Golf in beautiful Slovakia
- Text: Jonas Hansson
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
RESENÄREN's reporter Jonas Hansson and RESENÄREN's Editor-in-Chief Alexander Olin went to Slovakia to play golf on three of the country's best golf courses.
Black Stork Golf Resort impresses with its scenic mountain setting and gives a relaxed resort feel. Their 27-hole golf course, spanning over 120 hectares, is located in the beautiful Tatra National Park and is run by the passionate Sylvia Hrušková and her staff. During my visit there, I got a very positive overall impression of the facility. The service level is consistently high, and the staff shows great commitment to creating a pleasant and professional experience.
The food and drink selection is of good quality, and I would recommend booking a wine tasting at the hotel in advance. The golf course is also in good condition. The fairways and other playing surfaces are well-maintained, and the greens are of a good standard. One of the resort's greatest strengths is its scenic location. The combination of a well-maintained golf course and the impressive mountain backdrop creates a very attractive, memorable golfing experience. The surroundings contribute greatly to the resort's character and set it apart from many other European golf destinations.
In addition to the beautiful surroundings, the area is characterized by a calm and relaxed atmosphere. Compared to many more established golf destinations, the area is perceived as less developed and more genuine, allowing visitors to focus on golf and nature. The pace of the course is pleasant, and there is no perceived crowding, which further enhances the feeling of quality during the stay.
From an economic perspective, the destination appears highly competitive. Compared to established golf destinations on the Spanish Costa del Sol, Black Stork and the surrounding region offer very attractive prices for golf, accommodation, food, and drink. The high value for money makes the destination particularly interesting for individual golfers, groups, and golf clubs seeking a high-quality alternative at a reasonable cost.
The area also offers good opportunities to combine golf with other experiences. The proximity to mountain areas, cultural and historical attractions, and the region's strong wine traditions add value, making the stay more varied than a traditional golf trip. For groups and organizers, there are therefore opportunities to create attractive overall experiences both on and off the golf course.
Accessibility is good, although the trip usually requires a stopover. Once you arrive at Košice Airport, the resort is about an hour's drive away, making the destination relatively accessible. The travel time is well compensated by the high quality of the experience and the attractive on-site price level.
Gray Bear, with its 36 holes on 60 hectares, offers a slightly more challenging and refined golf experience, with high-quality course and facilities. The golf course was designed by the American company International Golf Course Design, South Carolina, with designers Bob Walton and Skip Malek. The golf course design was handled by the Scottish company Southern Golf Ltd. In 2019, Gray Bear received a quality certificate with a maximum of 5 stars for its services. Gray Bear is also located in the Tatra National Park.
Penati Golf Resort represents modern European championship golf and offers an experience that can easily compete with the most prestigious golf resorts in Northern Europe. This resort has 36 holes spread over 217 hectares, and hole 15 is the longest in Central Europe (712 meters). It is one of Europe's most famous par-6 holes. Penati Golf Resort opened in August 2012 and is located near the town of Senica, about an hour's drive north of the Slovak capital, Bratislava. At 540 hectares, it is Slovakia's largest golf resort. It is easy to get here by car from the airport outside Bratislava or from Vienna Airport.
What makes Slovakia particularly interesting is that the destination can offer options for different types of golf travelers. Whether the focus is on natural golf, social group trips, high-end resort experiences, or championship courses, there are facilities to suit different preferences and budgets.
Despite the variety in the offer, the common denominator is very good value for money. Compared to established golf destinations around the Mediterranean and the Spanish Costa del Sol, the costs for golf, accommodation, restaurants, and other activities are generally significantly lower. This means the visitor receives high-quality, good value for the investment.
Slovakia, therefore, appears as an attractive alternative for golfers who want to discover new destinations without compromising on quality, service, or playing experience.
Golf during the communist regime and after
TEXT: ALEXANDER OLIN
When Slovakia was part of communist Czechoslovakia, golf and tennis were not highly regarded by the Communist Party, which did not think these sports were suitable for workers. Therefore, they closed all but three golf courses in Czechoslovakia. RESENAREN editor-in-chief Alexander Olin conducted a nice interview with Martin Zlocha, a member of the Slovak Golf Association's presidium.
What is your vision for Slovakia?
– Currently, we have between 9,000 and 10,000 golfers in Slovakia (one-third are women and two-thirds are men). Our goal is to increase the number of players across 24 golf facilities nationwide. The most important thing is to change people's thinking. Some still believe that golf is only for rich people. And there is actually no history of golf in Slovakia anymore. So we practically started playing golf in 1995.
When did you become interested in golf?
– I was in Stockholm at a student conference in 1990. There I saw a golf shop and bought my first golf balls. My sister-in-law’s husband, who is from Japan, brought a set of his old golf clubs from Japan to Bratislava and gave them to me as a birthday present. Six years later, a golf course was built in Bratislava. There and then, I started training and began my golf journey. Since then, my mission has been to contribute to the development of the sport in the country.
