There are golf weeks and then there is this one. Each June, as the snow retreats from the Hahnenkamm and the meadows turn a vivid, cinematic green, Kitzbühel hosts one of the most imaginative summer festivals in the Alps.
A week where golf, gastronomy and mountain culture collide in a way that feels both playful and quietly luxurious. It’s a celebration that draws athletes, bon vivants and curious travellers alike, all lured by the promise of great food, great wine and a golf challenge unlike anything else in Europe.
Throughout the festival, award‑winning chefs and winegrowers take centre stage, “elevating the experience beyond the fairways” with long-table dinners, tasting menus and cellar‑led pairings that showcase the region’s culinary depth. It’s the kind of week where you might finish a round with a glass of Grüner Veltliner poured by the winemaker himself, or wander into a chalet‑style pavilion to find a Michelin‑trained chef grilling mountain herbs over open flame. The atmosphere is relaxed but refined — a reminder that in Austria, hospitality is as much a sport as skiing or golf.
But the undisputed highlight is Golf the Streif, held on 25 June 2026. For one day only, the legendary Hahnenkamm downhill run a slope feared and revered by the world’s best skiers – transforms into a 12‑hole golf course that drops an extraordinary 800 metres from top to bottom. It is part athletic feat, part alpine theatre. Players descend the mountain in a four‑player scramble format, with 18 flights teeing off every 15 minutes from the iconic start hut down to the finish area. The fairways are carved into steep grass, the greens are tucked into natural plateaus, and the views are so sweeping they almost distract from the challenge underfoot.
It’s golf, yes – but it’s also a pilgrimage. A chance to experience the Streif in a way few ever will: not at full speed on skis, but slowly, deliberately, feeling the gradient in your legs and the altitude in your lungs. Every shot becomes a story, every hole a reminder of the mountain’s scale and personality.
For those looking for a place to stay, Pension Rainhof offers a charming, quietly stylish base just moments from the action. Family‑run and warmly authentic, it’s the kind of alpine guesthouse that feels rooted in place, wooden balconies, mountain views, and a sense of calm that balances the festival’s energy. After a day on the slopes‑turned‑fairways, it’s exactly where you want to return: simple, comfortable, and unmistakably Tyrolean.
In a crowded summer calendar, this festival stands apart. It’s not just about golf; it’s about the joy of being in the mountains, the pleasure of good food and wine, and the thrill of experiencing an iconic slope in an entirely new way.