Golf Course Architecture - Issue 66, October 2021

25 Howes’ new Austrian layout surpasses expectations The new Jeff Howes layout at Golfclub Linsberg in Lanzenkirchen, Austria, is delivering strong results following its first full year of play. “Golfclub Linsberg has gone from strength to strength in a very short period of time,” said general manager Elgar Zelesner. “The full timesheet and number of new members have far surpassed expectations.” The new course – just a few miles from the Golfclub Föhrenwald layout, which Howes has been redesigning for the last 20 years – is a par-70 with a total length of 6,337 yards and just 30 bunkers. Howes was presented with a relatively blank canvas for his design. “There was only three metres of elevation change from one end of the site to the other with no features – including trees – to incorporate into the routing,” he said. His design concept called for a mix of links, lakes and woodland holes. “The overall result should give the effect of three distinct characters throughout the round,” said Howes. “There are five links-style holes which are rugged, sown with fescue and maintained dry and fast, four Florida-like lake holes which are very f lat and attractive in their own right, and the other nine is parkland, with a lot of new plants and a few formal and easily maintained traps,” said Zelesner. Trees were planted, mostly on holes four to eight, the fifteenth and sixteenth, and the links holes feature revetted bunkers. “The Wiener Neustadt landscape also offers the perfect conditions to recreate the challenging and unique golf courses of Great Britain and Ireland, where golf has its roots,” said Howes. Photo: Jeff Howes Photo: Greylinger Howes’ design concept includes a mix of links, lakes and woodland holes