Is golf merely a game for the cream of society?

Summer is the best time to take up a sport that involves nobility, relaxation and socialisation.

Excuses such as "I don't have any time", "I don't have money" and "I don't know how to play " do not stand up. If you’ve ever had even an inkling to try golf, you should give it a go! Golf is a sport for the impassioned and adventurous; all ages, classes and abilities are welcome.

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Born in a shepperds’ meadow

Before golf became a favourite sport of high society, shepperds passed their time by hitting a ball into holes in meadows, and they did it with such passion that they neglected their work and military duties. Consequently, they were banned from playing golf. However, what was forbidden for ordinary people was allowed for nobility, so the myth was born that it was a game for the cream of society.

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During the rule of the Hungarian Monarchy, golf started was played in the High Tatras. The first golf course and golf school in the Austro-Hungarian Empire were located in the meadow of Tatranská Lomnica more than a hundred years ago. Yet, the regime that ruled the country for 40 years came to the conclusion that it was an unsuitable sport for the working class. Nevertheless, golf returned to the High Tatras in the form of a training meadow in 1999. Today, Black Stork is a modern 27-hole-golf course, paired perfectly with a stylish hotel and breathtaking views of the High Tatras.

Family affair

"Golf is a game for people from two to one hundred years-old, and its rules make it possible for a beginner to beat an experienced player,“ said the CEO of the golf resort in the High Tatras, Sylvia Hrušková. "It is a pleasant game as you do not need to be in top physical condition to play it. It does, however, force you to perform the most natural form of exercise – walking." Golf can even be an educative experience for children. "It teaches good manners, because mobile phones must be turned off during the game. You also have to respect your surroundings; if you damage the lawn, you are responsible for repairing it. Who does not obey the principles of a gentleman, is awarded penalty points," added Hrušková. Golfers are also required to follow a dress code: All types of trousers, except jeans, and collared T- shirts are permitted.

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Rewarding for children too

"A golf course can be a setting for top sporting achievements or an ideal place for doing business, but it can also be a place for pure pleasure of game, competition and close friendships. Children have the best preconditions to learn the pure essence of golf", Hrušková continued. Beside sports skills, they also receive a strong impetuses for their personal growth, learning the value of honesty, endurance and concentration on the golf course. If this is executed in the right way, the time children spend on a golf course becomes an unforgettable experience for them.

This is what the golf school and the golf camp at Black Stork in Veľká Lomnica are based on. "Hundreds of children have taken their first steps under the guidance of professional trainers on the greens for 12 years. They have learned the magic of the game in a pleasant and entertaining way. As a matter of fact, golf school is not about golf only. Our smallest golfers recharge their batteries in the hotel restaurant in the middle of the golf course and at the hotel spa centre," added Sylvia. "Children return to the golf school in the High Tatras regularly, and there is also a special camp for advanced golfers."

The hotel's high quality services, coupled with magestic views of the High and Low Tatras, make it a beloved location for not only golf tournaments and company events, but also for families with children. The golf course provides sufficient space: it has 27 holes, a PAR 3 Academy, a roofed driving range and further training areas that are available free of charge. Black storks fly over the golf course named after them. "Our guests will definitely welcome various special offers and the chance to relax in our spa centre. They should not miss a trip to Lomnický peak and some undemanding hiking trips to mountain chalets, rafting on the river Dunajec, a visit to Belianska Cave and historical sights in Kežmarok, Levoča, Spišský Castle and the castle in Stará Lubovňa, " concluded Hrušková.

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