The Golfclub Schloss Wilkendorf was one of the courses we played frequently during our first…read moregolfing years, as the clubs Westside Course was the only public 18 hole course around Berlin you could play with HCP 54. And what a nice one that was. Situated in the "Märkische Schweiz" east of Berlin, the terrain is unusually hilly and gave the course designers some nice terrain to work with. Almost all other golf clubs in and around Berlin are on flat terrain, so Wilkendorf really gives you a different experience. So let me introduce you to the two courses:
Sandy Lyle Course
As mentioned, I wanted to play the Sandy Lyle Course for a long time, at the beginning of my golfing career a couple of years ago. As a 36 handicap was needed to play the course, I had to work on my skills before I could do that. The tournament last monday finally gave me the chance to experience the course.
The Sandy Lyle Course was obviously designed by the famous Sandy Lyle and has a total lenght of 6.096 meters from the mens tees (par 72, CR 72,7, SL 132). Composed into a beautiful nature, it makes very good use of the terrain given, almost every hole plays up- or downhill or over some hilltop.
The first hole starts out relatively straightforward, a 345m par4 with a fairway being guarded by OB on the left and a biotope on the right side. The following par3 plays downhill, followed by an uphill par 5 with really nice bunker placement. You do not encounter a water hazard until the ninth hole, but the hole design and bunker placement, sidehill fairways make it really interesting and challenging to play the course. Don't bomb it off the tee, good scores will come with smart ball placement. And take a moment in between holes to enjoy the beautiful scenery around you.
The ninth hole was one of my favourites on the front nine, you hit your tee shot through a breach in the tree line, be sure to place it left so you have a good angle for your second shot down the hill on the dogleg par 5, the left side of (small) fairway and the green is guarded by water, making it extra hard if you want to reach the green in two.
The back nine also offers some true beauties, like the eleventh that plays downhill, the fairway has a sidehill lie and the green is protected by trees.
Towards the end of your round, holes 16 and 17 wrap themselves around a big lake, ready to swallow all balls that are too cockily adressed towards the green.
If you have an opportunity to play the Sandy Lyle course, absolutely do it. It takes you mind off everything else and you can wallow in golf. Greenfees are 40 EUR on weekdays and 60 EUR on weekends, on thursdays you play for 35 EUR, on fridays for 45 EUR.
Westside Course
The Westside course has a total length of 5.792 m (CR 70,1, SL 123) and is a par 71 course. Playing less difficult than the Sandy Lyle it is still a good challenge for the beginning and advanced golfer. Well, you could call it Sandy Lyles little brother as it has the same characteristics, but on an easier level, yet still interesting. Water only comes into play on 11 and 17, the fairways are a little wider and you don't have to think as much about ball placement. My favourite hole is the 13th, a downhill par4 with terraced tee boxes, on the right side are two bunkers ready to swallow your ball and the green is protected to the left by big trees. You stand on the tee box and this hole makes you want to play a brilliant tee shot (which you then mostly don't). But it inspires and that is what I love about a good course design.
Greenfees are 30 EUR on weekdays and 45 EUR on weekends. On weekdays you can play without "Platzreife" (players permit), so it is a good chance for beginners to get a taste of a real course.
