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The history of the
St. Leon-Rot Golf Club
dates back to 1996, when the club was
officially opened by Dietmar Hopp, one of
the founders of SAP. But can we really talk
about a history after a mere 10 years or so?
We think so, because so much has happened
since then. Just a short while later, on 26
April 1997, the golf paradise opened and
club president Dietmar Hopp hit the first
ball on the “Rot” 18-hole championship
course designed by architect Hannes
Schreiner.
In the same year the St. Leon-Rot Golf Club became
the 500th golf club to be accepted into the German
Golf Association (DGV). An inspired choice indeed
by the people in charge at the DGV, as the golf
club with the memorable number 500 would go on to
set new standards in German golf.
The St. Leon-Rot Golf Club quickly became a
popular venue for major international golf
tournaments, hosting events such as the Deutsche
Bank - SAP Open, which has since become one of the
legendary professional tournaments on the European
Golf Tour. This tournament first saw the light of
day on our Rot course – just two years after we
opened our doors for the first time. This four-day
highlight attracted some 60,000 golf fans from all
over the world, who watched enthralled as golf
star Eldrick “Tiger” Woods make his unforgettable
debut in Europe. Now undisputedly the best golfer
of our time, Tiger Woods confidently saw off all
his competitors in every one of his appearances -
in 1999, 2001 and 2002 - taking the title each
time.
The Deutsche Bank - SAP Open took place on the St
Leon course for the first time in 2002. This
course was the work of internationally renowned
designer Dave Thomas, who created stadium-like
landscaping around the fairways to enable
spectators to follow their favourite players’
every step and every stroke and to give
professional golfers the chance to enjoy a unique
live atmosphere and soak in the rapturous applause
of the thousands of spectators.
Many major national and international tournaments have been played on the courses at the St. Leon-Rot Golf Club over the years.
Besides the Deutsche Bank - SAP Open we have
also hosted the German Ladies’ Team Championship
and the annual President’s Prize. An
internationally renowned tournament for young
players from all over the world - the German
International Boys and Girls Amateur
Championships powered by Capri-Sonne - was
established here in 2004. This tournament was
held for the fourth time last year under its new
name, the Capri-Sonne German Boys and Girls
Open, and is already a permanent fixture on the
international golf scene. Titel sponsor since
2010 is the Allianz AG.
Opinions still differ as to which of our two
championship courses is the better. There is
very little to choose between the Rot and St.
Leon courses as far as sportsmanship and the
huge variety of water obstacles are concerned.
Various surveys place Rot - the older of the two
- slightly ahead. In 2000 the German publication
GolfMagazin officially ranked Hole 9 on Rot -
now Hole 18 on St. Leon following a revamp - as
one of the “Top 500 holes in the World”. This
accolade was to be followed by several more. The
readers of the Golf Journal, for example, have
voted Rot the Best Golf Course in Germany in its
Travel Award five times in succession since
2001.
Over the past few years the driving range has
been revamped several times and the golf
facilities have been further enhanced by
extensive new plantings and new bunkers. We have
also added an impressive Pro Shop. The St.
Leon-Rot Golf Club also made a little bit of
(club) history in 2005 when our Bambini course
opened.
Very much part of the history of the St.
Leon-Rot Golf Club is the international
reputation we have enjoyed for many years. St.
Leon-Rot has become a favourite of a great many
golfing personalities and celebrities. Thus we
have made firm friends with numerous local and
international figures, who are now members of
the club’s big family.

The EUROPEAN GOLF ASSOCIATION was founded during a meeting held in Luxembourg on the 20th of November 1937.
The Association declares as its foundation
the observance of the Rules of Golf and
Amateur Status as laid down by the
R&A.
The Association concerns itself solely with matters of an international character. Membership is restricted to European National Amateur Golf Associations, Federations or Unions.
The Association is presently composed of 49 member countries and is governed by the Exeutive Committee (10 members), the Championship Committee (12 members), the Professional Technical Committee and the EGA Handicapping & Course Rating Committee.

The Deutsche Golfverband (DGV), founded in 1907 by eight golf
clubs, represents 770 member clubs and golf
courses with more than 575.000 registered
amateur golfers as governing body of the
organized golf sport in Germany.
The DGV is member of the Deutscher
Olympischer Sportbund (DOSB). It is among
the fastest growing sport associations. The
annual growth in 2008 alone was over
4%.
Following the bylaws the Deutsche
Golfverband supports and governs the golf
sport in Germany. This support includes
popular golf as well as top amateur
players.
The DGV organizes national und international Championships an offers a country wide golf league system.
The DGV teaches trainers for all levels of golf
activities and governs and controls the rules of
golf in Germany.
Aside of the traditional responsibilities the
DGV considers itself as a modern support
organisation for its members with a clear
mandate to develop the golf sport in Germany.
At the same time the DGV takes into account the
unique quality of the golf experience and the
traditional golf values like the rules, the golf
etiquette and the classical social club
life.