Perfect weekend golf getaways: Part two

Munich, Brussels and Copenhagen are ideal cities for a quick break. We pick out some great golf courses and nearby hotels for the perfect weekend golf trip.

Munich

Play: Münchener Golf Club

Stay: Hotel Bayerischer Hof

Located close to the heart of the city, Münchener Golf Club offers a quiet oasis. The oldest course in Bavaria, the club, which has two courses, has a proud history stretching back over a hundred years. The fun 9-hole Thalkirchen course is situated in the Hellabrunn Animal Park, on the banks of the River Isar. The more open 18-hole StraBlack course is a parkland layout with fairways that narrow down to small, well-guarded greens. A great choice for a quick golfing getaway.

Hotel Bayerischer Hof is a 5-star hotel located in Munich’s fashionable shopping district, just 4km from Munchener Golf Club and just a five minute walk from sights such as the Bavarian State Opera and the Hofbräuhaus Beer Hall. There’s 337 rooms, of which 74 are suites, each in an original design, ranging from cosmopolitan to colonial style.

There’s a spacious sauna area, a gym with scenic city views, and a beauty salon. In terms of food, the highlight of the five restaurants is the 2 Michelin-starred Atelier Restaurant with seasonal creations of the highest order. There’s also the Polynesian-style Trader Vic’s restaurant, and five bars including the famous Falk’s Bar, as well as the Blue Spa Bar & Lounge.

Brussels

Play: Knokke Le Zoute

Stay: Resort La Reserve

Knokke Le Zoute, also known as Royal Zoute Golf Club, is located in the seaside town of Knokke-Heist about 50km north-west of Brussels. The Championship Course here has hosted the Belgium Open and Sir Nick Faldo described it as a “hidden gem”. 

The out and back layout undulates over dunes in a superb landscape of pine trees, hawthorn, birch and poplar. There’s also a highly entertaining 18-hole par-64 option called the Executive Course with small and tricky greens. Together they are a must visit for golfers to Belgium.

Resort La Reserve is just 2km away from Knokke Le Zoute and just a 5 minute walk from the beach. It’s a 4-star hotel and lies over the road from Casino Knokke and the beachside boulevard. There’s 106 luxurious rooms, an executive suite and a presidential suite. It has wellness facilities with an indoor swimming pool, sauna, hammam and massage booths. With lovely views of the Zegemeer lake, Restaurant Dinner 160 offers a menu using seasonal ingredients, while Bar 160 serves drinks and snacks on a lovely outside terrace.

Copenhagen

Play: The Scandinavian Club

Stay: Hotel Sanders

The Scandinavian Golf Club is located just 25 minutes from Copenhagen and is home to two of Europe’s finest layouts, both designed by famed architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. Each is laid out in 500 acres of forest separated by streams leading into natural ponds. The Old Course opened in 2010 and is ranked by All Square as the second best course in Denmark. The New Course, ranked by us as Denmark’s fourth best course, opened a year later and together they offer immaculate greens and fantastic golf in a truly peaceful and secluded setting.

Hotel Sanders is set in the heart of Copenhagen, just behind the Nyhavn Canal and just a stroll away from the royal residences of Amalienborg Palace, the Royal Theatre, Christiansborg Palace and the Royal Danish Opera. It’s a 5-star elegant boutique hotel with 54 luxurious rooms each with its own style and design.

There’s a rooftop conservatory garden and the restaurant Sanders Kitchen offers a menu inspired by Mediterranean cuisine. Classic cocktails and selected wines are served at bar Tata, which offers a peaceful atmosphere in a vintage setting. There’s a lovely inner courtyard too, a perfect place to enjoy a drink in the evening or breakfast the following morning.