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Golfing With Haydn
By Bob Enzel
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Well! Not in
person exactly, but certainly in
spirit.
Tucked away in the
easternmost portion of Austria about
an hour's drive from Vienna is
Haydn-country, officially known as
Burgenland.
Flat as your stomach--perhaps--but
impeccably designed for a challenging
round amidst gorgeous scenery is the
Golf Club Neusiedlersee
Donnerskirchen.
However, before I entice you to
play golf in Austria in this lovely
corner of the world allow me to
mention its side appeal.
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Joseph Haydn was
fortunate to have Prince Paul Anton
and later his brother, Nikolas I of
the Esterházy family as his
benefactor-- sponsor if you will. The
Esterházy family was quite wealthy,
loved the music composed by Haydn,
thus housed, fed, and truth be told
supplied him with five liters of
Burgenland wine per day. Their
generosity was obviously successful as
Haydn not having to be concerned about
his bread and butter was able to
compose many world famous classical
delights and is now considered the
"Father of the Symphony and String
Quartet". As you are playing your
round of golf there is certainly
music in the air (pardon the
plagiarism), but also excellent
Burgenland wine to satisfy your
thirst. You see, only twenty percent
of Burgenland wine is exported,
because the "locals" like their wine
so much there is very little to ship
elsewhere. |
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Proof of how
delicious the wine is. Along
with several others I tasted five
varieties over a leisurely dinner.
The evening progressed with Grϋner
Veltliner Brut1, a
pre-dinner lightly sparkling
gem. The meal began with a
Grϋner Veltliner Bergweingarten 20122,
which went quite nicely with the
endive-walnut salad. The second
course of poached asparagus spears was
accompanied by a lovely, Neuberger
Pinot Blanc 20113.
This was followed by an
all-too-quickly consumed red Blӓufrankisch
Hochӓcker,
20104,that went exceptionally well with
main course of beef rouladen. We
completed the meal with an apple
strudel desert, sipping a slightly
sweet, luscious Sauvignon Blanc
Beerenauslese, 20115.
My personal
friends, some of which believe I
consume a lot of wine also acknowledge
that I have acquired a certain
expertise as a oenophile. Thus, I
have no misgivings in recommending the
above Burgenland wines after or
perhaps before the round (s).
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Now to the golf. It's
an 18 hole, par 72, with four tee box
choices: 5285 (5780), 5511 (6026), 5957
(6514) and 6163 (6739). meters (feet) in
length. The course requires a precise
game, therefore not easy to play for those
that hit a long ball with non-consistent
accuracy. There is an abundance of
water--that has a taste for poorly hit
golf balls--with natural areas that are
home to a variety of water fowl. The
course, although flat may look deceivingly
easy, but without accuracy it will be long
day. Be prepared to lose many balls |
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Practice facilities
available are: Driving range, putting
green, pitching and chipping green,
practice bunker and a 3-hole short
course. There is a small fee for use of
the driving range and balls. A lovely Club
house, restaurant, pro shop, rental
equipment and carts are on the premises.
The course requires soft spikes and that
golfers have a handicap of under
forty-five (if your handicap is 45 bring
lots and lots of balls). Interestingly,
dogs on a leash are permitted. The
18-hole green fee is 50 Euros,
Monday-Thursday, 60 Euros on Friday and 75
Euros Saturday, Sunday and Holidays.
Before you finalize
your plans to visit Austria, have a peek
at the below Web addresses before
scheduling the trip. It will help make
your holiday to Burgenland's golf,
vineyards and Haydn an impressive holiday.
www.gcdonnerskirchen.at
www.haydnfestival.at
www.burgenland.info/en
www.weinburgenland.at/en
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