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Golf Club Sokolov

The Sokolov course sits on the site where the small village of Horní Rychnov (Obbereichenau in German) was once located. Its closets neighbor was Dolní Rychnov (on whose land the golf course now stands) and the villages of Vítkov and Novina, which no longer exist. The first written records of the existence of this site are dated from 1309. The disappearance of Horní Rychnov began to take place in 1939, when the small quarry Silvestr was opened and the first coal extracted. In 1953 coal extraction exceeded. 1 milion tons and a year later almost 2,5 milion tons were extracted at Silvestr. Extraction activity at Silvestr was concluded in 1981.

The idea for exstablishing at golf course emerged from the 1990s, when the revitalization of the former dumping area began  to seriously be disccused. The idea had been delayed for several years. Yet a new era came with the start of the new century. The company Golf Sokolov, Inc, was established as the sister copany to Sokolovská uhelná (Sokolov Coal House). Project plans for building a golf course, whose construction would start in the  fall of 2003, began to be developed. From the beginning a unique design was set forth. The autor of the newly emerging course in the untraditional setting became the known German architect Christopher Städler.

The English shaper William Scott, belonging among the best in the world in his field, took care of the professional design. Deep bunkers, stepped tee boxes, and quality surroundings of the greens increased the attraction and the overall appeal. Sowing of all the land took place in the spring 2005, when the practise spaces - driving range, 2 practice putting greens, a chipping green, golf equipment rental and opening activities of the golf club - were already in operation. The completed facility opened to players in May 2006, the ceremonious opening took place on September 28th. To date, tournaments of some of our best professional (PGA Czech, 2006) and amateur golfers (CGAT 2007) have taken  place here. The golf course is part an approximately 200-hectare sports recreational area near the Michal reservoir, which serves as a public swimming  pool. A zoo park and forest park are being developed next to the golf course.

Not all surfaces have gone green. Dry hard clay, often used for architectural purposes, are on several hills. It has  its own magic: the swaths of green fairways as well as the wrinkled hills, the cracks of erosion, the embankment...this distinctive contrast is unique to Czech golf courses! The entire course is automatically irrigated and within the sphere of forest recultivation, 700 large and medium-mature trees were planted on its surfaces along with cca 50 000 young larches, oaks, ash, pine and spruce trees.

„To play golf without respecting nature is not possible and from the ecological perspective golf courses belong among the most succesful examples of recultivation. The planting of those trees everywhere, at least on the parts soft the dumping area, is a large articulation of the terrain as the basis of the overall biodiversity and has been succesful at Sokolov", said ecological expert Ivo Přikryl. „On the basis of 15 years of going research of the Sokolov site 1 expect rich incidence of thermophilic and aquatic species of insects, amphibians, the nesting of water, marsh and forest species of birds, the appearance of less common aquatic, boggy and other dry land plants and a number of interesting species of fungi. It is a new chance for nature."

   The association We Build Ecologically together with the Ministry of the Environment and Aliance of Construction Entrepreneurs of the Czech republic recognized the company Sokolovská uhelná´s ecological realization of the construction in 2006. After three seasons it is possible to state that from the moonscape a very interesting course with large greens, long rolling trails, fescue grassy rough and water hazards,which add to the visual diversification and variety of the game, has been built.

   The wind should also be mentioned. It gusts between the Krušné Mountains (Krušné hory) and the Slavkov Forest (Slavkovský les) at speeds resembling the Scottish coastal links courses. There are several of the imaginative holes at Sokolov, which stick in your mind thanks to the terrain, hazards, contoured greens and views of the countryside. The holes appear in various forms and force players to thing before hitting the ball. The 5th hole, a par-3 with a length of 150 yards and played on a peninsula at a height of 25 meters, or the 15th hole, a par-5, rank among the most beautiful. An almost certain boogie for some golfers could be had at the 8th hole, challenging in terms of approach and lenght. It has a narow fairway with water on the left side and a forest to the right. The course represents the optimal choice for lower handicaps, because it seems difficult to finish better than 8 over par. Martin Peterka owns the record. During the Czech  Golf Amateur Tour he shot a fabulous 67. The best- known member of GC Sokolov is Petr Skopový, which again qualified for the prestigious Alps Tour.

   Sokolov is part of the Golf Pass association, which selected courses of the Karlovy Vary region belong to. Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně, Cihelny and Františkovy Lázně make up Golf Pass and in effect give players the opportunity to play these quality courses at reasonable prices. Before and after golf games it is possible to take advantage of the club setting, including its duality restaurant with a wide selection foods at reasonable prices.