Golf the Rivers of Europe
Imagine playing on the same intricate golf course as Rory McIlroy while traveling along the world’s most scenic rivers.
Luckily, top-of-the-line golf courses zig zag Europe’s rivers, and cruise companies like Amadeus River Cruises and Amawaterways offer relaxing, golf-focused cruises where your itinerary and tee times are pre-planned. Sailing on a golf cruise balances luxury, fun, and allows enthusiasts to master their trick shots while on vacation time.
The Rhine River:
If your cruise treks from Basel to Amsterdam, start your trip south to experience the sensation of swinging golf balls toward the snow-capped, lush Alps. A two-and-a-half-hour train ride away from Basel lies the iconic Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club which is home to the Omega European Masters and one of the most beautiful courses in all of Europe.
During your cruise, you will wake up in the enchanted Alsace village of Strasbourg. Wander around the storybook town, stopping in a patisserie for a Kugelhopf, a fruity and powdered sugar-packed cake, and strolling through the quaint shops. Then you can venture 15 minutes outside to one of the top courses in France, Le Kempferhof Golf et Château-Hôtel. Here you will play a relaxing, 18-hole course on woodlands overlooking France’s river border with Germany.
A few miles upriver from Rüdesheim you’ll swing at the Jakobsberg Golf Resort which lies in a UNESCO World Heritage Region. Score Aces amid a backdrop of vineyards and medieval fortresses. Celebrate your win with a glass of locally produced Riesling and a regional cheese plate at the clubhouse. After returning from back to the ship, sip on a silky brandy-flavored coffee, Rüdesheimer Kaffee before flying on a cable car above the vineyards and castles of Rüdesheim. If you have time, tour through the Rheingau Wine Museum Broemserburg Castle and pick up a bottle of locally-made Spätburgunder (pinot-noir) before heading back onboard.
Amadeus River Cruiselines’ golf package covers four rounds of golf at world-class courses in various cities along the Rhine and covers green fees, shared golf carts, and transportation from the ship to the golf club.
The Danube River:
Along the waterways from Budapest to Prague, plenty of opportunities exist to tee up in picturesque locations.
Spend two days touring Hungary’s culturally rich capital city Budapest. Take in the complex history of the Buda Castle to then enjoy themed bars and exuberant nightlife on the Pest side of the city. Before your cruise sets sail, challenge yourself with a round at the Pannonia Country Club. With tricky hills and eight water hazards on this course, golfers will put forth their best strategy.
In the morning, your private driver will take you through the scenic countryside of Slovakia to one of Europe’s top-rated golf resorts, Penati. You will play 18 holes on a Nicklaus-designed course that is laid out among pristine pine forests and boasts of having the longest hole in Europe. After lunch you can cross the medieval Michael’s Gate and saunter through the cobblestone streets of Bratislava, dining at an alleyway café for Bryndozové halušky (sheep’s cheese gnocchi) or buying Slovak artwork from a local vendor.
Your golf experience can extend beyond your time on the rivers. AmaWaterway’s post-cruise in Prague experience “the golden city of a hundred spires.” Take two days to tour its imposingly beautiful cathedrals and the world’s largest castle complex (Prague Castle). On your last day, score an Albatross at the European-renowned Albatross Golf Resort. The location of the Czech Open has seven lakes and over a dozen sand traps running through its course. But don’t worry, your practice in Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria led you to this very moment.
The Danube River cruiser, AmaMagna, offers a thoughtfully planned concierge golf program where you can play golf on professional courses in up to five different countries. Players will be treated with persistent club care, a la carte lunch at each course, and a welcome packet that includes golf balls and a pitch repair tool.
Plan with BucketList Travel Advisors and eighteen holes in picturesque locations will combine a love of golf with an opportunity to relax, and explore.