Aulanko (Eversti)

Situated a 90-minute drive north of Helsinki, next to Lake Hattulanselkä, the 27 holes at Aulanko lie within a beautiful landscape park established by Colonel Hugo Standertskjöld in the 1880s. Over a period of thirty years, workmen constructed lakes, lookout terraces and pavilions on the property, as well as planting a multitude of exotic trees, flowers and bushes.

The local town of Hämeenlinna acquired the area in 1926 and in 1940 the 9-hole Hugo course was brought into play. Today, it’s the oldest course in Finland retaining its original routing. The 18-hole Eversti layout was developed at the start of the new millennium, designed by Lassi Pekka Tilander, with the holes now appearing as old as those on the Hugo.

Stretching to 6,305 metres from the back markers, the Eversti is laid out as two returning nines, the second of which is configured as three par threes, three par fours and three par fives. Feature holes include the short par four 7th (where a pond protects the front of the green) and the tough 435-metre 17th, which has another intimidating water hazard lurking to the front right of the green.