How to Play the Best Golf in Bavaria
Germany's deepest golf region runs from the BMW International Open's home at Eichenried, through Europe's largest golf resort at Bad Griesbach, to alpine fairways 800 meters up above the Tegernsee. Guest fees run from about 69 euros, the season is April to October, and a handicap certificate opens almost every gate. Here is how to get on.
Photo: Golfclub München Eichenried via Google.
Why Bavaria is different
No German state offers this much golf this close to this much else. Northeast of Munich sits Golfclub München Eichenried, Kurt Roßknecht's water laced championship course that has hosted the BMW International Open since 1989; since 2002 it has run 27 holes in three returning loops, with the championship routing playing about 7,200 yards at par 72. An hour and a half east, near Passau, the Quellness Golf Resort at Bad Griesbach styles itself Europe's largest golf resort, and its flagship is the Beckenbauer Course, a flat, water strewn Bernhard Langer design that staged the Porsche European Open in 2015 and 2016.
Then there is the scenery golf. Tegernseer Golf Club Bad Wiessee, opened in 1958 and expanded to 18 holes in 1983, plays at about 800 meters of elevation with the lake below and the Alps filling the horizon. Munich makes the natural base for all of it, with beer gardens and the Altstadt between rounds. For the national picture, start with our guide to golf in Germany and our ranking of the best courses in Germany.
The courses that matter
| Course | Why it matters | Indicative fee (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| GC München Eichenried | Kurt Roßknecht design and home of the BMW International Open since 1989. 27 holes in three loops; the championship course plays about 7,200 yards, par 72, with water on half the holes | From about 95 euros for guests on weekdays |
| Beckenbauer Course, Bad Griesbach | Bernhard Langer's tournament layout at the Quellness Golf Resort, host of the Porsche European Open 2015 and 2016, hand mown fairways and water everywhere; the resort around it is Europe's largest | About 69 euros weekdays, 79 euros weekends; resort guests less |
| Tegernseer GC Bad Wiessee | Alpine parkland at 800 meters above the Tegernsee, opened 1958 and 18 holes since 1983, with the best views in German golf; handicap certificate required | Confirm with the club |
| Quellness Resort, other courses | Bad Griesbach's supporting cast of resort courses and academy loops makes it the easiest place in Germany to play 36 a day for several days | Varies by course; resort rates apply |
Fees verified June 2026 from club and resort rate listings and are indicative for the 2026 season. Always confirm directly before booking.
How to book it, step by step
- Pick your shape of trip. A Munich city base puts Eichenried 30 minutes away and the Tegernsee about an hour south. A golf immersion week belongs at Bad Griesbach, where the hotels, spa and half a dozen courses sit together in the Rottal valley.
- Carry a handicap certificate. German clubs ask for one more often than anywhere else in Europe. Tegernseer Bad Wiessee requires it outright; bring proof from your home club and nobody will blink.
- Book around the BMW International Open. The tour comes to Eichenried in late June and early July, closing the course to visitors that week and filling Munich hotels. Either avoid it or build the trip around watching it.
- Reserve tee times in advance everywhere. Eichenried and the Tegernsee clubs hold weekend mornings for members, so visiting golfers do best on weekdays. Bad Griesbach books easily through the resort, and staying there earns discounted fees.
- Plan the season honestly. April to October is the window. The alpine courses open later and close earlier than the lowland ones, and high summer is the safest bet for the Tegernsee. We build exactly these routings through our trip planning desk.
Etiquette is traditional continental club golf: proper dress, punctual tee times, and a quiet pride in pace of play. If you are weighing southern Germany against its neighbors, our comparison of Munich vs the Black Forest and our guide to golf in Austria, an hour from the Tegernsee, are the places to start.
Build a Bavaria golf trip
We arrange the tee times at Eichenried and the Tegernsee, the Bad Griesbach resort stay, and the Munich hotel between them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Bavaria golf questions
When is the golf season in Bavaria?
Roughly April to October. Alpine foothill courses such as the Tegernsee sit at elevation and open a little later in spring, while the lowland courses around Munich and Bad Griesbach play well from mid spring. Late June brings the BMW International Open to Eichenried, which closes the course to visitors that week.
What is the best golf course in Bavaria?
Golfclub München Eichenried, the Kurt Roßknecht design northeast of Munich, is the benchmark: host of the BMW International Open since 1989, 27 holes in three returning loops, with the championship routing stretching about 7,200 yards at par 72. The Beckenbauer Course at Bad Griesbach, designed by Bernhard Langer, is its strongest rival.
How much are green fees in Bavaria?
Indicative 2026 rates run from about 69 euros on weekdays at the Beckenbauer Course in Bad Griesbach to around 95 euros and up for guests at Eichenried, with resort guests at Bad Griesbach paying discounted rates. Always confirm directly before booking.
Do I need a handicap certificate to play in Bavaria?
Usually yes. German club golf commonly asks visitors for a handicap certificate, and clubs such as Tegernseer Golf Club Bad Wiessee state it plainly. Carry proof of handicap from your home club and book tee times in advance everywhere.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.