The history of golf goes back to the Roman times

The history of golf goes back to the Roman times. It was played slightly differently then - a leather ball was hit with a curved club. In 15th-century Denmark, a similar game was played on ice, but the French and Belgians moved it to grass surfaces. In the 16th century, they built the first golf course in the town of St. Andrews in Scotland and wrote down the rules. Scotland is therefore considered the cradle of golf, as the Scots are said to have been the ones to invent golf as we know it today.

Typically, a golf course has 18 holes or playing fields, which have flat and smoothly mowed turf with a hole at the end called "the green". Holes vary in length from 100 to more than 500 meters. Each one has a prescribed number of strokes needed to get the ball into the hole. The game aims to get it into the hole with the fewest strokes possible: short holes (from 50 to 200 meters) have three prescribed strokes, medium holes (from 200 to 400 meters) four, and the longest ones (from 420 to 600 meters) have five. These prescribed strokes are called a par. A course with 18 holes usually has a par of 72, meaning that this is a par-72 course because courses usually have four par-3s, 10 par-4s, and four par-5s. Each player needs a set of clubs for long and short distances (usually 14 different clubs), a golf bag, golf balls, gloves, and appropriate attire. The bag can be carried or transported on a golf push cart. In golf clubs at the major golf courses, golf carts can be rented.

The golf course in Otočec is one of the most beautiful

We have 16 golf courses in Slovenia, and the one in Otočec is considered to be among the most beautiful ones. In his interview for Terme Krka, the maintenance manager at the Golf Grad Otočec course and greenkeeper Boštjan Zupan said that the configuration of the course and the vegetation surrounding it are extremely well incorporated into nature, which is a special feature of this course. They work hard every day to make this a world-class course and to offer golfers an amazing aesthetic and playing experience. The environment itself - the Krka River and surrounding rolling hills - gives an idyllic image, which continues on the course itself. The vegetation is indigenous and intentionally designed in a way that accentuates the beautiful natural surroundings even more.

The Otočec course was designed by Howard Swan, a renowned English architect. Shortly after its construction, it was declared one of the most beautiful courses in this part of Europe. One of the advantages of the Otočec course is also its accessibility. It is only half an hour's drive from Ljubljana and less than an hour from Celje. Zagreb is also quite near.

Golfers can appreciate that the course doesn’t feel overcrowded even when there are many players there because all 18 holes are extremely spacious and designed in a way that provides a lot of intimacy. The icing on the cake is the animals. Many deer and rabbits roam the area, and a tortoise, a long-time resident of the grounds, can be found at the pond by the fifth hole. However, the Otočec golf course is quite demanding, as far as walking and playing are concerned. It has been designed to challenge good and experienced golfers, but the tee adjustments make the game easier for beginners and golfers who don’t play very often. Therefore, the Otočec golf course is appealing to both less experienced players and those who want a more challenging game.

Golf is a slow sport in harmony with nature. Players can get some recreation and also relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. If you haven't tried golf yet, we hope that we’ve motivated you at least a little for this unique pastime.

Cuisine and golf

A short break in the nearby spas can be a great addition to a game of golf. You can choose between Šmarješke Toplice, Dolenjske Toplice, or Hotel Šport at Otočec, which offers plenty of opportunities for pampering and excellent restaurants. At the beginning of the 2020 golf season, a new facility with a reception, a shop with golf equipment, a bistro, and a common area for golfers and other guests was opened at the site of an old barn next to Struga Castle.

19 | Podeželska hiša & Bistro also has a package offer with a game of golf and a three-course menu of freshly prepared dishes created by the castle's chefs. To offer as much fresh produce as possible on the plate with an authentic full flavor, the menus follow the changing of the seasons. When creating them, ethnological characteristics and traditions of Slovenian regions, especially Dolenjska, are taken into account and creatively interwoven with modern culinary trends and methods of healthy food preparation. The menu consists mostly of produce grown in the organic castle garden Grajski vrt, while the rest of the ingredients are supplied by nearby farms, certified in ecological and integrated farming and breeding. The menu of Podeželska hiša next to the Golf Grad Otočec course offers delicacies such as cured meats, stews, desserts, and refreshing drinks, which will especially please experienced golfers and visitors.