Diamond Country Club, the stunning Austrian venue which hosts the Lyoness Open on The European Tour International Schedule, is also now the recipient of the prestigious European Tour Destination accolade.
The centrepiece of the venue, located less than an hour north-west of the capital Vienna, is undoubtedly the 6,760 metres, par 72 Diamond Course, which was designed by renowned English architect Jeremy Pern and opened in 2002. The complex also boasts the Country Course, an attractive layout designed for a more leisurely play, with 14 holes already completed and which will be playable as a par 72 18-hole Championship course in July 2014.
Ryder Cup star Miguel Angel Jiménez has been involved in the redesign of a number of the holes on the Championship Course, and the layout proves a stern test for the €1million Lyoness Open – contested at the venue since 2010 – with water hazards on no fewer than nine of the 18 holes.
Diamond becomes the seventh Destination in a distinguished portfolio that now comprises 12 member-venues in total, adding to world-class facilities in England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. Complementing the natural beauty of the golf courses at Diamond Country Club is an elegant clubhouse, while exciting development plans for the next 12 months include a luxury hotel and spa, together with an expansion of the Country Course and state-of-the-art European Tour Performance Institute.
Another notable feature at what is destined to become a world-class venue is a boathouse which overlooks the lake protecting the ninth green. This beautiful new facility is used to cater events and serves as the VIP hospitality area during the Lyoness Open.
Quality and innovation have become synonymous with Diamond Country Club, and while the courses are an oasis combining golf and nature, the off-course facilities will provide the perfect opportunity to relax mind, body and soul.
The Diamond Golf Academy will offer superb practice facilities unmatched by any other Austrian venue and fitting of the prestigious European Tour Performance Institute endorsement. With practice fairways of on-course quality, multiple greens and the latest swing analysis technology, the facility is aiming to become one of the most modern academies in Europe, helping improve golfers of all levels, from beginners to future home-grown stars such as Martin Wiegele and Bernd Wiesberger, both winners on The European Tour. Diamond Country Club is also the affiliate Club for the two time European Tour champion Markus Brier.
Christian Guzy, President of Diamond Country Club, said: “Membership of this exclusive club adds significantly to the ownership of a European Tour venue. As well as access to a world-class brand, we become members of an international network of high profile golf venues. This also gives us access to important golf and real estate markets, together with the wide-ranging operational and strategic support provided by European Tour Properties.”
David MacLaren, Property & Venue Development Director for the European Tour, added: “Diamond Country Club has already proven its international pedigree through the hosting of two hugely successful Lyoness Opens. The vision of Christian Guzy to elevate the venue to truly world-class status is highly impressive and one which we are proud to support. We are equally excited by these plans and Diamond becomes a worthy 12th member-member of European Tour Properties”.