Text by Jacek Artur Gazecki

Golf has been played in Poland for longer than you might imagine. In there early part of the last century, before the Second World War, there were a couple of 9-hole courses, though these were mainly the preserve of the aristocracy or the army. It wasn’t until 1992, following the end of the communist era, that golf started to re-emerge in Poland, with the opening of the first 18-hole course in Rajszew, North of Warsaw. Since then, fourteen new 19-hole golf courses have been opened, along with seven new 9-hole courses, and new projects are appearing every year.

The appeal of these golf courses lies in the varied layouts – the input of well-known golf architects, including Gary Player, Jan Sederholm, Hans-Georg Erhardt, Cameron Sinclair, Ronald Fream, Martin Hawtree and Jeremy Pern has ensured that the courses challenge more experienced golfers without excluding beginners, who can still enjoy a good round in beautiful surroundings.

In Poland, the golf season usually begins in April and lasts until the end of October, though it often lasts longer in the north-western corner of Poland.

Listed below is a short introduction to some of Poland’s most popular golf-courses. This is by no means an exclusive list – a full list of clubs and details of their locations can be found on the website of the Polish Golf Union, www.pzgolf.pl

Amber Baltic Golf Club, Kołczewo on Wolin Island

Amber Baltic Golf Club was opened in 1993, and designed by Hans-Georg Erhardt. A beautiful layout in the middle of Wolin National Park, among hills, marshlands and forests. Although not long, the course is very testing and favours straight hitting to receptive, undulating greens.
• 18-hole championship course and a 9-hole executive course
• Golf lessons are available
• Green Fee: approx. €40 on weekdays, approx. €55 at weekends
• Nearest airport: Szczecin-Goleniów (60 km away)
• Nearest ferry terminal: Świnoujście (30 km away)
• For further information, visit www.abgc.pl

Binowo Park Golf Club, Binowo near Szczecin

Binowo Park Golf Club was opened in 2000. The charm and appeal of Binowo Park Golf Course comes from the friendly staff and unique characteristics of the course with 10 hectares of water and features 35 meters of elevation changes. With 3 sets of tees at the course, players of all abilities are offered the opportunity to play and enjoy one of the most beautiful golf courses in Poland.

• 18-hole championship course and a 9-hole executive course
• Golf lessons are available
• Green Fee: approx. €32 on weekdays, approx. €39 at weekends
• Nearest airport: Szczecin-Goleniów (40 km away), or Berlin (150km away)
• Nearest ferry terminal: Świnoujście (100 km away)
• For further information, visit www.binowopark.pl

Modry Las Golf Club, Choszczno

One of Poland’s newest golf courses, Modry Las Golf Club was opened in 2008 and designed by Gary Player. Modry Las is a championship standard golf course set among lakes and low hills which at the length of 6638 m – an excellent course for experienced golfers to challenge themselves.
• 18-hole course
• Golf lessons are available
• Green Fee: approx. €30 on weekdays, approx. €40 at weekends
• Nearest airport: Szczecin-Goleniów (90 km away)
• Nearest ferry terminal: Świnoujście (160 km away)
• For further information, visit www.modrylas.com

Postołowo Golf Club, Postołowo

Postołowo Golf Club was opened in 1997 and designed by Jeremy Turner. At 7101 m from the tips, this is the longest course in Poland and one of the longest in Europe. Beautifully laid out among hills and lakes with wide fairways and very large greens it is a true test of golf for all standards of players. It was the venue of the EGA European Championships 2002 and 2008.

• 18-hole course and a 6-hole executive course
• Golf lessons are available
• Green Fee: approx. €45 on weekdays, approx. €57 at weekends
• Nearest airport: Gdańsk (32 km away)
• Nearest ferry terminal: Gdańsk (40 km away), Gdynia (50 km)
• For further information, visit www.golf.com.pl

Mazury Golf & Country Club, Naterki near Olsztyn

Mazury Golf & Country Club was opened in 1994, though completely redesigned by Hawtree Ltd in 2004, before reopening in 2005. Beautifully laid out among hills, lakes and trees with wide fairways and large greens.

• 18-hole course and a 6-hole pitch and putt course
• Golf lessons are available
• Green Fee: approx. €31 on weekdays, approx. €40 at weekends
• Nearest airport: Gdańsk (180 km away), Warsaw (220 km away)
• For further information, visit www.mazurygolf.pl

First Warsaw Golf & Country Club, Rajszew (25 km from Warsaw)

Opened in 1992, First Warsaw Golf & Country Club was – as the name would suggest – the first golf course in Poland. It was designed by Jan Sederholm. A tough and tight layout among trees and lakes. Straight hitting is a must!
• 18-hole course
• Golf lessons are available
• Green Fee: approx. €45 on weekdays, approx. €80 at weekends
• Nearest airport: Warsaw (35 km away)
• For further information, visit www.firstwarsawgolf.com

Toya Golf & Country Club, near Wrocław

Designed by Jeremy Pern, Toya Golf & Country Club was opened in 2006. A true tournament course, with water and trees in play on most holes.
• 18-hole golf course and a 9-hole executive course
• Golf lessons are available
• Green Fee: approx. €32 on weekdays, approx. €50 at weekends
• Nearest airport: Wrocław (30 km away)
• For further information, www.toyagolf.pl

Rosa Private Golf Club, near Częstochowa

The Rosa Private Golf Club was opened in 2006, and designed by Hans-Georg Erhardt. A course that is beautifully laid out among lakes, streams, mounds and numerous large bunkers. Water in play on most holes. An excellent example of strategic design and target golf.

• 18-hole golf course
• Golf lessons are available
• Green Fee: approx. €55 (Monday – Thursday), approx. €66 (Friday – Sunday)
• Nearest airport: Katowice (50 km away)
• For further information, visit www.rpgc.pl

Kraków Valley Golf & Country Club, near Kraków

Opened in 2003 and designed by Ronald Fream, Kraków Valley Golf & Country Club is a beautifully laid out course among hills and forests. Wind plays a major role.
• 18-hole course and a 6-hole executive course
• Golf lessons are available
• Green Fee: approx. €38 (Monday – Thursday), approx. €45 (Friday – Sunday)
• Nearest airport: Balice- Kraków (25 km away)
• For further information, visit www.krakow-valley.com

Sierra Golf Club, Wejherowo near Gdynia

Designed by Cameron Sinclair and opened in 202, the Sierra Golf Club has a championship course laid out on hills among lakes at the very edge of a forest.
• 18-hole championship course
• Golf lessons are available
• Green Fee: approx. €43 on weekdays, approx. €55 at weekends
• Nearest airport: Gdańsk (35 km away)
• Nearest ferry terminal: Gdynia (30km away)
• For further information, visit www.sierragolf.pl

“Why I Enjoy Playing Golf in Poland”

Pekka Nykänen comes from Finland and has played golf at courses across the world. He tells Discover Poland why he enjoys playing golf in Poland.

“I was in Warsaw on business some time in the early ‘90s, when a colleague suggested a round of golf. It was Spring, and at that time, golf courses in Finland would still have been closed. We went to the First Warsaw Golf & Country Club in Rajszew, just outside of the city. I really wasn’t prepared for a round of golf – I didn’t have my clubs with me, and I hadn’t packed the appropriate clothing. This wasn’t a problem though, as I was able to hire the clubs and buy some clothing. At that time, there were very few Polish golfers – most of the other players that I met at the course were foreign.

A few years later, I was back in Poland – and much better prepared for a round of golf. As well as revisiting the First Warsaw Golf & Country Club in Rajszew, I also played at the Mazury Golf & Country Club in Naterki, near Olsztyn. As well as playing golf there, I also took the opportunity to explore the beautiful Mazurian Lakes and enjoying some excellent food.

Within a few years, I found myself visiting Polish golf courses at least once a year. Even though the number of Polish golfers is still relatively low, I can certainly see how the golf infrastructure has developed since the early ‘90s. Even in the height of Summer, you can often just turn up at a course and play on your own without having to pre-book tee off times. That would be impossible in many other countries!

I still like to make a point of playing golf in Poland every year, and found a company that helps me to arrange everything. It is called Golf in Poland and they provide an excellent service, which includes providing advice on different courses, arranging hotel accommodation and even organizing sightseeing trips. They can also arrange car rental – with or without a driver, which is quite important as many golf courses in Poland tend to be located outside of the cities, and not always easy to find. Any non-golfers that you are traveling with needn’t feel left out, as Golf in Poland can also put together an itinerary for them too.

I can honestly say that I have enjoyed all of the golf courses in Poland that I have played at, but of course I do have my favourites. I like to visit Gdańsk and the surrounding area every year, so that I can play at two excellent courses there: Postołowo Golf Club at Postołowo, near Gdańsk and the Sierra Golf Course in Wejherowo. The course at Postołowo is challenging, and it’s also a very long course – in fact it’s one of the longest courses in Europe from the back tees. It is also a very beautifully built course, and it blend nicely into its natural surroundings, with some very nice water elements. It is no surprise that the Postołowo Golf Club has been voted one of the 100 best golf courses in Europe according to Golf Digest. The Sierra Golf Course is different; it may not be as difficult as the course at Postołowo, especially as some of the first holes can be rather forgiving, which can lull you into believing that you are playing an easy course, yet there are a few rather challenging holes to catch you out! Both courses are extremely beautiful and were in extremely good shape last time I played there.

I have only ever had very positive experiences of playing golf in Poland. I was really quite impressed by the quality of the courses and their conditions, which have been very consistent throughout the years that I have been playing golf in Poland. One thing that I notice about the golf courses in Poland is that there are very few people playing, which makes the courses less crowded. I have played golf in five continents, including Australia, Asia and the Americas, and have found the Polish golf courses to be just as competitive – not just with regard to the course, but also the facilities such as the practice areas, the restaurants, the caddie masters and the pro-shops. All courses offer equipment rental. I usually bring my own clubs etc; however I once had to use this service when the airline lost my equipment as I was travelling to Poland. I had to rent equipment every time that I played, but it was fine.

The green fees are not exactly cheap, though they are not expensive either. A lot does however depend on the currency, which did hit me in the pocket last year, though is currently more favourable. Poland is however an affordable country to visit regardless of the exchange rate, especially for the different components of your trip, such as the hotels, restaurants and car hire.

When I’m not playing golf, I like to explore the rest of what Poland has to offer. There are some beautiful beaches at Międzyzdroje and near Gdańsk – one of my favourites is Sopot, the “Summer Capital of Poland”. Kraków is also great, as is Warsaw and Wrocław – these cities have so much culture and history, and there are so many things to see there. From Kraków, you can also escape to the mountains, and Olsztyn has some amazing lakes.

If I were to give any advice for anyone visiting golf courses in Poland for the first time, I would suggest that they plan their trip with an expert such as Golf in Poland. Just get out there and explore what is a truly fascinating country, and of course make sure that you spend time doing something other than playing golf.”

For further information on Golf in Poland, visit www.golfinpoland.pl

 Postołowo Golf Club

The Postolowo Golf Club, near Gdansk ranked by the Golf Digest as the best golf course in Poland. With a length of 7, 094 meters is also quite possibly the longest PAR 72 course in Europe.

Beautifully laid out among hills and lakes with wide fairways and very large greens, Postołowo Golf Club is a true test of golf for all standards of players. The golf club was established in 1997, and the course was designed by the British-born golf architect, Jeremy Turner, who explained at the time, “What I have tired to do with this beautiful tract of land is to create a golf course that is a real challenge to the good player. At the same time I want it to be really enjoyable for the higher handicapper”. Many golfers – regardless of their ability – would be inclined to agree that he has achieved this.

Postołowo Golf Club is regarded as one of the best golf clubs in Poland, and it the club will also be hosting a reception for the delegates of the AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators) Annual Conference, which will be taking place in Gdańsk in June 2009. President of Postołowo Golf Club is looking forward to welcoming the delegates, “I am looking forward to welcoming the delegates of the AITO Conference in June. Postołowo Golf Course will be hosting a special reception, which will give the delegates an opportunity to experience the course and its facilities for themselves. Some of the delegates are specialist golf tour operators, many of whom will be visiting Poland for the first time. This will be an excellent opportunity for them to see that Postołowo Golf Course can easily rival any other golf course in Europe, if not the world.”

Postołowo Golf Club has recently launched a special package, which is perfect for anyone tempted to visit this beautiful part of Poland. For €195 per person, golf enthusiasts can enjoy:

• Two days of unlimited golf at Postołowo Golf Club
• Trolley hire
• Token for the Driving Range
• Welcome drink
• Two nights’ accommodation at a 3 star guest house (double room, two people sharing)
• Private airport transfer

For further information on Postołowo Golf Club visit www.golf.com.pl

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