Golf in Austria
Alpine golf at its most photogenic, from Jack Nicklaus's Gut Altentann near Salzburg to Eichenheim high above Kitzbuhel and Fontana on the edge of Vienna. The courses that matter, the regions, the seasons and how to plan it.
Last reviewed June 2026 by the GolfForKings editorial desk
Photograph: Fontana Golf Club, FONTANA, via Google
Why golf in Austria
Austria is the alpine golf trip that flies under most travellers' radar, and that is exactly its charm. The country has a little over one hundred and fifty courses, almost all of them framed by mountains, lakes and meadows, and the scenery does as much work as the architecture. The headline name is Gut Altentann near Salzburg, the first course Jack Nicklaus designed in Europe, opened in 1989 to a par of 72. Above Kitzbuhel, Kyle Phillips routed the dramatic Eichenheim course among the high Tyrolean peaks, while near Vienna, Fontana brings a polished, resort grade test within half an hour of the capital.
What sets an Austrian golf trip apart is the pairing. You play in the morning and spend the afternoon on a lake, in a spa town like Bad Gastein, or walking the medieval streets of Salzburg and the cafes of Vienna. The courses are immaculate, the welcome is warm, the green fees are gentler than the marquee names of Spain or Scotland, and a week mixes golf with mountains, music and food in a way few destinations match. It is a summer trip, played from May to October, and a fine choice for a couples week or a relaxed buddies tour.
The regions
Salzburg and the lakes
The marquee region: Gut Altentann, the parkland courses of Zell am See and Kaprun and the Salzkammergut lakes, with the city of Salzburg and its music and cafes on the doorstep.
Tyrol and Kitzbuhel
The highest, most dramatic alpine golf, centred on Eichenheim and the courses around Kitzbuhel and Seefeld, where every fairway frames a mountain skyline.
Vienna and Lower Austria
Resort and championship golf within an easy drive of the capital: Fontana at Oberwaltersdorf and the mountain parkland of Adamstal, paired with a Vienna city stay.
The courses that matter
Gut Altentann
Austria's most famous course and the first Jack Nicklaus design in Europe, a polished parkland of wide fairways, water and mountain views near Salzburg that remains the benchmark round in the country.
Golf Eichenheim, Kitzbuhel
The most dramatic alpine course in Austria, routed by Kyle Phillips across the slopes above Kitzbuhel with huge elevation change and a stylish clubhouse. It hosted the Austrian Masters and is among the best conditioned in the land.
Fontana
A lavish, American style resort course half an hour south of Vienna, all water, sculpted bunkers and immaculate turf, a longtime European Tour and Challenge Tour host.
Adamstal
Widely rated the finest course in Austria, a thrilling mountain parkland carved through forest and rock in Lower Austria, with bold elevation change and memorable, individual holes.
Golf Club Zell am See-Kaprun
Two flat, walkable parkland eighteens beside the lake at Zell am See, long a tour venue and a relaxed, scenic base for a golf and lakes week in the Salzburg mountains.
Golfclub Seefeld-Wildmoos
A classic high plateau course above Seefeld near Innsbruck, set among meadows and pines at altitude, a cool, scenic round and a favourite of the Tyrolean golf summer.
Gut Brandlhof, Saalfelden
A long, riverside resort course running along the Saalach valley near Saalfelden, paired with a hotel and spa and a handy base for the Salzburg and Tyrol border country.
Golfclub Kitzbuhel-Schwarzsee
The valley course beneath the famous Kitzbuhel ski slopes, gentler than Eichenheim and set beside the Schwarzsee lake, an easy walking round in the heart of the resort.
Golfclub Schloss Schonborn
A mature parkland on a baroque castle estate in the wine country north of Vienna, a relaxed, characterful round that combines well with the capital and the Wachau valley.
Golf and Country Club Lebenberg
A scenic Kitzbuhel area course set around a castle hotel with wide mountain views, part of the cluster that makes the resort the golfing centre of the Austrian Alps.
Designers and host history verified June 2026 where named; clubs without a named architect are listed by region. Course profiles are added across the site as the directory grows. Always confirm visitor access and fees directly before booking.
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| June to September | Warm, settled mountain weather, long daylight, courses in peak shape | Prime alpine golf season, book hotels early for the summer peak |
| May and October | Cooler, a higher chance of rain, higher courses open later and close earlier | Quieter shoulder months with softer rates on the valley courses |
| November to April | Snow closes the courses, the resorts switch to skiing | No golf, the off season across the country |
Alpine weather changes fast, so pack layers and a waterproof whatever the month. The highest Tyrolean courses have the shortest seasons of all.
Indicative costs
| Item | Indicative 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Good resort green fee | Around €80 to €150 | The better alpine and valley courses in season |
| Marquee green fee | Toward the top of that band or a little above | Eichenheim, Fontana, Gut Altentann at peak |
| A week, all in | Around €1,500 to €3,000 per person | Good courses, 4 star hotel, hire car, excluding flights |
Indicative third party figures for the 2026 season, shown to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there and around
Austria is straightforward to reach, with Vienna the main international gateway and Salzburg and Innsbruck the handiest airports for the mountains. Vienna serves Fontana and Adamstal within an easy drive, Salzburg puts you beside Gut Altentann and the lakes, and Innsbruck is closest to Kitzbuhel, Eichenheim and the Tyrolean courses. Munich, just over the German border, is another useful arrival for Salzburg and Tyrol. A hire car is essential once you leave the cities, since the courses are spread through the valleys and the alpine drives between them are part of the pleasure of the trip.
Where to stay
Match the base to the region. Around Salzburg, a city hotel or a lakeside resort at Zell am See keeps the marquee golf close and the culture on tap. In Tyrol, Kitzbuhel and Seefeld are the classic resort bases, with spa hotels at Eichenheim and Lebenberg among the courses. Near Vienna, the Fontana resort or a city hotel pairs the golf with the capital. The spa towns of the Salzkammergut and the Gastein valley make relaxed bases that fold easily into a golf week. Book the resort hotels well ahead for the summer, and let one planner line up the right base for each leg.
Plan your Austria golf trip
Tell us the courses you want and roughly when. One concierge costs the whole trip to the head and replies within one working day, with no obligation.
Austria golf questions
When is the best time to play golf in Austria?
The season runs roughly May to October, with June to September the prime months for warm, settled mountain weather and long daylight. The higher alpine courses open later and close earlier than the valleys, and snow closes the season through the winter when the resorts switch to skiing.
Which region of Austria is best for a golf trip?
Salzburg and the lakes hold the marquee names, Gut Altentann and the Zell am See courses, with the city and scenery on the doorstep. Tyrol centres on Kitzbuhel and Eichenheim among the highest alpine golf, while Vienna and Lower Austria offer Fontana and Adamstal within an easy drive of the capital.
How much does a golf trip to Austria cost in 2026?
Indicative 2026 green fees run to around €80 to €150 at the good alpine courses, with Eichenheim, Fontana and Gut Altentann toward the top of that band or above. A week with a 4 star hotel and a hire car typically lands between €1,500 and €3,000 per head. Always confirm directly before booking.
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