Deutschlands Golflegende Bernhard Langer
Deutschlands Golflegende Bernhard Langer
Augsburg & Bernhard Langer

Home of the Legend

When you hear the words “Augsburg” and “golf”, Bernhard Langer inevitably comes to mind. But the town on the Lech has a lot more golf-related marvels to offer than its famous prodigy, and its beautiful old town is always worth a visit.

As many know, Bernhard Langer hails from Anhausen near Augsburg. He has been Germany’s leading golf professional for decades, and age does not slow him down one bit. The 59-year-old has amassed 32 victories since moving to the 50-plus Champions Tour. Most recently, he claimed his ninth major win among seniors, even outperforming Jack Nicklaus. Former Minister President of Bavaria Horst Seehofer honored Langer’s athletic successes with the Bavarian Order of Merit for his outstanding services to the Free State of Bavaria and the Bavarian people. “I am pleased and grateful to receive such a high award. Even though I now spend most of my life in the U.S., I have a strong bond with my home state of Bavaria and always enjoy coming back,” he commented upon receiving the honor.

Victories

32

More than 32 Victories on the Champions-Tour.

Golfclub Augsburg
Golfclub Augsburg
Augsburg
Innenstadt Augsburg

His home club is GC Augsburg-Burgwalden, whose course is located on a hilly terrain and deservedly described as a parkland idyll. Only 15 minutes from the city on the Lech, its sprawling fairways are surrounded by the coniferous and deciduous woods of the “Western Woods” nature park. The highly varied course requires athletic skill and a keen sense for the game. There is a reason why some of the professional golfers on the EPD Tour find themselves quite challenged at the annual Augsburg Classics. Bernhard Langer remembers: “My golf life began in the summer of 1965 on this very course – not far from where I was born. When I’m home and time allows, I always enjoy playing a round on my home course.”

As an eight-year-old, he began to serve as a caddie at the club for some pocket money. Some 20 years later, his victory at the 1985 US Masters in Augusta triggered a golf boom in Germany upon which German golf still thrives today. In addition to its course and cozy clubhouse, the excellent cuisine offered at the restaurant, and the excellent practice facilities, GC Augsburg is one of the city’s finest locations. The club has been a member of the ‘Leading Golf Courses of Germany’ since 2007. Langer emigrated to Florida many years ago, but some of his family still lives in the Augsburg area. Besides his mother Wallburga, there is also his brother Erwin, his manager and organizer of big golf tournaments in Germany. His long-time coach Willi Hofmann also lives here.

If you feel like a round of golf in and around Augsburg, you don’t have to look very hard. Because with GolfRange, GC Königsbrunn, and GC Lechfeld (all in the south), and GC Leitershofen (in the west), you have your pick of four, partially public 9-hole facilities with driving range and golf school, all close to the city. A bit to the west of Burgwalden, there is also the 9-hole Weiherhof course as well as the 6-hole short course of GC Gersthofen, which is north of the city.

Augusta

1985

LANGER'S VICTORY AT THE US MASTERS TRIGGERED A GOLF BOOM IN GERMANY.

Golfclub München-West Odelzhausen
Golfclub München-West Odelzhausen

If you prefer to play an 18-hole course, you have four choices in the Augsburg area: In addition to the course in Burgwalden, there is GC München West in Odelzhausen (golfclub-muenchen-west.de), GC Tegernbach (gc-tegernbach.de), and of course, just 30 miles west of Augsburg, GC Schloss Klingenburg (golf-klingenburg.de). A round on the 18-hole course near the castle Klingenburg feels like a stroll in a beautiful park. It was designed by Donald Harradine, who created one of the most beautiful courses in Bavaria in an impressive parkland setting, with thousands of old trees, numerous biotopes, and a rich flora and fauna. We are sure Bernhard Langer likes it, too.

© Intermag Publishing/Michael Möser

 

Top 5 Sights in Augsburg

  1. MAXIMILIANSTRASSE is one of the most beautiful historic streets in southern Germany, featuring patrician and bourgeois palaces and three monumental fountains from the Renaissance period.
  2. The TOWN HALL is Germany’s major secular Renaissance building (Elias Holl, 1615-1620). Its Golden Hall is one of the most impressive ceremonial rooms in Germany. On clear days, you can see the Alps from the platform of 230-foot Perlach Tower.
  3. The FUGGEREI is the world’s oldest existing social housing project, founded in 1521 by Jakob Fugger “the Rich”.
  4. From 1512 to 1515, the same merchant also built the FUGGER HOUSES on Maximilianstraße. They hosted several emperors, Martin Luther was interrogated here, Swedish King Gustav Adolf II stayed here, and Mozart gave a concert. One of these Fugger town palaces features the Ladies’ court (Damenhof) from 1515, the most beautiful of a total of four courtyards.
  5. The SCHAEZLER PALACE was built by a rich silver merchant. It was completed in 1770 by Munich court architect Lespilliez. The highlight of this Rococo city palace is its magnificent banquet hall. Its art collections feature Baroque paintings, including works by Rubens, van Dyck, and Tiepolo.
Das Augsburger Rathaus
Das Augsburger Rathaus