Rhineland-Palatinate

Rhineland-Palatinate: Wine and golf in magnificent nature with an historic backdrop

The Rhineland-Palatinate state, likes in the western part of Germany, connects directly to North Rhine-Westphalia and is an old European cultural land right in the middle of the Rhine Schiefergebirge. A varied land, exciting and as diverse as the people who live here. The state’s capital city is Mainz. The interplay between the idyllic river landscapes of the Mosel and the Rhine and the naturally intimate highlands of the Eifel, Westerwald and the Hunsrück-Pfälzer Forest, the historic cities and picturesque cities, well-known wine regions and romantic fortresses bring a special charm to this region.

Among the regions, the Eifel stands forth, a land of volcanic origin. Well-known are the maars, one-time volcanic lakes which were created when, almost 30,000 years ago, hot volcanic magma spewed forth from the earth’s core and exploded when it met the layers of the earth which conduct the groundwater. The Eifel is ideally suited to extensive hiking. In a cosmopolitan manner, it leads to the casino of the elegant Bad Neuenahr spa. Tranquillity rules in the Maria Laach cloister which was founded in 1093. High-speed attractions are offered by the world-famous Nürburgring racetrack. There is a particularly large amount of good water near Bitburg along one of the lakes. The Bitburg Country Golf Club is an outstanding address.

In Coblenz, the Mosel River flows into the Rhine. Previously, it snaked from Belgium through the mountains of the Hunsrück and the Eifel, along the steep slopes of which outstanding wine is grown. On a side trip to the Mosel which likewise has a tourist wine road, one should perhaps play a small round of golf at the Trier Golf Club. Returning to the Rhine, one should visit Coblenz with the German Corner where the Lahn River empties into the Rhine and then breaks forth southwards where the Rhine Valley becomes narrower, the mountains higher, the wine still better and the fortresses still more numerous. The famous Stolzenfels and Lahneck fortresses are located here. With its fortresses, the Middle Rhine has been designated by UNESCO as a Word Cultural Heritage Site.

Golf along the Loreley

Boppard along the Rhine is not only the centre of Middle Rhine viniculture. It is there where Fatehr Rhine deeply sinks into its bed, where it meanders almost like the Mosel, where the Rheinfels fortress near St. Goar towers above the river and there is the annual “Rhine in Flames” (a fireworks spectacle) in September, there looms the Loreley Cliffs where once a blond beauty so bewitched the fishermen that they often ran their boats aground.

Upon the plateau directly behind the Loreley – “I know not what it is supposed to mean” – some time ago, a new beauty has arrived: Upon the Jakobsberg, a golf course was established which is among the most beautiful in Germany. Of course, it is a place in nature. Naturally, it is a wondrous landscape which makes it possible to have great views of the Rhine Valley. Naturally, the 18 holes are difficult – golf upon the Jakobsberg which also naturally has a magnificent hotel – is a fulfilled golf dream. Surrounded by forests, mountains, fortresses and castles, the golfer is again and again offered views of the magnificent Rhine Valley and the surrounding vineyards.

Not far away upon the other side of the Rhine east of Coblenz, there lies the 18-hole coure of the Bad Ems Middle Rhine GC which lies in a tranquil and isolated setting some 370 m above the steep Rhine and Lahn Valleys. The course has an excellent sporting reputation and offers magnificent panoramic views towards the Rhine highlands, the Hunsrück, the Eifel and the Westerwald. The excursion into the Westerwald, more precisely upon the Westerwälder lakeland area is likewise recommended. The lakeland area broadens into a rolling plateau between the Bergköpfen of the Hachenburg Forest in the north up to the valley of the Saynbach in the south and includes a total of seven lakes. The largest lake is the Dreifelder Pond with 123 ha of water area. During the summer months, one can swim, surf, row or ride pedal boats, fish and also play golf upon the 18-hole Westerwald Golf Club course that has existed since 1979 and enjoy the lake landscapes.

In the western Rhineland-Palatinate backdrop where the mountains along the Rhine merge into the Hunsrück, there are likewise some excellent golf clubs. For example, there are the 18 holes of the Stromberg-Schindelhof Golf Club in Stromberg, genuine eye candy. There is also the Nahetal Nahetal which is not far from Bad Münster am Stein and provides magnificent views of the river and mountains.

Mainz – great history – good wine

Whoever thinks of Mainz, naturally these days would think of the Bush visit to the Electoral Prince’s Castle. Not only was the guest from the USA shown great hospitality, but there is also where the “Määnzer Fassenacht” is celebrated.

The city along the Rhine looks back upon over 2000 years of history. Founded by the Romans 38 B.C. as “Moguntiacum”, the city – favourably situated with regards to transportation upon the confluence of the Rhine and Main – was a hub in history, as “Golden Mainz” in the Middle Ages, became the archbishopric seat , later then – in 1816 – first became a provincial capital city of Hesse. In 1946, it finally became the capital city of the new German state of Rhineland-Palatinate.

In order to play golf in the Rhineland-Palatinate’s Mainz and to combine the visit to this magnificent city with an equivalent sport, one must travel to regions which are close to Frankfurt or Wiesbaden (see Hesse/Wiesbaden chapter).

Both golf courses situated near Mainz are the Domtal Mommenheim Golf Club in Mommenheim and the 18-hole champion’s course of the St. Johann Rheinhessen Hofgut Wissberg Golf Club. From the fairways of this golf course, one can – as with the wine – enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the Rhine-Hesse viniculture landscape.

Worms and the Nibelungen

Coming from the east, the Main empties into the Rhine near Mainz. Here, the great river begins its path southwards in a large curve, accompanied by the German Wine Road which extends to Worms and then is dissolved by the Baden Wine Road. Worms, the old German Imperial city and the site of an old Romanesque cathedral, but above all known owing to the chapters of the Nibelungen, the kings of the old Burgund. It was here that Siegfried, Gunter, Kriemhild and Brunhild, Hagen and Volker von Alzey carried out their business or mischief, if you will.

These days, the vaults and graves, the churches and cloisters, but also the pubs and cellar men remind one of the heroes of the Middle Ages. Golf can naturally also be played in this stretch of land between the Pfälzer Forest (“the Schinderhannes”) and Odenwald: There is the golf course of the Gernsheim Hof Golf Club, a very challenging champion’s course which is characterised by two water areas with respectively ca. 11,000 qm, the one of the Bensheim Golf Club with a magnificent view of the front part of the Odenwald, but particularly also the Odenwald Golf Club which is among the most beautiful golf courses in Hesse. The course offers a grandiose panoramic view from numerous tee shot areas at an altitude of 350 m.

Upon the other side of the Rhine, west of Worms, there are the highly recommended fairways of the am Donnersberg Golf Club. Upon the south slope of the identically named Donnersberg, this course requires precise play whereby there are two times where height differences of 50 metres must be conquered. Naturally, one is obliged to visit the German Wine Road Golf Garden which is south of Grünstadt. Not just the play, but rather merely the location which is bordered upon three sides by vineyards and the fairways which lead one directly through the colourful wine grape landscape. To a great extent, the course runs along, but also through the Dackenheim wine grapes and fruit trees and represents an absolute (wine) dream.

Before we finally consign ourselves to the Baden wine and – naturally golf again, we reach the region with Mannheim, Ludwigshafen and Speyer (the cathedral is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site) where the Fortress Road begins which runs through the Odenwald across to the Franconia Alb. Back to the beginning of the Baden Wine Road and – naturally golf – into the Rhine Valley. Already in Neustadt a.d. Weinstraße [Wine Road], one can swing the irons and woods at the Pfalz Neustadt a.d. Weinstraße Golf Club Course and enjoy the gut Pfälzer wine. The course, which was already constructed in 1970, offers beautiful views of the mountainous land. One can also enjoy wine at the Kurpfalz Golf Club in Limburgerhof which is south of Ludwigshafen, but the golf course is already a small superlative in and of itself. Upon 110 ha, an 86,000 qm large golfodrome, a public 9-hole course and an 18-hole championship course are offered. The golfodrome, with over 100 tee shot areas (sometimes covered/heated), two putting and chipping greens, a water green and a pitching green permit tee shots from all directions and offer ideal training conditions. In Mannheim-Viernheim, we find the vintage Mannheim Golf Club which was already founded in 1930 and is among the most popular courses in the Hesse/Baden-Württemberg megapolis. One is always welcomed as a guest in Oftersheim at the Rheintal Golf Club. The old grove of trees gives the Par 72 course a special atmosphere and allows for comfortable play even during summer heat waves.