Budersand is one of the more unique venues on the NCG Top 100 European Golf Resorts list. It is located on the German island of Sylt, which can only be reached by car transporter or plane. It is the leading German resort on our list, and its history of becoming Germany’s only true links course is fascinating.

The Pidder Lung barracks on the outskirts of the village of Hornum was once a naval aviation base, dating back to the Second World War. Those barracks had been deserted for around a decade when Rolf-Stephan Hansen and Claudia Ebert came up with the idea of turning the land into a golf course. In 2008, five years after the plans were first drawn up, the course opened to the public.

The golf course itself is a stunning links test, and one that you won’t see often in Continental Europe, with only Le Touquet and Lykia Links coming to mind. Hansen and Ebert’s design brings all the elements into a round, including the weather and that sea breeze, while the course plays firm and fast, just like a true links course should.

A year after the course opened, the venue became a proper resort, as the 5-star Hotel Budersand Golf & Spa opened its doors. There are 77 glorious rooms, each of which has been elegantly designed and features its own balcony or terrace, while the hotel is also the home to Spa.Budersand, which is a high-class relaxation facility.

Budersand is certainly somewhere that should be on your list to play golf. Like Lykia Links, it is a true links course, but in a very different way. It is one of the true greats of European golf, and it is a must-play in our opinion.

Visit Budersand’s website here.

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Budersand is a true links course, the only links course in Germany. Rolf-Stephan Hansen and Claudia Ebert were the two people behind the idea, and what a job they have done on this remote island of Germany.

When the pair were designing the course through the natural surroundings, Scottish links golf was in the forefront of their minds. That certainly rings true, and although it is only 6,580 yards long, relatively short for a Par 72, there is plenty of danger around. The closing stretch is one of the best in European golf. 

The par-3 15th is one of the signature holes at Budersand, with the water all down your left side. You then play away from the Nordfriesische Inseln on 16, before firing your approach back towards the water on 17. 

The 18th is a great closing hole, a dog-leg par-4 with out of bounds down the left and a stream dissecting the fairway. Finish with a par and you’ll be happy with a drink in your hand after the round!

The Golf Academy at Budersand is run by Head Professional Sascha Georgi. He has been at Budersand since 2011 and offers lessons both on course, on the range and in the indoor golf centre at the club.

Georgi offers plenty of different courses and tuition options from the Golf Academy. From individual lessons to intensive five-day courses which get new golfers ready to take on the links, as well as analysis and training for the older generation, to show how golf can keep you healthy and active as you get older. 

Along with on-course lessons, Georgi and the Golf Academy at Budersand also offer indoor lessons on the simulator. From swing analysis to club fitting and performance testing, the simulator can provide it all. You can also play some of the best courses in the world with the latest TrackMan Technology, including the latest addition of Budersand to the ranks.

Opened in 2009, a year after the course formally opened at Budersand, the 5-star Hotel Budersand combines impressive architecture with contemporary design and comfort to create the perfect stay for golfers on the German island of Sylt. 

The hotel was built onto the coastline of Sylt, to offer stunning views of the North Sea to its west. There are four houses, all connected by bridges, that blend into the natural surroundings of the region, each providing a different array of stunning accommodation.

The Hotel Budersand is the home to 77 rooms which are decorated and characterised by an elegant design. Natural materials and elements, local to the island of Sylt, have been used throughout the design process.

There are five different room categories, but every option has either a balcony or an exclusive roof terrace with those North Sea views. Each room is flooded with light, and the contemporary design allows for a comfortable stay.

The Spa.Budersand became the latest addition to Hotel Budersand Golf & Spa when it opened, and it has established itself as a world-class facility. It is a great place for guests to relax and unwind, and to find themselves again during a stay on the isle of Sylt. 

The spa has some amazing facilities, including an indoor pool with panoramic windows and views of the dunes. There is also a steam bath, bio sauna and a Finnish sauna, and to cool off, guests can then use a cold outdoor shower, or the ice grotto. 

A wide range of treatments await in the areas of massage, cosmetics, body care, vascular training, instructions for stress management and rest. The concept is rounded off during a stay at Spa.Budersand with a health-oriented exercise program in and with nature, which will let you breathe a sigh of relief and give the joy of life and vitality.

Where is Budersand located?
Budersand is located at the very northern tip of Germany. It is situated by the town of Hornum on the German island of Sylt, on the coast of the North Sea. Water is on both sides of the resort, with the Nordfriesische Inseln to its east.

What is the nearest airport to Budersand? 
The nearest airport to Budersand is Flughafen Sylt, which services the German island of Sylt and flies to the majority of German cities during the summer season. By road, the nearest major German airport is Hamburg, but that is more than three hours away. Billund and Hans Christian Andersen (Odense) Airports in Denmark are also just over three hours away in the opposite direction.

What golf facilities does Budersand offer? 
Along with the stunning links course on the coastline, Budersand also has plenty of other offerings. The Golf Academy has an indoor simulator, where you can learn how to shape shots and even play a range of courses, all in the warm and dry. 

The pro shop and clubhouse have been recently refurbished and provide warm welcomes for guests who are ready to start their round, or those who are looking for a drink and a bite to eat after a tough 18 holes. 

Does Budersand offer golf lessons? 
The Golf Academy, led by Head Professional Sascha Georgi, provides tuition and lessons for all ages and abilities. From indoor lessons to on-course lessons and intensive five-day courses, Georgi is on hand to help you improve your game. 

What are the green fees at Budersand? 
As expected, the most expensive round at Budersand comes during the high season. For an 18-hole round, €120 will be the cost in the high season - from May to September. That price comes down to €90 in the shoulder months, and then €50 in the winter months. 

Guests of the Budersand Hotel will receive a 20% discount of full price green fees, no matter what time of year they are visiting the resort. 

What accommodation is on offer at Budersand? 
The Budersand Hotel provides the accommodation, with the front door to the hotel being no more than 100 metres from the first tee of the links course that the majority will be playing on the very next day.

There are 77 spacious and luxurious rooms, in a number of different guises. All are designed with a sporty and elegant look, and with local, natural materials, to keep the hotel as close the the area as it can possibly be. 

What other resorts and courses are nearby? 
Golf Clubs Sylt and Morsum, are the nearest courses to Budersand, with both being situated on the island of Sylt. On the mainland, there are plenty of courses in the region, either side of the border. 

Golf Club Fohr and Golf Club Hof Berg are the nearest German courses, while the southern part of Denmark plays host to the likes of Tonder, Sonderjyllands and Benniksgaard Golf Clubs. 

Visit Budersand’s website here.

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