Golf near Lake Balaton: a Zala Springs golf weekend from Hévíz

If you are looking for golf near Lake Balaton, the Zala Springs Golf Resort is the name that comes up first: a Robert Trent Jones Jr. championship course set among the vineyards and lakes of the Zala Valley. Here is what to know about the course, and how to build a relaxed golf weekend around it with Hévíz's thermal lake and the region's wines.

Zala Springs golf at a glance

Zala Springs Golf Resort sits on the edge of Zalacsány and Kehidakustány (postal address: Golf utca 1, 8784 Kehidakustány), in the Zala Valley west of Lake Balaton. The course was designed by the American architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. and was completed in September 2015.

• 18 holes, par 72
• Length: 6,351 metres from the back tees, with four sets of tees so that newer and low-handicap players alike can find a suitable challenge
• Setting: vineyards, Tuscan-style rolling hills and lakes, bordered by nature reserves
• A two-storey, 3,000 m² clubhouse with pro shop, changing rooms and the Zala Springs Bistro
• Bag, buggy, trolley and electric trolley hire

The hilly terrain makes for varied holes and lovely views, but the water and sloping fairways reward accuracy. On a first visit, a buggy is well worth booking.

Season, practice facilities and lessons

When can you play?

According to the club, the main golf season runs from April to October, which is also when "The Cup" halfway house on the course is open. For winter opening and conditions, always check the club's website before you book.

Practice facilities

The driving range has 40 open-air bays and 12 covered ones, and there is also a putting green, a pitching green, a chipping green and a bunker practice area. Ideal for warming up before an early tee time, or for an afternoon session on a day when you are not playing a full round.

Golf Academy and beginners

The Zala Springs Golf Academy offers both individual and group lessons. Its beginners' programme combines small-group coaching (three to four people) with theory and practical exams, after which you can qualify as a registered golfer and play independently on Hungarian courses. Clubs and balls are provided during lessons, so you can try the game without bringing any equipment. The coaching team includes a PGA-qualified professional, and lessons are available in Hungarian, English and German. Check the club's site for current course dates and prices.

How to plan a golf weekend

A good golf weekend is about everything around the round running smoothly: tee time, breakfast, travel and dinner. Here is a simple checklist:

• Book your tee time in advance – visitors are welcome every day, but booking ahead is required, and weekend mornings in high season go first.
• Check playing requirements – a valid handicap certificate is generally expected; beginners should start with the academy programme.
• Pack for the course – golf shoes, waterproofs and sun cream; consider reserving a buggy for the hilly layout.
• Allow time to warm up – arrive 30 to 45 minutes before your tee time to use the range and putting green.
• Leave room to unwind – an afternoon soak in Hévíz is the perfect recovery.
• Reserve dinner – weekend evenings are popular locally, so book a table ahead.

At HillGate Apartments, the host can help with all of this: coordinating tee times, arranging an early breakfast before a dawn start, and organising transfers or dinner reservations on request.

Golf, Hévíz and Balaton wine in one weekend

One of the region's great strengths is how much there is to do beyond the fairways. Lake Hévíz is one of the best-known thermal lakes in the world, and a soak in its warm water after 18 holes is very kind to tired shoulders and backs. Hévíz welcomes visitors all year round, so it makes a fine destination outside the golf season too.

For wine lovers, cellars across the Balaton Uplands and the Zala wine region offer tastings, and Badacsony, famous for its volcanic hills, is within easy driving distance. A pleasant way to split the weekend: golf at Zala Springs on Saturday morning, Hévíz in the afternoon and dinner with local wines in the evening; then a practice session or a short tasting on Sunday before heading home. If you are tasting, arrange a transfer in advance.

Getting there: Budapest, Vienna and Hévíz–Balaton Airport

According to the club, Zala Springs is around two hours from Budapest via the M7 motorway, leaving at exit 76 and following route 71 towards Keszthely. From Vienna it is just over two hours, and Zagreb is also roughly two hours away.

The nearest airport is the seasonal Hévíz–Balaton Airport near Sármellék, about 15 minutes' drive from the course. Routes there change from year to year, so check the airport's website for the current schedule. From Budapest Liszt Ferenc Airport, allow a little over two hours by car.

Our apartments are in Nemesbük, 3.4 km from Hévíz and roughly 10 km from the Zala Springs course, so you can be on the first tee quickly in the morning and in the thermal lake within minutes in the afternoon.

FAQ

How many holes does Zala Springs have, and who designed it?

It is an 18-hole, par-72 course measuring 6,351 metres from the back tees. It was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and completed in 2015.

Can beginners play at Zala Springs?

Yes. The Golf Academy runs a beginners' programme and individual lessons. At the end of the beginners' course you can sit an exam to become a registered golfer, and clubs and balls are provided during lessons.

How much is the green fee?

Prices vary by season, so always check current green fees and packages on the club's official website before booking.

Planning a golf weekend near Hévíz? HillGate Apartments opens on 1 June 2027, with ground-floor storage that fits golf bags. Check availability and book your stay.

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