The 1998 German Open will be played on August 6-9 at the Sporting Club Berlin, situated 75km south east of the German capital in the spa town of Bad Saarow, on the picturesque Lake Scharmutzel.
The Sporting Club Berlin boasts two 18 hole championship courses designed by Arnold Palmer and Nick Faldo with a third course, designed by Bernhard Langer, on the drawing board.
The German Open will be played over the Par 72 Faldo course which measures 7,042 yards and is already being acclaimed as one of the best in Germany. The two courses are complimented by a purpose built 300 yards practice ground with practice putting and chipping greens and practice bunkers.
The Sporting Club Berlin was conceived as the most exclusive sports club in Germany. In addition to the excellent golf facilities there is at the centre of the resort, the Kempinski five star hotel with 200 rooms with views over either the lake or the golf course.
Commenting on the decision to move the championship to Berlin, Ken Schofield, Executive Director of the European Tour, said: "It is wholly appropriate that the German Open should be played at the country’s capital city and we are delighted that it will be played over such an excellent course designed by one of our most illustrious members."
Wolfgang Reitzi, General Manager of the Sporting Club Berlin, said: "Having the German Open staged here at the Sporting Club Berlin is the culmination of all our plans and dreams. When the club was first conceived, and it was decided to build three championship courses, it was always our intention that they should be of sufficient quality to host a major championship on the European Tour."
Ulrich Libor of the Deutsche Golf Verband, the German Golf Federation, said: "We at the DGV are extremely pleased that our premier event will be played over the Sporting Club Berlin’s Nick Faldo course which presents an extremely testing challenge even for world class players. We are all therefore looking forward to seeing golf of the highest quality which will make for an exciting championship and a worthy winner."
The German Open will be played August 6-9 preceded by the customary Pro-Am on Wednesday 5th August. All four days will be televised live on Sky Sports in the UK.
