North feeder of the Brenner: Effects on the Golfclub Schloss Elkofen – Ebersberg

It takes about seven minutes: from the clubhouse of the Schloss Elkofen golf club near Grafing to hole number twelve. The sun is beating down mercilessly on this late Thursday afternoon in August: it’s still a good 32 degrees, and you’re looking for clouds in the sky in vain. Under the shady roof of the golf caddy, the slight head wind, which is caused by 15 kilometers per hour, is reasonably bearable. It goes uphill and downhill, past trees and flowering meadows, refuges and reeds, teeing area markings and rest benches. It’s beautiful, the way to hole number twelve – the one that will fall victim to the planned “Limone” route of the northern approach to the Brenner Pass. That’s what project section manager Dieter Müller said at the end of July at an information event for citizens in Grafing. Only a single track would therefore have to give way to the mega project.

However, it is not that easy, as the golf club says. But not as bad as a statement by Grafing’s mayor Christian Bauer announced shortly after the route selection was announced: “The golf course in Oberelkofen will no longer exist.” If it is neither the loss of a single hole nor the flattening of the entire 75 hectare golf course – then what does the “Limone” decision mean for the golf club?

Lane number twelve is the farthest from the clubhouse

The short answer: you don’t know. The long answer: You can find out when you set off for hole number twelve with Helmut Hampel, President of the Golf Club, and Jürgen Schunda, Vice President. Once with two golf caddies across the entire golf course – the twelfth hole is the furthest away from the clubhouse.

In any case, nobody here is afraid or even panics that the golf course might no longer exist in a few years – that quickly becomes clear. “The time horizon for the project is currently far too far away,” says Helmut Hampel.

In fact, Deutsche Bahn’s current plans envisage the completion and commissioning of the north access to the Brenner Pass by 2040. Then the train route from Munich via Austria to Verona in Italy should become one of the central transport routes for goods within Europe. This is intended to relieve motorways and at the same time make a contribution to climate protection.

The beginning of the 2030s should be the start of construction of the northern access in the district

The start of construction for the section in the district of Ebersberg, i.e. a part of the “Limone” northern tributary, is planned for the early 2030s. And: “We are still very roughly on the way,” said Matthias Neumeier in mid-July at the press conference in Ebersberg, where the route decision was announced. The exact route in all details is therefore not yet certain.

But it doesn’t matter whether the route ultimately runs a few meters further west or east – in any case it will cross the golf course.

Open detailed view

With the caddies past hole number nine on the right, you get to the highest point of the golf course. Right here, behind the trees a few hundred yards away, would be the Limone route. In sight, probably also in earshot. If your gaze wanders a little to the left from this point, you can see the Hamberg windmill above the many treetops. It looks like it’s really close – just a little further down the dirt road.

So far, there have been no individual talks with Deutsche Bahn representatives, says Helmut Hampel. “We’re a bit on the outside, after all, the golf club is only the leaseholder of the property – so the railway first talks to the farmer who owns this area.”

The project is a topic of conversation among the members, but nobody is concerned about the existence of the club

What also hasn’t happened yet: resignations of members or dismissals of the six permanent employees. For example, out of concern that the “Limone” route could make playing impossible or at least less beautiful. “But the discussion project at the tables here in the clubhouse is clear,” says Jürgen Schunda. However, there is no end-time mood there.

In the meantime, Hampel and Schunda have also spoken to Grafing’s mayor Christian Bauer – the man who publicly expressed his concern for the complete existence of the golf course. “I think he said that in a mood of initial turmoil,” says Hampel. “He wasn’t the only one who was disappointed with Deutsche Bahn’s decision – I can fully understand such an emotional reaction.”

Open detailed view

From tee number nine on the right hand side, along the fairway, past holes number ten and eleven – then you are in front of the teeing area of ​​fairway number twelve. The hole is southwest of that – and would be on the other side of the road. “Limone” would therefore cross the fairway.

The context of the game makes it necessary to lay several lanes

Lane twelve must therefore be relocated. And that’s where the real crux begins: “We need a game context,” explains Hampel. This means that if lane twelve is omitted, lanes eleven, thirteen and fourteen are also eliminated. Because they are all close together – here, on the side of the golf course that was extended 20 years ago, you walk along the edge of the course counterclockwise and play one hole after the other. Playing as usual up to hole eleven, having to go somewhere completely different on the golf course for the twelfth hole, and then coming back for the tee on the other holes – that lacks any game logic.

In the worst case, four lanes would have to be laid because of “Limone”. Because it’s not just about the context of the game, but also about the recreational factor for the club members. “Nobody wants to play golf anywhere if there’s a railway line a stone’s throw away and it’s correspondingly loud,” says Hampel. The golf courses should therefore not be too close to the route.

In order to be able to create a new track, the club must submit a building application to the city of Grafing. We work very closely with various environmental and nature conservation institutions, such as the Lower Nature Conservation Authority – it’s about compensation areas, but also about creating golf areas that are as attractive as possible for animals such as certain bird species and insects and for the environment in general . Until plans are completed and approved, “there are three years nothing,” says Hampel.

A golf course consists of 18 holes, just like every marathon distance measures 42.195 kilometers

But why not just play golf with a few fewer holes? Just 14 lanes instead of 18? Hampel and Schunda shake their heads. Golf isn’t just about hitting a ball into a couple of holes. It’s about comparability, as with many sports: A golf course consists of 18 holes, worldwide. In a marathon, nobody simply says that this time only 40 instead of 42.195 kilometers have to be run – because then it’s no longer a marathon.

A few ponds, trees and other plants as well as flowering meadows will probably also have to give way. All created by the golf club, which is maintained by the nine employees from the greenkeeping department.

Open detailed view

Helmut Hampel and Jürgen Schunda get back into the two golf caddies. Across a small bridge at track number fourteen, it goes back in the direction of the clubhouse. Many individual fates depend on the plans for “Limone” – “Of course it’s terrible for each of them,” says Hampel. He knows farmers whose land is divided. “But it’s a global project and it’s important – we agree on that here in the club.”

The club is currently seeking legal advice. And you communicate openly and honestly with the 650 members of the golf club, which he and Hampel consider to be essential, because after all, they are the ones who finance the club completely with their membership fees. And the chairman makes it clear: “We don’t know too much yet to be able to plan concretely.” There are variants and possibilities that the members of the board are considering together with the legal advisor – “but at the moment it’s pure speculation”.

Back at the clubhouse, Hampel and Schunda park the two golf caddies and get out. “There will be some solution,” says Schunda. Hampel nods. “But now I’m just going to play a few more holes.”