St. Leon-Rot
The flagship St. Leon course, a Dave Thomas design in the links style built in 2001, is the heart of Golf Club St. Leon-Rot near Heidelberg, a par 72 of about 6,541 metres that hosted the 2015 Solheim Cup. Backed from the start by SAP co-founder Dietmar Hopp, it is among Germany's best conditioned championship venues.
Photo: Golf Club St. Leon-Rot via Google.
The verdict
Golf Club St. Leon-Rot sits in the flatlands south of Heidelberg, a 36 hole facility founded by SAP co-founder Dietmar Hopp and run to a standard that few European clubs match. Its championship layout is the St. Leon course, built in 2001 to a Dave Thomas design in the style of a British links, a par 72 of about 6,541 metres of rolling, treeless ground that hosted the 2015 Solheim Cup.
Our verdict is that St. Leon-Rot is the most polished tournament venue in Germany and a genuine destination round, immaculately presented and refreshingly open after a diet of tree lined parkland. The investment behind it shows in everything from the turf to the practice facilities, and it pairs naturally with the history and dining of nearby Heidelberg.
Golf Club St. Leon-Rot at a glance
- Opened
- 2001
- Designer
- Dave Thomas
- Type
- Links style parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,541 m
- Green fee
- Visitor, indicative
Designer, build year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Golf Club St. Leon-Rot and leading course databases. The St. Leon course was designed by Dave Thomas in the links style and built in 2001, a par 72 of about 6,541 metres, and it hosted the 2015 Solheim Cup. Green fees are seasonal; treat any figure as indicative for 2026 and always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The St. Leon course is a links impression on inland ground, treeless and exposed so the wind is a constant factor, with Dave Thomas shaping mounding, pot bunkering and running approaches into firm greens. There is room off the tee, but the bunkering and the contours channel the player who misses the right line into trouble.
Water features through several holes and the green complexes are the defence, true and quick under the club's exacting conditioning. The Solheim Cup of 2015 showed the course at its best, with reachable par 5s and a set of strong par 4s producing both birdies and big numbers as the wind got up.
The closing holes give the gallery friendly finish a championship venue needs, with water and bunkering tightening the line home. It is a course that rewards the ball striker who can flight shots into the breeze and control distance into firm putting surfaces.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members club that welcomes visitors; tee times for guests through the golf shop |
| Green fee | Seasonal visitor green fee, highest in the summer months; indicative 2026, always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Through the club in advance, especially for weekend play and around any tournament; handicap certificate expected |
| On the day | Buggies and an excellent practice range available; smart golf attire expected at a championship club |
| Getting there | St. Leon-Rot, about 20 minutes from Heidelberg and 25 minutes from Heidelberg-Mannheim, close to the A5 and A6 autobahns |
| Best months | May to September for the warmest, driest golf, when the links style ground runs firm |
Access and rate guidance verified June 2026; visitor fees and tee sheet policy change by season, so always confirm directly before booking with the club or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base themselves in Heidelberg, one of Germany's most beautiful cities, twenty minutes away and full of hotels, riverside dining and history, which makes a golf trip here an easy sell to non golfing partners. The club's own facilities also suit a focused golf day.
The wider Rhine-Neckar region puts Mannheim and the vineyards of the Palatinate within reach, so St. Leon-Rot anchors a short trip that can pair championship golf with a classic German city break.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Golf Club St. Leon-Rot.
Build a German golf trip
We pair St. Leon-Rot with the best of the region, sort the Heidelberg lodging and lock in the tee times. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Golf Club St. Leon-Rot questions
Who designed the St. Leon course at Golf Club St. Leon-Rot?
The championship St. Leon course was designed by the English architect Dave Thomas in the style of a British links and built in 2001. The club's second 18, the Rot course, was designed by Hannes Schreiner.
What is the par and length of the St. Leon course?
The St. Leon course is a par 72 of about 6,541 metres, an open, links style layout exposed to the wind, which is part of what makes it such a strong championship test.
What tournaments has St. Leon-Rot hosted?
St. Leon-Rot hosted the 2015 Solheim Cup, the first time the event was played in Germany, along with European Tour and Ladies European Tour events, reflecting its standing as one of the country's leading venues.
Can visitors play Golf Club St. Leon-Rot?
Yes. St. Leon-Rot is a members club that welcomes visitors. Book tee times through the golf shop in advance, particularly for weekends, and bring a handicap certificate.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, build year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative seasonal fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.