Golf emerged from the shadow of COVID to be warmed both by a surge of interest in playing the game and a welcome increase in the number of people wanting to take up club membership.

They were timely boosts after a distinctly dark period for the world in general, but the Zala Springs Golf Resort in Zalacsány, Hungary had already gained an unexpected benefit from the stringent regulations imposed by the pandemic, says its club manager, Sonja Gschwendtner.

As in other countries, the Hungarian government offered financial support to businesses although Zala Springs did have to reduce its staff hours. However, the positive effects that ensued continue to be felt at a resort that is regarded by many as its country’s premier golf venue.

“We had to make the contract from eight hours to four hours and then the government took over some of the expenses, but we kept all the staff and we tried to rotate them in the different positions,” recalls Gschwendtner.

“So the receptionist may have helped with the cleaning or the food and beverage staff helped out on the course, and things like this. It was interesting because now the staff know a little bit more of each other’s work, and it was quite interesting to see that they enjoyed jumping into other areas.”

This enjoyment in an expanded view of the workings of Zala Springs led to it retaining all of its staff through a difficult period in which many golf clubs were haemorrhaging employees who left in pursuit of alternative careers.

The retention was much needed for the resort’s reputation and standing within its client base meant its bookings for 2020 were all honoured albeit a year later.

“We do not have any restrictions anymore and we have had a very good season,” says Gschwendtner.

“We were lucky enough that all the groups from the foreign countries who booked their holidays to Zala, they were all really keen to come so they all postponed their travel and came this year.”

Golfing visitors from outside Hungary’s boundaries are Zala Springs’ lifeblood since this is a country in which the sport was forbidden during Soviet rule and has only around 2,500 registered players, roughly equivalent to the membership of half a dozen popular UK clubs.

But they come in great numbers, particularly from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Sweden, attracted by a course designed by Robert Trent Jones II as well as luxurious facilities that have been much enhanced by this year’s delayed opening of a Wellness Centre & Spa. It was finished last November, but could not be opened when lockdown restrictions were put back in place.

“It was really frustrating, but finally this March we could open it,” smiles Gschwendtner. “It is doing well and more leisure guests are visiting the resort, which are not basically golfers.

“But it is also having a good effect on the golf because they are trying out the golf course and the golf lessons they take from our pros, so that is a positive that the people try out the sport because in Hungary we have just 2,500 golfers and it is always hard to push these numbers up.”

Zala Springs is doing much to raise the interest in golf in a country in which football is the dominant sporting interest, including in July staging the Hungarian open championships – for elite, mid-amateur and junior players – as well as running the Zala Springs Junior Camp during the summer.

“We also have a programme where the Hungarian Golf Federation and Hungarian pros and also the Hungarian courses are working together to grow these numbers. People get a green card, which is like a licence to play all Hungarian courses. It’s a 10-hour course and they have training and have a practical and a theory exam.

“It costs only €150 per person, which includes the balls, the clubs, the driving range fee and also green fees for using the course during the whole programme. They are also taught the etiquette, and also how to drive a buggy. After they do the green card, the course also gives one month of trial membership.”

Gschwendtner also hopes two stars from the worlds of football and showbiz can assist in raising the profile of the game even higher and thus attract more participants.

“In October one of our Hungarian international football players, Richard Guzmics, bought an apartment at Zala Springs and he wants to start playing golf,” she says. “I hope that it helps us a lot.

“We also have a member at the club who is a famous Hungarian actor, Kristof Nemeth, and we also make promotions with him. We have open house days that he attends when people are just coming because of him, but also to try out the golf, of course, and it is also a nice tool you can use.”

Zala Springs is located two hours’ drive from Budapest airport and a similar distance from Vienna, Zagreb and Ljubljana. While not a long journey, Gschwendtner believes the plans for Balaton airport to start running charter flights to and from the UK will help increase the number of visitors from these shores.

The resort was developed in 2016 – as a real estate development made up of studio apartments and luxury villas and focused on golf – by engineering company magnate Gabor Szeles, who originally bought a small castle in the village that is now one of Zala Springs’ hotels.

“The main reason for Zala’s creation was to build an international community for golf, for players and for those who appreciate outstanding quality and high-quality and luxury, so we have luxury designed homes and the idea was to make Zala a golf village,” says Gschwendtner.

Szeles’s son-in-law Tomas is one of Zala Springs’ 217 members, and plays every week.

Gschwendtner is also a keen golfer, who developed a love of the game in her previous job as club manager at Golfclub Imperial Balaton. “The president there helped me to get the basics and I fell in love quite easily with the game,” she reveals.

“I am not so good, but I enjoy golf. My biggest handicap is that I am working on a golf course so my time is very limited. Your hardest thing is when you can see the people coming in from the 18th.”

Prior to migrating to the golf industry she worked for an event management company in Budapest. “We did quite a few big conferences, prize-giving ceremonies, book introductions, things like that. It was very interesting.

“I learned a lot, with sponsorships and also about the whole industry and the marketing side and the events side, which is helpful now here in the resort because we have quite a few events outside the golf. We do a lot of conferences, team building events, things like this, and weddings as well.”

Ultimately Zala Springs would like to stage a major European golfing competition, and she comments: “There are already some plans dealing with it, so hopefully we can announce soon a European event at Zala.

“We have some plans together with the Hungarian Federation, but we cannot say which golf tournament that will be or when, but maybe it can also be a young masters or something like this.

“We will try to get one, we would like to have one. We will see.”