Self-drive golf in Germany: Golf holiday in Northern Germany 1–4 hours from the border
While everyone else flies south, they forget that fantastic golf is just south of the border. Germany has more than 700 golf courses, excellent infrastructure, and a quality that matches most of Europe.
And you can drive there. No airport, no baggage fees, no waiting time. From Padborg, it is 1 hour and 15 minutes to the first golf resorts on the Baltic Sea. Verti Golf Tours has put together self-drive golf packages in Northern Germany with hotel, green fees, and often dinner included.
Why choose a self-drive golf trip to Germany?
Freedom: Drive when you want, stop where you want, play where you want.
Your golf bag: It is in the boot. No extra fee. No risk of it going missing at the airport.
Flexibility: Do you discover an exciting course along the way? Then pull in.
A short journey: You can drive down on Friday afternoon and be on the first tee on Saturday morning. A golf weekend in Germany requires no days off.
The experience: Autobahn, Biergarten, and Hanseatic cities such as Lübeck and Stralsund. The journey is part of the experience.
Golf in Northern Germany: The best areas for a self-drive trip
All our self-drive golf packages in Germany are in Northern Germany. Here, the drive from the border is short, and you can get there within half a day from most of Denmark.
| Area | Driving time from Padborg | Golf resorts | From price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schleswig-Holstein and the Baltic Sea | 1¼–1¾ hours | Maritim Golfpark Ostsee, Hotel Breitenburg | EUR 269 |
| Lüneburg Heath | 2–2½ hours | Castanea Golfresort, Hotel Amtsheide | EUR 269 |
| Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | 3½–4 hours | WINSTONgolf, Golfpark Strelasund | EUR 256 |
| Berlin and Brandenburg | Approx. 5 hours | Precise Resort Bad Saarow | DKK 3,495 |
All prices are per person in a double room. What is included varies from package to package. See the individual hotel.
Golf in Schleswig-Holstein and by the Baltic Sea: The short weekend break
Schleswig-Holstein is the obvious choice if you want to leave on Friday and return on Sunday. It is Germany’s northernmost state and lies just across the border. You can combine golf with the beach at Timmendorfer Strand and an evening in Lübeck.
Maritim Golfpark Ostsee is located by Timmendorfer Strand. There are 27 holes across three loops by Hemmelsdorfer See. You stay in golf apartments on the course, and the package includes unlimited golf throughout your stay. That makes it one of the most affordable golf weekends in Northern Germany.
- Driving time: Approx. 1¼–1½ hours from Padborg
- Included: Overnight stay, breakfast, unlimited golf, range balls, and trolley
- Price: From EUR 269 for 2 nights
Hotel Breitenburg is set in restored stable buildings by Breitenburg Castle. It offers a 27-hole parkland course, dinner, and a spa. It is the choice if you want the weekend to be a little more luxurious.
- Driving time: Approx. 1¾ hours from the border
- Included: Overnight stay, breakfast, dinner, green fee, and spa
- Price: From EUR 442 for 2 nights
Golf in Lüneburg Heath: Heathland, spa, and championship courses
Lüneburg Heath lies south of Hamburg and is one of Northern Germany’s most popular golf areas. The heather heath gives the courses a distinctive character, and the area has several wellness hotels with their own course.
Castanea Golfresort in Adendorf features a championship course designed by Kurt Rossknecht and a 1,700 m² spa.
- Driving time: Approx. 2–2½ hours from Padborg
- Included: 2 nights, breakfast, green fee, and spa
- Price: From EUR 269
Hotel Amtsheide in Bad Bevensen is located 2 km from the town’s 18-hole course. With the Heide-Golf-Card, you can play eight different courses in the area.
- Driving time: Approx. 2¼ hours from Padborg
- Included: Overnight stay, breakfast, three-course dinner, green fee, and wellness
- Price: From EUR 279.50 for 2 nights
Golf in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: Links and plenty of holes
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is for those who want more golf on the trip. Some of Germany’s largest golf facilities are located here. Take the Rødby–Puttgarden ferry and you will save a good part of the drive from Zealand.
Gut Vorbeck / WINSTONgolf has 45 holes: WINSTONlinks, an inland links course, the WINSTONopen parkland course, and a 9-hole par-3 course. With the “Unlimited WINSTONgolf” package, you can play as much as you like for three days.
- Driving time: Approx. 3½ hours from Padborg or 2½ hours from Puttgarden
- Included: Overnight stay, breakfast, dinner, and green fee
- Price: From EUR 256 for 1 night
Golfpark Strelasund has two 18-hole championship courses and a package with half board and beer on the course.
- Included: 2 nights, breakfast, three-course dinner, 2 rounds of golf with trolley, and spa
- Price: From EUR 419 for 2 nights
Golf near Berlin: Precise Resort Bad Saarow
Precise Resort Bad Saarow is one hour from Berlin and has three 18-hole courses, including an Arnold Palmer course and a Nick Faldo course. It is the longest drive on the list. In return, you get the largest golf facility and can combine the trip with a couple of days in Berlin.
- Included: 3 nights, breakfast, 2 rounds of golf, and spa
- Price: From DKK 3,495 per person
See all golf trips to Germany →
Other top courses in Northern Germany worth knowing
If you have a car, you can easily add an extra round on one of Northern Germany’s well-known courses on the way down or back.
Budersand (Sylt): Links course on the North Sea island of Sylt. Wind, dunes, and sea. You can reach Sylt by car train from Niebüll or by ferry from Rømø.
Green Eagle (Hamburg): 45 holes just south of Hamburg and host of the European Tour. The perfect stop on the way to Lüneburg Heath.
What do our guests say?
“We left on Friday afternoon and were on the course on Saturday morning. No airport, no stress. And Green Eagle was fantastic. 45 holes, and we played 36 in one day.”
– Jørgen & Henrik, Aarhus
Practical Information and Frequently Asked Questions
How far is golf in Northern Germany from Denmark?
From Padborg, it is 1¼ hours to Timmendorfer Strand and 2–2½ hours to Lüneburg Heath. From Copenhagen, it is approx. 4 hours to Hamburg via the Rødby–Puttgarden ferry. From Billund, it is approx. 3 hours to Hamburg.
When is the best time for golf in Germany?
From May to October. Many courses in Northern Germany are open year-round, but the weather is most stable from spring to late summer.
Do I need to bring proof of handicap?
Yes. Most German golf clubs require proof of handicap, and some have a maximum handicap. Always bring your DGU card.
Do you have to pay road tolls in Germany?
No, there are no road tolls for passenger cars on German motorways. Some major cities, e.g., Berlin, require an environmental sticker (Umweltplakette) on the car.
Is there a speed limit on the Autobahn?
There is no general speed limit, but many stretches have local limits. The recommended speed is 130 km/h.
Is a self-drive golf trip covered by the Danish Travel Guarantee Fund?
Yes, when you book a package holiday with us. Verti Golf Tours is a member of the Danish Travel Guarantee Fund (no. 3539).
Book your self-drive golf trip to Germany
Call us at +45 69 166 130 or email us at info@vertigolftours.co.uk.
Would you rather drive to Sweden or Poland? See all our self-drive golf trips.
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