Our Rise to Top 100 Global & Top 25 European Courses
What's better than playing golf amidst nature with stunning views of the surrounding mountains?
Royal Bled is one of the oldest golf courses in Europe, located 2 km east of the popular Bled in Slovenia. The largest and oldest course in Slovenia is situated above the canyon of the Sava River at an altitude of between 504 and 520m.
With its unique location, this course resembles a heaven on earth and represents a hidden European golf gem in the heart of the Slovenian Alps. Surrounded by the magnificent Karavanke Mountains, the picturesque ridge of the Julian Alps to the north and Triglav on the western horizon, it offers an idyllic location for playing golf. This spectacular course in a unique natural environment with the appearance of heaven on earth is ranked among the top 100 courses in the world and among the top 25 in Europe, making it the first Slovenian golf course to achieve such a feat. Both exceptional achievements are a result of a long tradition that provides players with a top-notch golfing experience. In this blog post, we'll reveal how the oldest golf course in Slovenia became one of the top 100 courses in the world and top 25 in Europe.
The Royal History of the Course
The story of Royal Bled Golf Course dates back to 1937 when it was originally built at the request of the court, the deputy prince Pavel of the Yugoslav royal family Karađorđević, the diplomatic corps, and at the initiative of local tourist workers. King Alexander Karađorđević of Yugoslavia also had a summer residence in Bled at the end of World War I.
Thus, the first official game of golf was played at Bled on the completed first nine holes of the first Yugoslav golf course in 1937. Unfortunately, the course, with its finished 18 greens, was soon abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II. The popular course was visited by many famous personalities during this time, including deputy prince Pavel Karađorđević, the Duke of Kent with Greek Princess - Duchess Marina, British ambassador Sir Ronald Campbell, American ambassador Arthur Lane, and many others.
The course was revived and redesigned by legendary golfer Donald Harradine in 1972, creating one of the most attractive courses in Europe. After a comprehensive renovation from 2015 to 2017, Royal Bled underwent a spectacular renovation that offers a top-notch golf experience in a unique location.
The Best and Most Beautiful Golf Course in Slovenia
Along with its royal history, breathtaking surroundings and countless natural beauty, Royal Bled is undoubtedly one of the most stunning Alpine golf courses. Surrounded by towering mountains and wide Alpine valleys, it offers top-notch well-maintained surfaces with an exciting and challenging layout. For a complete intimate experience, the number of daily visitors is limited with preset 15-minute starting intervals.
The most beautiful golf course in Slovenia consist of the King's Course with 18 holes and the Lake's Course with 9 holes. The King's Course is the largest and oldest golf course in Slovenia, while Lake's Course, designed by Donald Harradine, is the perfect combination of spectacular views and challenging full-surface areas connected by the rolling terrain of Royal Bled. With its greens, they offer an extremely exciting playing experience for experienced golfers as the rolling terrain serves them with numerous challenges. The King's and Lake's Courses spread over 100 hectares of land, characterized by luxurious spaciousness and well-arranged playing fields. A quarter of the total surface area is covered by forest fragments, while the remaining surface area is adorned with grassy surfaces with individual trees specifically planted for golf play.
Royal Bled, due to its sophisticated course design and numerous challenges it presents to players, hosts a remarkably high number of international professional golf tournaments every year. The PGA European Challenge Tour and Ladies European Tour are just a few of the many European championships of various categories that Royal Bled Golf in Slovenia has hosted in recent years.
The fact that golfers use every club in their bag during play shows the diversity of the playing surface and therefore it's no surprise that guests keep coming back to the course.
Top Offer That Cannot Be Resisted
In addition to the exceptional Royal Bled course, the resort offers boutique accommodation options in the King's House and Lake's House. Both accommodations offer refined and comfortable rooms with all modern amenities and stunning views of the surrounding area. In short, a unique yet homely atmosphere that guests return to again and again to enjoy the relaxing comfort that surrounds them.
The fairy-tale Royal Bled can also boast of a top-design golf academy and practice facility, which in addition to the breathtaking views of the Karavanke Mountains, offers first-class conditions for training and learning. Players at the facility can choose from a short game practice area (Pitch & Putt), a two-sided training polygon for practicing short and long shots (Driving Range), a practice green (Putting Green), and a green with a sand (Chipping Green). The golf course also offers golf lessons, and the Pro Shop features a wide range of clothing, accessories, and equipment from known brands and its own collection.
Nestled in a unique natural environment is Restaurant 9, offering local and seasonal ingredients, house-made meats, and a wide selection of top world-class wines. Royal Bled offers guests an unforgettable gourmet experience with a focus on modern and international dishes, inspired by the local ingredients.
A hidden treasure of European golf, Royal Bled in Slovenia attracts golf and like-minded enthusiasts from around the world and spoils them with top-quality offerings and a warm personal approach. It is therefore no surprise that Royal Bled is ranked among the top 100 courses in the world and top 25 in Europe.