"The alpine setting is the whole show — expect uneven lies, dramatic elevation changes, and rock outcrops woven into the routing rather than bulldozed away."

Carved into a wooded alpine valley near Ramsau in the Lower Austrian foothills, Adamstal is widely treated as the country's best golf. Canadian architect Jeff Howes — who spent years working with Jack Nicklaus's design operation — opened nine holes here in 1995, extended the layout to the full 18-hole Championship Course in 1998, and returned for a further nine (the Wallerbach course) that demanded huge earthworks and rock blasting. The Championship Course plays 5,919 metres at par 71, weaving streams, forest clearings and exposed rock formations into serious mountain terrain, and Top 100 Golf Courses ranks it number one in Austria and 89th in Continental Europe. A restored 19th-century clubhouse with guest rooms anchors the property.

Golf travelers chasing Austria's top-ranked course, strong players who relish elevation-change tee shots, and anyone who wants alpine scenery with a genuinely stern test.

The 5th plays past rock formations unearthed in construction with Unterberg views, the 10th crowns the property's highest point, and the 11th, 'Hausbergkante', drops from an elevated tee inspired by Kitzbühel's Streif ski run — plus a bonus par-3 19th by a mountain spring to settle bets.

This is dramatic, penal mountain golf with forced carries, elevation swings and rock in play — beginners should start on the shorter nine-hole Wallerbach course next door.

The club's full name honours founder Franz Wittmann, and it also fields the 9-hole Wallerbach course for 27 holes total.

Expect big elevation changes, blind alpine tee shots and stream crossings — a spectacular, exacting virtual round where club selection on uphill and downhill shots is the whole game.

Open to visiting green-fee players: book tee times via adamstal.at or the club office in Ramsau; on-site restaurant and guest rooms make it an easy overnight stop.