Golf Club St. Leon-Rot

Two championship courses, two characters

St. Leon-Rot opened its first 18 holes in 1997 and has grown into a 45-hole complex. Dave Thomas designed the St. Leon course in the style of a links. It stretches to 6,541 metres from the back tees, with sandy ground, broad water features, heavily modelled bunkers and an island fairway. Length helps, but the club says accuracy matters just as much.

The Rot course is different. Hannes Schreiner fitted its 6,587 metres into the wetter Kraichbach floodplain as a parkland course, keeping large areas of the original landscape as habitat. Reeds, hedges and water frame the holes, and the island green on the 7th is one of its defining shots. Both courses are par 72. A separate 9-hole short course, par 32, gives beginners a gentler introduction while still using enough bunkers to test experienced players.

Tournament ground near Heidelberg

Both championship courses staged the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open. Tiger Woods won the tournament here in 1999, 2001 and 2002, and in 2015 the club hosted the Solheim Cup between Europe and the United States. The practice set-up includes a large two-ended driving range and several pitching, chipping and putting areas.

Visitors need a recognised club membership and handicap index 36 or better for the two main courses. Tee times are booked in advance, and the summer green fee is the same for St. Leon and Rot. The short course has a handicap limit of 54.