slight dogleg to the right with a tree right in the middle of the landing area is a bit tricky.  Then a burn 3/4 down the way asks you to either lay up or boom it up the center.  This is such a beautiful hole.  And it is the last of the game.

Approach on the 18th - beautiful side view of the Palace

What a day on the links.  With so much history surrounding the grounds, the walk through Schloss Schönborn is storybook.  If you close your eyes, you can just sense the grand staircase, the ladies coming down in dresses of grand.  Men with tails and top hats and an orchestra playing around.  Just letting it seep through. This is golf within the walls of time.  It is a brilliant test, but even a more glamorous adventure.  When in Vienna, do as the Viennese do…have style, sophistication and elegance.  All GC Schloss Schönborn.