Perhaps Donald Harradine's most spectacular effort in Germany, this is cliff-hanging golf at its best. The Taunus region may not be a full-fledged mountain range, but it certainly is hilly enough to challenge any ambitions to the fullest. The architect, never one to miss dramatic opportunities anyway, took an especially uncompromising stance here. The routing is definitely "golf first" and "conventional wisdom later".

All four par 5s are on the front 9 and there is hardly a hole that cannot be completely botched by just one small mistake. What goes down (e. g. from the breathtaking 12th tee) must go up again (e. g. the equally breathtaking climb back up the 13th hole). And then, on the 14th tee box, it gets really steep! Together with the horseshoe-shaped 15th these are back-to-back long par 4s that do not exist elsewhere.

The course is full of exciting shots, scenic views and death-defying challenges - in other words "boring" is definetely the least accurate description imaginable. There are some tight or even penal shots, but many holes also offer strategic options. The greens are small, undulated and often rather quick, but they roll true and as such are a definite asset to this otherwise very naturally maintained course.

Not surprisingly, what ensues from such a wild ride, is a certain lack of flow. The individual holes are great, but there is so much going on at all times that it's hard to really settle down into a harmonic routine. The course is absolutely worth seeing and when it dries out, it should be played with hickories for the ground game of a lifetime.