If someone asks me for tips on a golf trip that’s a little off the beaten path — yet not all that far — the answer is simple: Czechia.
We golfers are a privileged bunch. When we travel with our clubs in tow, we carry what feels like a giant set of keys. A golf bag can open doors to one country after another, to new landscapes, cultures, and people. A golf course is never just a course. It is shaped by its environment — its terrain, its traditions, its people. And so a golf trip becomes so much more: a cultural experience with fairways, greens, architecture, local cuisine, hospitality, and stories woven into every round.
And yet I’m often surprised by golfers who don’t want to broaden their horizons. They’ve found their place (read: Spain), and year after year, that’s the destination. Sure, the golf is nice — but it’s only one piece of a much bigger picture.
On my first trip to Czechia I found myself asking again and again: Why haven’t I discovered this before?
Western Bohemia: spas, castles, and mountain golf
Northwest of Prague lies Western Bohemia — historically the German-speaking region of Bohemia — home to stunning spa towns like Karlovy Vary and Mariánské Lázně. The architecture here is a feast for the eyes — grand, elegant, and endlessly photogenic.
Not far from Karlovy Vary is Golf Resort Cihelny, a dramatic mountain course designed by Gary Player. The scenery alone is breathtaking, with rolling terrain that winds through forests and open landscape, offering varied holes framed by hills.
Then there’s Golf Club Kynžvart, set against the imposing backdrop of Kynžvart Castle. Here the welcome feels personal, the kind of place where golf begins with a toast rather than an instruction. Tight, tree-lined opening holes give way to more open fairways, and the signature 18th presents a memorable tee shot over water with the castle looming in the distance.
Mariánské Lázně
Adjacent to this region is Royal Golf Club Mariánské Lázně, one of the oldest courses in Europe, founded in the early 1900s. Its elegant layout and old-world clubhouse charm offer a different kind of experience — relaxed, classic, steeped in history.
Boutique hotels like Hotel Rezidence Golf provide a welcoming base, where stories flow as easily as the local hospitality. Players gather on terraces after their rounds, swapping tales of memorable shots — and memorable characters.
Modern life
South of Prague lies Golf Resort Konopiště, a resort that perfectly blends golf with its pastoral surroundings, featuring multiple 18-hole courses that traverse parkland and woodland. At the end of the day, the convivial energy in the clubhouse — a mix of locals and visitors — is part of the attraction as much as the golf itself.
Not far away is Panorama Golf Resort, a contemporary 27-hole facility set amid peaceful countryside. Its thoughtful design and modern amenities make it an appealing stop on any Czech golf itinerary, especially for groups and players looking to sample a variety of terrain in one place.
100 golf courses
Across Czechia today you’ll find close to 100 golf courses, ranging from historic club courses and classic parkland layouts to modern resorts across regions around Prague, Karlovy Vary, Brno, and beyond.
This depth of options means there’s always another course to explore — from links-style inland layouts to dramatic mountain venues tucked among rolling hills.
Why Czechia still feels undiscovered
Golf in Czechia stretches back more than a century. The nation’s first course opened in Karlovy Vary in 1904, and the game has continued to grow in prominence and quality ever since.
Yet, compared with traditional golf strongholds in Western Europe, Czechia still retains a sense of discovery. A long weekend here can mix city culture, architectural splendor, spa towns, and terrific golf in one compact itinerary — all wrapped in the warmth of local hospitality.
I left Prague with a feeling that much was still left to be explored. With almost a hundred courses to choose from, I’d hardly scratched the surface.
Maybe it’s time to temporarily park the usual destinations — just long enough to let Czechia show you a new side of the game.
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