Public golf courses in the Munich area

I moved from London to Munich suburb last year but still cannot find any public golf course (pay and play) here. I have tried several golf courses nearby, but they all told me either I need to be a member of the course or I need to have an official handicap. Does anyone know if there is any golf course where I can just pay and play as most of the public courses in UK? Thanks very much for your help.

yup, Germany is funny that way, you need a Platzreife (Golf-license) to swing a club, do a search on Golf on Toytown and you will find some more details.
If you can already play to a decent handicap, then some places my approve you right away, but you need the Platzreife.

Thanks, Villager. Yeah, I have read other topics about golf on Toytown but I didn't come across with any golf course information that allows you to play without a Platzreife. I was hoping to know any golf courses with exceptions but it seems it doesn't work in this country!

To other readers : Any new advice or suggestions are welcome. Danke!

you could claim you are a tourist, swing a couple on the driving range and if you are not inept then they'll let you on the course, but I would not put it past them to require you to show your plane ticket. A colleague of mine got his platzreife on the same day by simply having straight consistent swings over 160 meters, just in the zone that day. (afterwards he developed a nasty slice)
There is a public golf course (kommunaler Golfplatz ) in Düsseldorf, 9-holes on the Rhine (GSV), and there you can just drop your money in the basket and go play. You need to fill out the line that asks for your home golf club, just fill in a US club that you know or write 'tourist'. Otherwise, the best bet is simply to sign up for a platzreife exam with the VcG (club-free golf association). You need to learn the rules
Rule quiz
in German
in English
Good luck.

This is a bit off topic, but what the hell. I have just purchased around 3000 used golf balls here from a man at my local course. They are all brand name (no aldi or cheapies), washed and in A1 shape. I can give away 20 per head to whoever wants to sop by. I don´t need so many, and my wife thinks they take up too much space. I will not mail any!
So if you are in the area drop me a pm.

I managed 6 out of 10.

3000 balls? Good grief! Sell them on Ebay
6/10 is good enough for the quiz, nobody really cares, it is just a formality. As long as you try.
Seems to be the case with a lot of exams here, just memorize the answers and go on to the next obstacle,
just a way to weed out idiots

@oakleyhouse : I see that you are Japanese. There are many Japanese here in Düsseldorf, try getting in touch with Kosaido golf club or somewhere else to see if they can help you get thru the formalities. If you are somewhat better than a triple-bogey player, this should not be a problem.

It was like a dream: He came to me and asked if I needed golf balls. I said sure. He took me to his garden house and there they were, one sack after the other. I ask what he wanted. He said 200€, I said I am American, he said, then give me 200$ (He is from Crete and going home soon). So I said 150$ and he took it. I don´t sell on Ebay (just buy). So any folk in Stuttgart can drop by and collect some.

you can get a handicap card on the following website
http://www.greenfeesavers.co.uk/handicaps.html

you pay 16 quid and send them 3 scorecards and they send you something official-looking that will be enough to allow you to play almost anywhere

you could also try http://www.egsmunich.de/index.html which is a society of glofers here in munich

there is a also small 6 hole crappy course at johanneskirchen who seem to let almost anybody on - seach on google for it

The only public course around Munich is Eschenhof, tel 08131-567456. A round during the week will cost you €45 and €55 on a weekend,
or try the English gardening, sorry, English Golf Society, see www.englishgolfsociety.de for details

If anyone knows anything cheaper and near a rail station, let me know.

The club prices around Munich are stupid, I get a Bayern Ticket, leave Friday Night with the family, have a distance membership here http://www.golfanlage-zollmuehle.de/ 400 Euros all in for a year, walk on Golf early season and Cheap Gasthof in Weissenberg for the weekend, Play Saturday & Sunday Morning and get the lunchtime train back Sunday.

Catch up on the books to read on the train.

Excellant weekend and not very expensive.

MG

Thank you everyone. All of your replies make my day!

@ Villager :

I am not familiar with Düsseldorf area but I know Kosaido. As you say, they might be able to give me some tip. I also tried the golf test : I am going to have no luck at all if I had to take this test in German!

@ billybob :

I didn't know about this UK company that could issue you a handicap card. Luckily, I am still keeping all the score cards so I can apply any time. Thanks for your valueable tip!

@ Outlandbar :

I know Eschenhof but heard that I still needed either a Platzreife or an official handicap card to play there. I have read about EGS in TT and this has been one of my opitions, too.