Austrian Peaks Host Million Dollar Hole in One Grand Final

The spectacular peaks of Austria are famous for skiing and The Sound of Music, but golf has started to become part of the local fabric, with the breathtaking landscape hosting the Million Dollar Hole in One Grand Final.

The world-famous ski resort in the Tyrol region is now home to five top golf courses, with the breath-taking Kyle Phillips-designed Eichenheim Golf Club beneath the Wilder Kaiser mountains being the jewel in the crown.

Alpine golf is a unique experience and Golf & Spa Resort Grand Tirolia Kitzbühel proved to be the perfect setting to host the Million Dollar Hole in One grand final last month (September) when three golfers from across the world – Marissa L’Estrange, from Brisbane, Australia, Jose Pinto Da Silva, from Lisbon, Portugal and Merja Salminen from Sipoo, Finland – had the chance to shoot for a life-changing $1million on the 150-yard par-three second hole.

None of the trio managed to bag an ace to win the huge jackpot, but former England striker Alan Shearer, an ambassador for MDHIO’s sister company Million Dollar Club, was a special guest as he watched the drama unfold.

The final was held in Las Vegas and is now hosted at other top venues across the world every alternative season with this year being the stunning Austrian venue.

Shearer, a three-time Golden boot winner and a keen golfer, said: “The course is absolutely superb and the resort is just incredible. It was a fantastic event in an amazing place. I was just sad I was unable to play the course myself as I am recovering from an arm injury.”

MDHIO, which has been running since 1990 in the USA and 2000 in Europe, has grown in popularity over the years with more than 50,000 people each year try their luck at the various par-3 holes at the 40 associated courses across Portugal, mainland Spain, Majorca and the UK.

Eichenheim, which opened in 2000, has also been home to the PGA Challenge Tour’s Austrian Championship and is consistently ranked as one of the best in the country.

Kyle Phillips, who also oversaw two of Scotland’s finest modern layouts, Kingsbarns and Dundonald, maximises the existing landscape and the Austrian course boasts several impressive, elevated tees and some strategically-placed hazards to challenge all areas of the game during the season between May and October.

The opening hole is a tough-as-they-come par-5, which weaves its way through a narrow gap between rock face and trees to a slightly elevated green, well protected by bunkers.

There are plenty of scenic and challenging holes but the signature hole is probably the short par-4 ninth, which has out of bounds on both sides, water guarding the left side of the green and large overhanging trees on the right.

Although the back nine of this par-71 layout drops into the valley floor and is slightly easier physically, there are several beautifully-designed holes, including the 391m par-4 11^th, which is an uphill slight dog-leg to an elevated green.

The 18th is another lung-busting uphill par-4 dog-leg – out of bounds to the right – to an elevated green protected in front by seven daunting bunkers.

Golf & Spa Resort Grand Tirolia Kitzbühel, situated an hour from Salzburg airport, was voted Luxury Golf Hotel of the year 2017 in the Luxury Travel Guide awards and boasts an array of top-quality facilities such as the Grand Alps SPA, indoor/outdoor swimming, six different saunas and 13 treatment rooms.

The accommodation options are, as you would expect, beautiful with 81 spacious rooms and suites, including the 300sqm Presidential Suite, two hotel restaurants, a couple of bars and three sun terraces offering panoramic views over the Tyrolean alps.

You can also hone your skills ahead of your round on the 30-bay driving range, golf school, practice bunkers and a putting green, while buggies are equipped with GPS to make this scenic track even more enjoyable.

For more information, visit Million Dollar Hole in One |  www.grand-tirolia.com.