Ostravice

The 16th is regarded as the signature hole on the scorecard. It’s the longest of Ostravice’s par fives at 574 yards from the back tees and the close proximity of the tee box to the surrounding forest means the drive is played through a chute of trees to a landing area that gently bends to the right. From here, the second shot has to then avoid a large bunker complex on the right side of the fairway before an approach can be fired in over a creek protecting the front of green.

Course architect Chris Johnson contributed the following article:

"The golf course in Ostravice is situated on the slopes of a glacial valley through which a river flows and which is fringed by mountaintops of the Moravian mountains. The course has been designed to be top quality – all its holes meet international standards for a championship course. Greens have been designed in accordance with USGA recommendations for green construction; naturally, top quality material was used.

However, it is the landscape variety, created by Nature, which makes the Ostravice course unique. There are mountain streams running through the golf course here, which we have been able to extend by a series of ponds and cascades and a large original mixed forest sixty to eighty years old.

This variety gave us the possibility of creating a unique character for each hole; there is no monotony here. From the first stroke to the last putt, every golf player will experience a feeling of impatience and eagerness as well as an uncertainty of what the next hole will be like.

You can find here holes with open fairways (featuring an undulating landscape character), holes surrounded by roughs covered by fescue and forest holes where we, when designing the clearing, tried to preserve the most dominant trees.

Golf is a sport which is played in the head and, therefore, we tried to combine the natural elements with a careful placement of individual tees, bunkers and greens. We tried to create holes that could give the player a possibility of playing tactically at each hole.

This course will be a challenge to a wide range of golf players – from beginners through medium handicap players to professionals. My motto is to build courses that are played for pleasure, and I am sure that you will enjoy coming back to Ostravice because the course will really be worth playing."