Golf Club Gastein

Golf Club Gastein sits in the Austrian Alps near the spa town of Bad Gastein in the Salzburg region, approximately 100 kilometers south of the city of Salzburg. The course occupies elevated terrain in the Gastein Valley, where the surrounding mountain landscape and alpine climate shape both the playing conditions and the visual character of the layout. Bernhard von Limburger, an Austrian architect active in central European golf design, collaborated with Keith Preston on the routing, which works with the natural contours and elevation changes typical of mountain golf. The course plays across meadowland and forested sections at roughly 1,000 meters above sea level, where the topography creates a mix of uphill, downhill, and sidehill lies. The design incorporates the existing terrain rather than extensive earthmoving, and several holes offer views across the valley toward the Hohe Tauern mountain range. Water features appear on select holes, and the layout generally favors accuracy over distance given the uneven lies and narrower corridors through wooded areas. Bad Gastein has long been known as a thermal spa destination, and the golf club serves both visitors to the region and local members. The course operates on a seasonal schedule due to alpine weather, typically from late spring through autumn. The club maintains a relatively informal atmosphere common to mountain resort courses, where the focus remains on accessible golf in a distinctive natural setting rather than championship-level difficulty or tournament play.