Konopiste (Radecky)

Bystřice, Středočeský kraj

Rankings

AddressTvoršovice 27, 256 01 Bystřice, Czechia

Military historians will tell you that the main claim to fame of Konopištì is that its castle was the last residence of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria – heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne – whose assassination in Sarajevo started the first World War in 1914.

These days, Konopištì is building up a new reputation as the location of one of the best new Czech golfing complexes to have opened since the start of the new millennium. The resort’s two 18-hole championship courses and 9-hole beginner’s course are laid out within the Tvoršovice Estate, together with a renovated chateau clubhouse and 50-bed hotel.

The Radecky course – named after Napoleonic War marshal Václav Radecky of Radeè – is the creation of John Burns from the European PGA along with head greenkeeper Frantisek Stepan and it first opened in 2002. The D’Este Course – named after Archduke Ferdinand d’Este, successor to the Austrian Throne – was completed three years later, in 2005.

Both layouts are a mix of parkland and hilly woodland, with delightful changes in elevation throughout. Water is brought into play sparingly and only a few fairways could be described as tight as most are divided by saplings that will take time to mature. Greens are generally well proportioned and gently contoured though many are heavily bunkered.

Following a relatively gentle introduction to the Radecky on the first three holes, the next hole is reached by following a path through the forest to the fourth tee. This right doglegged par five plays all the way from tee to green down a narrow chute of tall, dense trees with a creek running down the left to add further pressure. The steep climb to the elevated tee on the fifth hole is actually a welcome respite after the near claustrophobia of the preceding hole!

The back nine begins with the shortest of the four par threes on the card, the 128-metre 10th hole. A couple of holes later, the massive (545-metre) 12th plays downhill with a severe right-angled dogleg to the green which may tempt big hitters – and the foolish – to fly the trees with their second shot. The 18th is another downhill hole, featuring a tree in the middle of the fairway, a pond in front of the putting surface and a couple of bunkers to the front and back of the home green.