In 2010, a fresh-faced Klara Spilkova, then a 15-year-old amateur, made her LET debut at TALE Ski Golf & Hotel Resort.
Fast forward 16 years, the two-time Czech LET winner will return to the same venue to play the Ladies Slovak Golf Open on the LET Access Series (LETAS).
“It’s wonderful to be back,” Spilkova, 31, said. “Tale holds a very special place in my heart. I remember coming here and feeling really good because the community around the course is just amazing.
“Slovakia, it feels like being at home. I just have really good memories since 2010, I made a lot of friends. Coming back here this year is just extremely special. It really feels like coming back home and coming back to my roots.
“I’ve spoken to many people. They’re still the same people. The promoter is the same. The people in the restaurants are the same, friends are the same. People who come here and play the pro-am is still the same.
“I think it’s the feeling about this place… how wonderful and beautiful it is, and also meeting my good friend Zuzana (Kamasova), who used to play on LET because we’ve been really good friends, and she was my mentor back then. I’m loving it and just enjoying every second.”
Throughout her 16-year professional career, Spilkova has played in 20 Majors and won two LET events. In 2017, she beat Suzann Pettersen to clinch the Lalla Meryem Cup before winning the 2022 KPMG Women’s Irish Open after a three-way playoff.
But when asked about her favourite memory in golf, Spilkova recounted her experience representing Czechia at three Olympic Games from 2016 to 2024.
“The most special thing about the Olympics is representing the people in the country,” she said. “I would love to play in LA (2028). We’ll see how it goes. Obviously 16 years is a lot, but right now I’m just trying to play a bit more for fun, not have too many expectations and enjoy the game again.”
Spilkova last played competitively at the Jabra Ladies Open in May. When asked about her future plans, she added: “I’m not sure to be honest. I’m really in the present moment. I love to have a family one day and just be around golf and maybe help juniors.
“I also have a charity event, pretty big one so I love to be around golf, around sports. I think it’s a wonderful sport. It has a really big future, not just in Europe, but I think all around the world, and yeah, we’ll see how it goes.”
