Golf News From Steiermark 

The initiative of the Styrian Golf Association has already made an impact on the local golf scene in its very first season. “It has become clear that the Steiermark GOLF CARD is an ideal way to enjoy the golf courses in Styria and play rounds on our magnificent courses from the Dachstein all the way to the thermal spa region,” explains Karl Fussi, Board Member of the Styrian Golf Association. “The card has been very well received in many places. I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank the tourism regions and our diverse range of partner hotels. Thanks to this excellent cooperation, Golferlebnis Steiermark is heading in a very positive direction,” Fussi adds.

His fellow board member Thomas Aigner also sees the development as confirmation: “After starting last year with seven hotels, we now already have 18 partner properties. We have therefore more than doubled the number. This feedback shows us that hotels and accommodation providers have been waiting for a product like the Steiermark GOLF CARD.”

Alpine Golf Experiences at Spa Hotel Erzherzog Johann and IMLAUER Hotel Schloss Pichlarn

The green-and-white golf journey begins in the north, more precisely in the “geographical centre of Austria”. This is where the 4-star Spa Hotel Erzherzog Johann is located, right in the centre of Bad Aussee, in the heart of the Styrian Salzkammergut. This traditional hotel combines regional charm with modern comfort and offers stylish rooms, a spacious wellness area with Sky Spa, indoor and outdoor pools, as well as excellent regional cuisine. Thanks to its central location, the hotel is an ideal starting point for hikes, bike tours and excursions to the region’s lakes and attractions. With GC Ausseerland, one of the country’s most beautiful 9-hole courses is just a five-minute drive away.

The journey continues where the Enns Valley reveals its true alpine character. At the foot of the Grimming, IMLAUER Hotel Schloss Pichlarn is one of the country’s finest golf hotels. At IMLAUER Hotel Schloss Pichlarn, historic castle charm meets modern 5-star comfort. Elegant rooms and suites, views of the Grimming massif, the redesigned 18-hole course and a new TrackMan driving range make the hotel a retreat for relaxation, style and sporting ambition. Four further partner courses – Schladming-Dachstein, Ennstal-Weißenbach, Radstadt and GC Ausseerland – are all within easy reach.

Tee Off and Unwind in Murtal

The next stop takes us to the upper Murtal Valley – between Murau and St. Michael bei Leoben. At the Rosenhof in Murau, a traditional family-run business with a real feel for hospitality awaits. Sabrina Ferner runs the hotel in its 14th generation and has created a new feel-good atmosphere with the Teich Lodges, which are proving to be an absolute highlight – enjoy a true “Caribbean feeling” in the Murtal.

The Steirerschlössl in the Murtal is also part of the Steiermark GOLF CARD as a member of the Tauroa Group. Its own tennis court, swimming pond and proximity to the Red Bull Ring are just some of its highlights. Golfers will find an exceptional concentration of courses here: St. Michael im Lungau, Murau-Kreischberg, Grebenzen, Murtal and Reiting Trofaiach-Leoben are all within easy reach, complemented by St. Lorenzen, a 9-hole course. The journey then continues downstream towards Graz.

Murhof Hotel & Restaurant – A Classic

Around 25 kilometres north of the provincial capital lies the Styrian Golf Club Murhof – and with it the eponymous golf hotel. Murhof Hotel & Restaurant has long been considered a classic destination for a golf holiday in Austria. Guests can choose from 26 rooms in various categories, as well as two charming chalets located directly on the 18th fairway. Right on the doorstep is one of Austria’s most renowned golf courses: the 18-hole championship course.

Golf Holidays in the Almenland

Another 25 kilometres away lies Golfclub Almenland. At the foot of the Teichalm, with the Schöckl mountain behind it, guests can enjoy a harmonious combination of nature, golf and regional hospitality. In Eastern Styria, Vital-Hotel Styria is a charming partner property of the Steiermark GOLF CARD. The 4-star hotel is idyllically located in Fladnitz an der Teichalm, at around 700 metres above sea level and right in the heart of Almenland Nature Park. It combines a welcoming, family-run atmosphere with wellness, culinary experiences and outdoor activities. An indoor pool, sauna area, hiking opportunities and the nearby 18-hole golf course create the perfect mix for a relaxing golf holiday.

The Postwirt is another partner property in the Almenland. Originally, it housed the clubhouse restaurant and reception of Golfclub Almenland. For several years now, six spacious double rooms have made it possible to stay overnight here as well as tee off, with views across the first fairway. It is hard to get much closer to the game of golf – and once you meet the charming hosts, you can immediately feel the warmth and hospitality that define this property.

Grand Hôtel Wiesler – Golf Meets the City

With the Grand Hôtel Wiesler, one of the finest hotels in the Styrian capital now also offers its guests a golf experience. This boutique hotel directly on the Mur combines historic Art Nouveau architecture with modern design and is just a three-minute walk from Graz’s main square. Here, golf holidays meet city life, culture, culinary delights and design. From the Grand Hôtel Wiesler, numerous golf courses are within easy reach, from Murhof and Golfclub Almenland to Gut Murstätten and Frauenthal. The closest is Grazer Golfclub Thalersee, just around a 20-minute drive away. This makes the Wiesler an exciting choice for anyone who wants to play golf in the morning and enjoy the city in the evening.

Tee Off Among Vineyards and Winemakers

Experience the perfect combination of golf, culinary delights and relaxation in the picturesque South Styrian wine country. Ratscher Landhaus is the ideal base for discovering some of the finest golf courses in Styria while enjoying the unique wine landscape, warm hospitality and regional cuisine. GC Gut Murstätten, GC Schloss Frauenthal and GC Murhof – three true green-and-white classics – can all be reached in under an hour.

Golf Holidays in the Thermal & Volcanic Region

A particularly large number of Steiermark GOLF CARD partner hotels can be found in the south-eastern part of Styria, the Thermal & Volcanic Region. Here, golf, wellness, culinary delights and the gentle landscape of Eastern Styria come together to create a type of holiday that has been delighting returning guests for years. Bad Waltersdorf, Loipersdorf and Klöch offer three more 18-hole courses, making the region particularly attractive for golfers. In Bad Waltersdorf, Spa Resort Styria, located directly next to the golf course, and Hotel & Spa Der Steirerhof are two hotels with an excellent reputation. Both offer numerous golf packages, a wide range of activities and spacious wellness areas. Here, a golf holiday is understood as part of a comprehensive experience of relaxation and indulgence. From Bad Waltersdorf, the journey continues towards Loipersdorf Thermal Spa – and on to the next partner properties.

Spoilt for Choice

Six more Steiermark GOLF CARD partner hotels are located near the Loipersdorf Thermal Golf Course: Das Sonnreich Loipersdorf, Hotels Leitner, Stoiser, Krainz and Albizia, as well as Weinresort Unterlamm. Many of these properties benefit from their proximity to Loipersdorf Thermal Spa, Austria’s largest thermal spa, with some even offering direct access. Add regional cuisine, short distances to the thermal golf course and a wide range of sports and wellness activities, and golfers really are spoilt for choice here.

The final highlight of the journey awaits at the Maria Lankowitz golf course. Here in Western Styria, seven hotel rooms are available directly at the golf course. This, too, is typical of the Steiermark GOLF CARD: it combines big names and well-known holiday destinations with smaller, charming properties whose appeal comes from their proximity to the golf course.

Just as diverse as Styria’s golf courses are, so too are its partner hotels. The range extends from alpine castle hotels and traditional family-run properties to urban boutique hotels, thermal spa resorts and small golf hotels right on the fairway. What unites them is a shared goal: to make your golf holiday in Styria as enjoyable, varied and memorable as possible.

With this GOLF CARD, Styria now also has a very inexpensive card that can be ideally combined with a vacation, similar to the Golf Alpin- and Alpe Adria-Card. The initial spark for this activity came from a discussion with the tourism department of the province of Styria. "We were invited to a meeting in the tourism department and the idea of the Steiermark GOLF CARD was put on the table. As both sides were convinced by this new product, we were able to move quickly into the concrete implementation phase," explains Karl Fussi, Tourism Director of the Styrian Golf Association. "We then also quickly found a common denominator with the golf clubs. In this context, thanks also go to the managers and presidents of the golf clubs, who immediately recognized the opportunity of the card," adds StGV President Kurt Klein.

Steiermark GOLF CARD available with three, four or five green fees 

The Steiermark GOLF CARD is available in three versions: "Three green fees cost 225 euros, four green fees are available for 290 euros and the 5-card Steiermark GOLF CARD is available for 350 euros at the 21 golf courses and partner hotels. The GOLF CARD can be redeemed at the 21 golf courses during the official green fee times and is always valid until the end of the next season," explains Fussi. “Of course, you can also play at the weekend, whereby an additional payment of 10 euros is only required on site at the two Leading Golf Courses in Schladming-Dachstein and Murstätten,” Fussi explains further details about the card, which is of course also ideal as a gift.

Governor Mario Kunasek: “Golf is an important economic factor for the whole country”

“In more and more adventure regions, golf is already developing into a year-round activity with high added value not only for tourism, but also for gastronomy and sports retail - and is therefore an important economic factor for the entire country,” emphasizes Governor Mario Kunasek

Sustainable initiative and extensive marketing presence

It is also important for those responsible to state that the Steiermark GOLF CARD “has come to stay”. Fussi: "The project is designed for the long term. The agreements now run for three years for the time being. This should underline the sustainability of the activity and provide planning security." Numerous marketing activities are also planned in connection with the Steiermark GOLF CRAD this year. “Thanks to the support of the province of Styria, the tourism regions, the partner hotels, the golf clubs and the Styrian Golf Association, a good marketing budget has been created, which we will now use sensibly to promote and publicize the Steiermark GOLF CARD in the golf scene,” explains StGV board member Thomas Aigner.

The first visible sign of this is the new website www.golferlebnis-steiermark.at. "The golf courses in Styria offer truly unique experiences, and we need to make local golfers even more aware of this. Golf courses, culinary delights, hotels and nature - golf tourists will find everything they need in Styria and even more than they can get in many other places!" says Aigner.

Michael Feiertag, Managing Director of STG/Steirische Tourismus und Standortmarketing GmbH, emphasizes the advantages of the Styrian golf courses: “Styria as a golf destination offers exactly what golfers are looking for: varied courses within short distances in different landscapes, including excellent culinary and wellness offers that can be easily combined with the sport.”

Vacation with the Steiermark GOLF CARD

Ideally, the Steiermark GOLF CARD should be combined with a stay in a partner hotel. Well-known hotels such as the IMLAUER Hotel Schloss Pichlarn in Ennstal, the Rosenhof in Murau, the Vital Hotel Styria and the Postwirt in Almenland, the Murhof Hotel & Restaurant, the Golfhotel in Maria Lankowitz or the Sonnreich in Bad Loipersdorf will strongly support cooperation with the Steiermark GOLF CARD.

These hotels offer corresponding packages. Holidaymakers can also combine a round of golf at one of the courses along the way with the Steiermark GOLF CARD on arrival or departure - an absolute added value.

Styrian playing professionals are delightedt

Styrian professional players Lukas Nemecz, Timon Baltl and Niklas Regner are also delighted with this initiative. "We are really very proud of our golf courses in Styria and can also compare them well internationally. Both in terms of layout and maintenance, the courses really do offer everything to make golfers' hearts beat faster. I even think we should be a little more confident about the quality of our courses - they don't need to shy away from national and international comparison,“ explains hotelplanner tour player Lukas Nemecz, who points out another component: ”Away from the fairways and greens, Styria impresses with its wonderful cuisine, nature and overwhelming hospitality. We really are a great place to spend a vacation."