Former Austrian rally driver and Golf Club Adamstal owner Franz Wittmann realised a dream this week at the Euram Bank Open as his course made its debut on the European Tour
Wittmann fell in love with rally driving when he witnessed the 1973 Austrian Alpine Rally pass by his hometown, but after years of racing and accumulating a multitude of trophies, he returned with a new vision that involved another sport entirely.
Having been inspired to take up the game after watching golf on television, Wittmann soon developed a desire to create a golf course of his own in Adamstal.
Set in the Austrian hillside, Golf Club Adamstal is a spectacular and picturesque location, and holds a big significance to the one-time World Champion, who grew up just a short distance from the course.
“I was born here in Adamastal, about two kilometres from this golf course,” said Wittmann.
“In New Zealand I saw on the television, almost every evening, golf. It was so nice, and so I thought, I have to start with golf.”
Wittmann teamed up with Canadian Golf Course designer Jeff Howes to realise the project, which proved a difficult task due to the nature of the terrain. It took just a year for the first nine holes to be created, which opened in 1995, a further three years for the second nine to open in 1998, and an additional eight years for the third nine, which opened in 2006.
“It was my destiny,” he said. “It was not so easy in this area, but it was a dream, and I went through it step by step.”
Golf Club Adamstal made its debut on the European Challenge Tour in 2006 hosting the Man NO Open, which ran from 2006-2008, and returned for the Euram Bank Open in 2018. Wittmann finally realised his dream this week when his course became the venue for a dual-ranking event with the European Tour.
“Everybody said you cannot make here on the European Tour. I say you never know.”
