Hungary is not usually a country that golfers would think about visiting if they were going on a European holiday. However, the Zala Springs Golf Resort should make those people think twice. The resort, based a couple of hours from the capital of Budapest, is a glorious place to visit, with a championship golf course, incredible practice facilities, stunning hotel and a world-class health and spa facility. 

Robert Trent Jones Jr was the man to design the championship golf course at Zala Springs, as he has done at several of the other offerings on our European Golf Resorts list. The Par 72 lay-out makes the most of the natural surroundings, with the course winding its way through the rolling Hungarian hills. Water comes into play a lot, with Jones Jr using that to his advantage when designing this stunning lay-out.

The practice facilities at Zala Springs are second to none as well. There is a 52-bay driving range, of which 12 of those are covered to allow golfers to practise year round. There is also a short game area with an approach green, chipping green and putting green, with bunkers available as well to allow golfers to improve their sand play.

The Zala Springs Hotel offers something for all parties looking for a stay at a golfing resort. With no fewer than 11 types of rooms, ranging from Standard Rooms right the way up to Penthouse Premium Luxury Suites, comfort and elegance run through the hotel. The majority of rooms have amazing views of the golf course, with some having their own private sauna or jacuzzi.

Talking of saunas and jacuzzis, the Zala Springs Resort is also the home to a Boutique Spa. The Spa plays host to an outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi, Finnish sauna and biosauna among other things. There is also the Evergreen Health Centre, which offers both Western and Eastern traditional medicines and treatments, to help guests recover and to rejuvenate themselves during a stay at Zala Springs.

Visit Zala Springs’ website here.

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.

A man who has had a hand in many of the courses on the NCG Top 100 European Golf Resorts list is Robert Trent Jones Jr. He was the man to design the championship course at Zala Springs, which measures at more than 7,000 yards from the back tees. 

The 18-hole lay-out was his first on Hungarian soil, and he built it in and amongst the vineyards and lakes of the region. The rolling hills add to the design, with the course opening in September 2015.

Water first comes into play on the long par-5 3rd hole, which measures in at more than 620 yards from the back tees. The drink is then a prominent feature throughout the rest of the round at Zala Springs. 

The par-3 12th is the signature hole on the property. At 180 yards from the back tees, all of that is carried over water, to a narrow, diagonal green. A par on 12 is a very good score. The closing hole at Zala Springs is another 600-yarder, with the green sitting next to three bunkers and a lake, all in front of the clubhouse. 

The Zala Springs Golf Resort is also the home to a stunning Golf Academy. The facilities at the academy include a wonderful driving range, which has 52 bays in total. 40 of those are out in the open, with 12 being covered to allow practice for golfers in all weathers and seasons.

Away from the driving range, there is also a top-notch short game practice area. There is an approach green and a chipping green, with the latter also having a bunker to allow golfers to try those testing bunker shots out before taking to the course. The area also features a putting green which runs at the same speed as the greens on the course. 

The Golf Academy at Zala Springs Golf Resort provides individual and group instruction and can personalise golf clinics for advanced players or beginners alike. They also offer school programmes which can also be held in a number of languages, including Hungarian and English. Attila and Daniel Decsy, along with Gergo Bondicz, are the trio of PGA-qualified professionals who are on hand to provide this level of coaching and tuition. 

There is a wide range of accommodation options available at the Zala Springs Golf Resort. No fewer than 11 categories of rooms and suites are on offer for guests coming to stay at the Hungarian resort. 

Boutique Rooms, which feature panoramic views of the surrounding nature and premium design, are the most standard offering in the Zala Springs Hotel. There are then a selection of suites available as well. Lake View Boutique Suites and Luxury Lake View Boutique Suites both have balconies overlooking the golf course. The Harmony Sky Boutique Suites have a private sauna for the ultimate relaxation stay, while the Family Boutique Suites have a private jacuzzi in. 

There are then Premium and Superior Golf Studio Suites, all of which have their own terrace overlooking the golf course as well. The Penthouse Premium Luxury Suite, Premium Family Suite and Grand Premium Family Suite offer up stunning luxury, all with amazing views and everything that a group staying at the Zala Springs Hotel could wish for.

Zala Springs is also the host to a Boutique Spa, where the healing properties of water have been taken very much into account. The qualities of the water which is used, along with the materials and the decor of the Spa, offer a calling and relaxing experience for guests during a stay.

The outdoor swimming pool and outdoor jacuzzi are filled with thermal water throughout the year. Water experiences are enhanced by the indoor adventure pool, in which guests can find several different entertainment features as well as light therapy. In addition to the biosauna and the classic steam cabin, there is an authentic Finnish sauna. The Health Bar at the Zala Springs Boutique Spa welcomes guests with refreshing cocktails.

The Boutique Spa also offers a range of massages and body treatments, whether for golf-related regeneration or even just indulgence. On request, the massage rooms can function as romantic couples treatment rooms. From body massages to facial treatments and foot massages, the team of qualified therapists are on hand to aid the relaxation of the Spa’s guests.

Zala Springs is also the home to the Evergreen Health Centre. Evergreen is a unique venue, not seen at any of the other resorts on the NCG Top 100 European Golf Resorts list.

Evergreen brings together traditional medicine and modern therapies, along with medical expertise and experienced spa therapists. Both traditional Chinese medicine and the latest innovative anti-aging treatments are available at Evergreen, whose aim is to keep its guests feeling young and fresh.

Infusion therapies, Krio sauna and hydrogen therapy come under the present day banner at Evergreen, while qualified therapist Yang Yunong offers traditional practices including acupuncture massage, chiropractic treatments and more to bring the traditional Chinese element to the centre. 

A number of beauty treatments are also on offer at Evergreen. From regenerative massages to therapeutic facial and body treatments, for both individuals and couples, all treatments are tailored to age and skin type. 

Where is Zala Springs located? 
Zala Springs is situated on the western side of Hungary, and is the leading resort on the NCG Top 100 European Golf Resorts to be located in the country. Zalacsany is the nearest town, while the capital city of Budapest is around a two-hour drive to the northeast.

What is the nearest airport to Zala Springs? 
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, the airport which services the nation’s capital city, is located around 140 miles away from Zala Springs. The airport operates flights to the majority of European cities each week, with several flights to the United Kingdom among them. 

What golf facilities does Zala Springs offer? 
Along with the Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed golf course, the Zala Springs Golf Resort is also the home to a stunning driving range, with more than 50 bays. 12 of those are covered to allow practice throughout the winter months.

There is also a short game area that features an approach green, separate chipping green and putting green, along with a bunker to practise those tricky little sand shots. Off the course, the Zala Springs Golf Resort also is home to a stunning pro shop and the clubhouse has glorious changing facilities and a bistro.

Does Zala Springs offer golf lessons? 
The Zala Springs Golf Academy has a three-man team of Attila and Daniel Decsy, and Gergo Bondicz. The trio are all PGA-qualified professionals, who are on hand to offer coaching and tuition for individuals, groups and even school classes. They train those just beginning in the game to experienced players. 

What are the green fees at Zala Springs? 
A round at Zala Springs will cost golfers 30,000 HUF. That sounds like a lot, but with the exchange rate, that equates to €75 or £70, which is very reasonable for a round on a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design.

What accommodation is on offer at Zala Springs? 
There is an incredible array of accommodation in the Zala Springs Resort Hotel. Even the Standard Rooms have a contemporary design and are extremely comfortable. From there, all the way up to the Penthouse Premium Luxury Suite and the Grand Premium Family Suite, there really is something for everyone with a stay at the Zala Springs Hotel.

What other resorts and courses are nearby? 
Zala Springs is the only Hungarian resort on the NCG Top 100 European Golf Resorts list, meaning that the Slovakian resort of Penati is the nearest. Penati is around 175 miles to the north, a three-hour drive from Zala Springs.

There are a few golf courses in the local area to Zala Springs, though. Balaton is to the east, while Birdland and Reiters are both north of the resort. Livada, which is over the neighbouring border with Slovenia, is a 90-minute drive to the west from Zala Springs.

 

Visit Zala Springs’ website here.

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.