Golf, people and nature
By Cornelia Bruckner and Bernd Stegmaier
Bregenzerwald - that means crouching farmhouses, flowering meadows, heavy fruit trees, the ringing of cowbells and unspoilt nature. Nevertheless, modern architecture has found its way here - whenever new buildings or extensions are built. Contemporary architecture with a clear design language and yet traditional building materials is the order of the day.
The hotel "Das Schiff" (what a funny name) in Hittisau combines both tradition and modernity. The main building from the 19th century on the one hand, the extension in modernist, cubist style on the other. By the way, the story of the name is quickly told. The ancestor Johann Jakob Mennel resigned from the Imperial and Royal Navy in Trieste in 1840 (hence the year in the hotel's gourmet restaurant), returned home, settled down and built a house not far from the village church. As a reminiscence of his time at sea, he named it "The Ship". In the middle of the 20th century, the next generation relied on the signs of the times and on holiday guests.
The people
The 30,000 people who live in the 22 forest villages have a special relationship with their environment. Their language is quite unique, with elements of Swabian and Alemannic. They take care of their habitat and treat it and its natural resources with care. The mountains have been developed for summer and winter sports enthusiasts - but with a sense of proportion. The level of quality in the hotel and catering industry is very high. Only regional products are on the menu. In addition to the down-to-earth inns, several award-winning restaurants have also been established.
Cheese is an omnipresent theme, whether on or off the Bregenzerwald Cheese Road. This is an association of 160 partners who have dedicated themselves to the cultivation and preservation of flavour and regional culture. Stops along the way include the modern cheese cellar in Lingenau, where many thousands of wheels of mountain cheese are matured, and the cheese house in Andelsbuch, which offers the entire range of Bregenzerwald cheeses and delicacies for sale. Finally, the cheese-making school in Egg offers a quick cheese-making course and at the end everyone made their own fresh cheese.
Golf among flowering meadows
The 18 fairways of the Bregenzerwald Golf Park stretch over hills, through small ravines and along flowering orchards. They need to be played at least twice, that's how varied they are. Only then will golfers know where best to place the ball for a good score and where the obstacles lurk.
More than 20 years ago, course architect Kurt Rossknecht gave this golf park, which was the first 18-hole golf course in Vorarlberg at the time, a great deal of sophistication: Small lakes, ponds, the River Weissach and its tributaries come into play time and again, as do the bunkers. In midsummer, it is also the strong roughs that make players reach for their irons or mid-woods from time to time. The highlight of the first nine is the "signature hole" with its island green. This fourth fairway leads slightly downhill and ends in the amen corner of the course. The men's tee shot on the 17th needs a drive of a good 140 metres to land on the other bank. From then on, the course climbs steadily uphill to the green. A real challenge to round off the day! From the 18th fairway, the view extends as far as the striking Säntis, Switzerland's local mountain in the Appenzell region. The reward comes afterwards in the clubhouse in the form of delicious, down-to-earth dishes and pastries.
For those who appreciate unlimited golfing pleasure, there is a 30 per cent discount on the green fee at GC Oberstaufen-Steibis.
And another treat: from May to September, taster lessons are offered on Sundays for those interested. These first lessons are free of charge for guests of partner hotels. Golf club manager Daniel Green, pro and head of the golf school, looks after the golf tasters himself.
Cornelia Bruckner and Bernd Stegmaier are the editors-in-chief of the magazines "Golfen" and "GolfWomen". They have been golf enthusiasts for more than 20 years, are members of GC Schloss Egmating and play with handicaps of 18 and 23.
Further information about the region:
Bregenzerwald
Cheese Route