AUSTRIA FOR GOLF & CULTURE

Where: Salzburg & Seefeld, Austria

Gateway: Vienna

Mountains, Golf and Mozart

When you think of going someplace far away to play golf, you don't usually think of Austria. We suggest you reconsider. Hitting the golf ball against a backdrop of snow-crested mountains and turquoise lakes, your greatest handicap here may be the scenery. Itís simply stunning.

With green fees around $50 to $65, golf in Austria is a good deal. Playing up and down the mountain sides and later taking in concerts and staying or dining in medieval castles can provide the ultimate high.

Fly into Vienna where you can stay for a few days on either end of your trip to explore the cafes, Opera House and palaces of this magnificent city. From Vienna you can either drive, fly or take the train to Salzburg or Seefeld† in the Tyrolean Alps.

Salzburg: When we came to Austria, we unpacked our clubs in Salzburg. With just 508,000 people living in an area of 2,762 square miles, the region has more than its share of recreational assets: 185 lakes, 7,200 marked hiking trails, 10 game parks, plenty of spas and 18 golf courses.

The French windows of the historic Hotel Aldstadt opened to superb views of the Salzach River, the elegant riverside buildings and the hilltop castle. One of Europe's prettiest little cities, Salzburg is almost in the center of Austria, the heartbeat for the wider area known as Salzburgerland, an area of great natural beauty.

As we explored the city, we were surrounded by a kaleidoscope of cultures, dancing and music —Austrians are as fiercely serious about their music for after all Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart as we are about the World Series and the Super Bowl.

Along the Getreidegasse, fanciful metal and gilded signs create a maze of color and ironwork and in the squares, children walk across the courtyard on stilts and people strl the paths in the 17th century Mirabell Palace Gardens

One evening we walked along the cobblestone squares to the Stiftskeller St. Peter restaurant, where we sat down at a candlelit table and listened to Mozart music performed by Salzburg artists in traditional costumes between meal courses. Another evening we took the cable car to the Salzburg castle, Hohenfeste for an evening chamber music concert in a grand hall with a coffered wood ceiling.

History

Located on the northern edge of the Alps at the junction of old European trading routes, Salzburg's wealth can be traced back to centuries of international trade with salt, called "white gold" which was used worldwide to preserve meats. Built by the prince-archbishops, Salzburg with its great beauty and Italian-inspired architecture, has often been referred to as the "Rome of the North." Indeed the old city which was designated by UNESCO as a cultural heritage site, plays host to more than 4,000 cultural events a year including Mozart Week which takes place in January.

Golf
In America tooling around the course in a golf cart is pretty normal stuff, but in Austria most golfers walk. Pulling a cart up and down the steep roller coaster terrain on courses like Schloss Fuschl and Goldegg certainly challenges your physical stamina, but hey, it gives you another excuse to order one of the delectable Austrian pastry confections or a chocolate mousse.

Travelling to the Olympic Seefeld Region in Tyrol, once a venue for the Winter Olympics, the Seefeld Golf Course is hilly, dramatic. Just keeping your pull cart from tipping over is a feat.

At the Zell am See Golf Club you enjoy magnificent views of the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier, Lake Zell and/or the slopes of the Schmittenhohe from just about everywhere.

At Goldegg Golf Course where cow bells gently tint the afternoon and chalets create tiny spots of flowery color in the distant hillsides, what this course lacks in slick championship course quality, it makes up for in nonstop charm. That doesn't mean it's easy. On one hole you lineup directly into the side of a hill hoping your ball will hit the slope and roll down to the narrow fairway.

Golfclub Mondsee, a scenic beauty, is designed around Lake Mondsee. A green hugs the shoreline and the last four holes which play along and over water are magnificent. On Golf Course Schloss Fusch, teeing off from the first hole, a par-3 miles below with a lake and snow-topped mountains straight ahead, you know youíre in for an exceptional experience. And Golfclub Salzburg-Eugendorf, more parkland than Alpine, is an easy course to walk but beware the large bunkers.

Where to Stay

Hotel Altstadt Radisson SAS is right on the River Salz and is made up of several historic buildings (some dating to 1377) that are connected with corridors, My king-size bed was made up with fine white cotton sheets and goosedown duvets. A small hotel it has but 62 rooms and suites, many with original beamed ceilings. There is a cozy lobby bar and nice restaurant with panoramic views of the river.

Hotel Goldener Hirsch, located on chic Getreidegasse, is perfect for those who want to be in the middle of things and experience a totally Austrian ambiance. Charming country-design fabrics, Austrian wood furniture, and antique iron light fixtures set the style. Prices and amenities are designed for the upscale guest and there is an excellent restaurant.

Hotel Schloss Monchstein: Take an ancient hilltop castle, views overlooking the rooftops of Salzburg, 23 impeccably decorated rooms and suites and modern amenities and you have a recipe for romance. There is a tiny little restaurant in the top of the tower or you can dine at the Paris Lodron on things like wild boar, crispy baked fillet of dorado, and sinful chocolate confections.

Hotel Schloss Fuschl: Set in greenery and gardens on the banks of beautiful Lake Fuschl, the red roof rises above the white tower of the hotel built in the 15th century as a hunting lodge and used as a summer residence for Salzburg Archbishops. Oriental carpets, marble fireplaces, original oil paintings, vaulted ceilings, and tooled leather chairs, and silk upholstered sofas as well as marble baths, some lit by crystal chandeliers appeal to well-heeled guests.The hotel has a 9-hole golf course, tennis court, boat rentals, indoor pool, sauna, solarium, whirlpool and† fitness center.

The Seehof: This typical chalet-style hotel on Lake Goldegg, is a great bargain priced for about $125 per person. Each room is different, and many have Austrian-style hand-painted wood beds and antique country furniture; others are more modern in decor with natural woods and white. Beds come with down duvets, modern baths, some have claw-foot tubs and balconies. Stay here and golf is priced from about $40.

Arabella Sheraton Hotel Jagdhof, once a 17th century farm, besides having a great location, a scenic 9-hole golf course and overlooking the lake, the 143-room hotel has a super spa (H¸ttererhof) with a large pool and a fitness center.

Dining
Salzburgís restaurants offer a range of international choices but for traditional fare, try pork roast with a crunch crust, Mondsee char, strudel, Vienna-style sponge cake, Sacher chocolate cake, Mohr im Hemd, a nut souffle served with chocolate sauce, and Salzburger Nockerl, golden souffle.

At the K&K Restaurant trays of hot steaming flat rocks are placed on the center of of table along with dishes of raw beef, pork, chicken and bacon. Piercing the meat with a fork, you lay the meat on the rocks and watch it sizzle while it cooks to your taste. (If you didnít want to cook your own food, the menu features a variety of Austrian and other dishes.)

Fun Things to Do
Take a cable car to the top of Untersberg mountain for views of ice-capped mountains; visit the Hellbrunn Palace & Trick Water Fountains.

Getting There
We flew Austrian Airlines nonstop from New York to Vienna, connecting to the airline's regional carrier, Tyrolean Airlines for the flight to Vienna. The airlines, which flies from New York and Washington D.C. to more than 30 destinations in Austria and beyond, also offers connections from 35 cities in the U.S. via its travel partners. KD

Links
Austria-tourism.at; www.golf-alpin.at
www.golf-alpin.at
www.goldenerhirsch.com
www.monshstein.com
www.luxurycollection.com
www.seehof-goldegg.com
www.arabellasheraton.com
www.golfclub-goldegg.com
www.europasportregion.at/golfclub
www.golfclub-salzburg.at
www.golfclub-salzburg.at
www.golfclubmondsee.at
www.austria-trend.at/ass†
www.austrianair.com
www.europevacationcenter.com