Tips: How to make your golf holiday exciting in Poland? : Golf Business Monitor

By: Miklos Breitner July 1, 2021

I have just read the findings of the European Travel Commission’s study about Europeans’ sentiments regarding travelling after the COVID-19 pandemic. These insights I found the most promising:

70% – likely / highly likely to travel.
51% – will travel to European countries.
Europeans eager to travel yet still concerned about flights and quarantine measures.

Are you among those who are concerned about flights & quarantine measures?

If you want to travel with a conscience and escape the crowds than Poland can be an interesting choice. Trust me, Poland will surprise you in an incredibly positive way. There are many golf destinations that can offer frugal golf breaks, but Poland can compete well based on the quality-to-cost ratio.

If you are coming from Germany and do not want to fly because health-concerns, then traveling by train can be a good option. Two of the most popular routes are Gdansk to Berlin (5,5 hours) and Warsaw to Berlin, of course, linking two fine capital cities at some fine prices.

Warsaw to Berlin is not the fastest train journey in the world, at 6.5 hours, but it is fascinating. The Polish capital boasts an historic UNESCO old town where 17th century houses overlook markets and cafe life.

If you remember, before COVID-19 pandemic, we complained about overcrowded destinations (see mass tourism) like Barcelona, Costa Brava, Costa del Sol, Algarve, Belek, etc. Such “danger” will not threaten you in Poland.

Thanks to the influence of the Russian, Prussian, and Austrian empires, we will be able to find some outstanding culinary experience in Poland. Do not forget to give a try to pierogi, kotlet schabowy (similary to wiener schnitzel), pickles juice, oscypek, gołąbki, kaszanka, etc.

Modry Las Golf Resort 6th hole Poland — Modry Las Golf Resort | PGA National Poland

The first surprise is the number of golf courses in Poland. You will find 31 golf courses:

18 – 18-hole golf courses;
3 – 27-hole golf courses;
10 – 9-hole golf courses.

This is a great achievement, especially if we know that there are cca. 6000 registered golfers in Poland (Source: KPMG, Polish Golf Union). Golf-booking.com says there are cca. 25 000 active golfers in Poland.

Poland: Most recgonized golf clubs

Some of the Polish golf clubs gained international recognition by winning Poland’s Best Golf Course and Poland’s Best Golf Hotel at the World Golf Awards. Sand Valley Golf Resort (close to Gdansk; a 27-hole golf resort, Tilander-Ristola co-designed Inland Links) for instance was listed on:

Golf World TOP 100 Golf Courses & Golf Resorts in Continental Europe in 2019.
69^th – Continental Europe’s Top 100 Courses 2020 by National Club Golfer.
Golf Digest has ranked Sand Valley Golf Resort as Poland’s best golf course in 2018 & in 2020. Top100golfcourses.com came to the same conclusion.
On Leadingcourses.com received one of the highest scores (8,1/10) thanks to enthusiastic golf tourists.

They offer Scandinavian-style villas as accommodation. They have got over 100 beds. Selected houses have got Jacuzzi and swimming pool as well.

Would you expect to find a Gary Player signature golf course in this part of the world? Yes, it is possible, the Modry Las Golf Resort, near the Polish-German border. This resort has received the highest scores on Leadingcourses.com (8,8/10).

Modry Las Golf Resort | PGA National Poland won 3 times Poland’s Best Golf Course title at the World Golf Awards: 2016, 2017, 2019.

They offer woodland cottages and garden suites as accommodation.

Both golf clubs are in North Poland. If you want to spend more time in this region, Sierra Golf Resort should be on your list too. It is just 30 miles from the Gdansk city center. It has got a Cameron Sinclair-designed par-72 championship golf course (parkland-style). If you are living in one of the Scandinavian countries, then you do not have to fly more than 1.5 hours to get to the above-mentioned golf clubs.

They have got paddle tennis courses and bicycles to offer as well.

The First Warsaw Golf & Country Club can an excellent choice if you are staying in Warsaw. It is the very first golf club in Poland and only 18 miles from the Warsaw city center. It is another 27-hole golf club. The First Warsaw Golf & Country Club was the host venue of three European Challenge Tour events and several major national tournaments.