Taking your Platzreife on holiday: is it worth it?
Two weeks of sunshine, the driving range every morning, the test at the end. It sounds like the most pleasant possible route to a golf licence, and for some people it is. For others it is money thrown away. The difference lies in what happens afterwards.
In this article
The case for it
Uninterrupted time. The biggest advantage, and an underrated one. A German course is spread over weeks, and you forget a lot between sessions. Practising on five consecutive days produces noticeably faster progress.
Weather. Standing on a wet range in northern Germany in March is a different experience from doing it in the Algarve.
Price. In Spain, Portugal and Turkey courses often cost less than German equivalents.
A clear head. No rushing from work to an evening session. It shows in how well you learn.
The case against
Recognition. The most important point and the most frequently overlooked. Find out in advance exactly what certificate you will hold at the end and whether it is valid where you intend to play. A certificate from a venue not affiliated to a recognised federation is of limited use at home.
Language. The theory component is rules knowledge. If you take it in a language you are less comfortable in, you may understand the rules less thoroughly than you would like later.
No follow up. You come home with a Platzreife, and then what? No club, no coach, no playing partners. Anyone who gets their licence on holiday and then does not play for six months is effectively starting again.
The total bill. The course may be cheap. Flights, accommodation and rental clubs are not. Do the full sum.
Which destinations work
The Algarve and Spain. Europe's classic golf regions, dense supply, playable year round, and many venues set up for beginners.
Turkey. Belek has established itself as a golf destination, often with package deals that include a course.
The Netherlands. Not a holiday destination in the conventional sense, but for golfers in western Germany the most practical option. More on that below.
The short trip as a middle way
If what you want is uninterrupted time rather than sunshine, you do not need a flight. In the Netherlands the single day course is standard: theory, practice and exam in one day, usually on a Saturday.
From North Rhine-Westphalia many venues are one to two hours by car. You leave in the morning and are home in the evening with your licence, with no overnight stay, no flight and no annual leave.
At Zalm Golf such a day starts from 100 euros depending on region and professional. That includes all sessions, rental clubs, the exam and the certificate. You receive a Dutch NGF registration; how German venues handle it is worth checking in advance.
Three questions to ask before booking abroad
Which federation issues the certificate? Ask for the name specifically. A recognised national federation is what makes your certificate count everywhere.
What language is the theory in? If only English is offered and that is not your strongest language, plan to read the rules again properly at home.
What happens if you do not pass? On holiday there is rarely a second attempt, because you fly home on Sunday. Ask about the policy.
And then?
Wherever you take it, book your first round at home before you leave. It is the only reliable way to carry the momentum forward, in both the literal and the figurative sense.