Himmerland (Backtee) - Denmark

Located 20 kilometres or so to the west of Alborg, Europe’s cleanest city, lies Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort in the exposed north of Jutland. Here you will find northern Europe’s largest golf resort comprising of 45 holes and also extensive practice facilities.

Himmerland certainly has plenty of golf on offer but if you want to play the best course then choose the Backtee course, which was originally laid out by Jan Sederholm in 1993.

In 2011/12 the course (formerly called the New) closed for a complete redesign by Spogárd & VanderVaart Golf Course Architects. The refashioned 7,382-yard course reopened in April 2013 and was renamed Backtee in readiness to host the European Tour from 2014. The first European Tour event played on Danish soil (the Nordic Open) was hosted at Simon’s Golf Club in 2003. The latest “Made in Denmark” tournament, which is now in its fourth season, is already a more successful event than its predecessor.

Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort is no stranger to pro events however. In 1995, the New course (as it was then called) was where Thomas Bjorn landed his inaugural professional victory, winning the Himmerland Open.

The Backtee may stretch out to almost 7,400 yards from the tips but there are five tees from which to choose, so this expansive and often windswept course is playable for most golfers.