GOLF COURSES

   The history of golf in Slovenia began in 1937, when the first golf course was constructed near the town of Bled.It is today one of the oldest courses in Europe made up of the Kings Course with 18 holes and the lake course with 9 holes. It is now an extremely pleasant Golf and Country Club. There are now some 12 quality Golf Courses in Slovenia, offering a vast choice to all kinds of Golfers. 

The Bled course was built by the then Yugoslav king, who had a summer home in this magical town surrounded by the Alps. Donald Harradine was commissioned to design the original course. The first guests were the members of the Royal family and foreign diplomats.

It took some years for further courses to appear in the country, but once they arrived golf became a growing pastime.

The second golf course in Slovenia,was built in 1989, on a gently sloping limestone plateau or karst in Lipica, known for the snow-white Lipizzaner horses from the Viennese court. Barely one mile from the Italian border, it offers a 9 hole course in a green oasis, shaded by 100 year old Oak trees. It is also the only course at present offering all year round golf!

Again it was constructed by Donald Harradine, the same architect who built the first golf course in Bled.

With this success he went on to construct another course at Mokrice in 1991.

In 1992 a further 18 hole course was added at Castle Mokrice, near Brezice, north of Zagreb. 

In 1994, the original golf course, in Bled was extended by 9 more holes.

In 1998 a golf course at Arboretum-Volcji, not far from

the Capital Ljubljana was constructed.An 18 hole course which also offers an additional nine putting greens and a driving range. The course itself is extremely picturesque, with a Par 71.  

Potok, Ptuj, Slovenske Konijice were also opened in 1998, a year later, another course in Olimje was completed.

In 2006 a 9 hole course was built in Ljubljana, the designer was Skofic Peter and it is a Par 34. 

Slovenia's regions are very varied and as such so are the golf courses.From Moravske toplice, with its typical landscape of the Pannonia lowlands, Ptuj, with a view onto the old town centre, Slovenske Konijice, with the golf course in the middle of vineyards, Arboretum and Bled under the Alpine summits, to Lipica, set in the beauty of the Kras.

Otočec Golf Course, is the most recently opened golf course in Slovenia, it is situated only 5 km away from the town of Novo mesto. The course extends along the River Krka and is near the two famous castles in Slovenia – Otočec and Struga. The new course was built to the very latest PGA standards and is set on a hilly terrain surrounded by forest.The course is due to be extended to 18 holes during 2008. Each hole has five sets of tees, which makes the course attractive for both professional and amateur golfers. Fairways are in harmony with the idyllic surroundings, with many mounds and basins.Due to the diverse landscape, golfers can enjoy spectacular views along the fairways, embraced by trees and lakes. The Otočec Golf Course is now the longest golf course in Slovenia. 

Playing golf in Slovenia is a wonderful journey through the many differing regions of this stunning country!!