Cihelny Golf & Wellness Resort

Cihelny Golf & Wellness Resort lies in the countryside near Karlovy Vary, at Bečov nad Teplou in the west of the Czech Republic. Its big draw is the designer: the Gary Player Design Company created the course, and the resort says it is the only course in the Czech Republic designed by Gary Player.

The championship layout is an 18-hole par 70 that the resort pitches at anyone who likes a challenge. Its hole guide lets you browse every hole and study its profile before you tee off. Halfway round there is a refreshment stop at the 9th hole, and after the round the comfortable clubhouse has a restaurant right on site.

Practice is a strong point. The driving range has 20 fixed bays, 12 of them covered, so you can hit balls in any weather, and you can also play off the grass. Targets range from 50 to 250 metres and the range uses quality two-piece balls; balls can also be bought through the e-shop or reservation system. Putting and chipping greens sit nearby, and a golf trainer is available for lessons.

The resort includes a stylish hotel with a luxury wellness centre and a modern conference room, plus a pro shop with cart and club hire. Beginners are well looked after: you can try the driving range and putting green with clubs lent completely free, and 30 balls cost just 50 Kč, a low-cost way to find out whether golf is for you.

Gary Player, nicknamed the Black Knight, is one of the legends of world golf. He won 24 PGA Tour events, the Masters in 1961, 1974 and 1978, the US Open in 1965, The Open Championship three times and the PGA Championship twice, becoming only the third player to complete the career Grand Slam. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974 and today focuses mainly on course design, which is how Cihelny gained its signature layout.