Hjarbæk Fjord (Nord & Syd)

Further golf resorts in North, Central and Southeast Europe When we embarked on our resort golf write ups fifteen months ago, the original intent was to cover all the usual sun-kissed suspects such as Portugal and Spain then maybe France and Italy. Well, we’ve written about all of those places but we then decided to venture a little further afield to even hotter spots like Cyprus, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey. Back in mainland Europe, we’ve also reported on resorts in the likes of the Nordic nations and Germany. Now, with the 20th edition of this resort golf feature, we’re concluding with a round-up across nine different countries in North, Central and Southeast Europe, starting off in Norway then working our way south to end up in Bulgaria. Norway – Losby Located 20 kilometres east of Oslo city centre, Losby Golfklubb lies on the edge of a densely forested area, with the Østmork 18-hole course the championship layout at an impressive 27-hole facility. Designed by Swedish architect Peter Nordwall in the late 1990s, the course hosted the third edition of the short-lived SAS Masters tournament on the Ladies European Tour in 2007, with home favourite Suzann Pederson winning by nine shots from nearest competitor Nikki Garrett. The on-site Losby Gods hotel has 70 guest rooms, comprising 45 standard rooms (30 with a double bed and 15 with two single beds), 20 deluxe rooms (with balcony views), four suites on two levels and the special Haakon Suite which is the only room in the old part of the original hotel dating back to 1850. Traditional Nordic cuisine is served in a restaurant that’s divided into four separate dining areas, each of which is decorated in a manor house style. Sweden – Barsebäck A 6-hour drive south of Oslo will bring you to Barsebäck Golf Resort on the southwest coast of Sweden, featuring two 18-hole layouts: the Ocean course (formerly called Masters) and the Pine (previously named Donald Steel). The club has hosted many top amateur and professional competitions in the modern era, with the pick of these probably the Solheim Cup matches for Team Europe against the United States in 2003, when Swede Catrin Nilsmark led the home side to a 17½-10½ victory against their transatlantic opponents. The recently renovated hotel at Barsebäck offers 18 standard double rooms on the first floor and 18 deluxe double rooms on the second floor. All of these air-conditioned rooms are furnished with a comfortable seating area for relaxation and a work area with a desk. There are also a number of 2-bedroom villas available which have a kitchen, dining room and separate living area. Denmark – HimmerLand The HimmerLand resort is positioned 470 kilometres northwest of Barsebäck, near the city of Aalborg on Denmark’s Jutland peninsula. The Old course opened in the late 1970s, with the New course arriving in the early 1990s. Redesigned by Philip Christian Spogárd and Michiel Van Der Vaart a decade ago, the New course has staged seven of the eight editions of the DP World Tour’s Made in Himmerland tournament since it was introduced on the men’s professional circuit in 2014. In 2020, the previously named Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort changed its name to HimmerLand and it expanded its activity options by opening a sports hall to offer guests tennis, football, bowling and padel facilities. A new spa area was also opened and a hotel wing was brought into operation, bringing the total number of guest rooms up to 86. Poland – Modry Las Modry Las Golf Resort is situated in northwest Poland and this 27-hole facility also now carries the prestigious PGA National Poland designation. Designed by Gary Player, the main 18-hole Modry Las course is laid out next to Raduń Lake, with the opening three holes and the 18th hole routed beside the lake shores. Be sure to also play the lovely 9-hole Orli Las short course when you visit here. The accommodation options at Modry Las include eleven double rooms in the new clubhouse (inaugurated in the summer of 2020), together with six 1-bedroom Garden Suites and three Woodland Cottages (each with two double bedrooms) which nestle in woodland between the par four 8th and par five 16th holes. Additional cottages are currently being built. Czech Republic – Panorama A 6-hour drive south from Modry Las takes you to another 27-hole complex at the Panorama Golf Resort near the small market town of Kácov in the Czech Republic, where three 9-hole circuits (Meadow, Forest and River) are set out on a rather hilly property overlooking the Sázava River. There are ten double rooms and four suites in the upper level of the clubhouse and next to this building there are bungalows which offer twelve double rooms and six suites. All rooms come with an outside terrace overlooking the course. The wellness centre has an indoor pool and whirlpool, sauna and steam bath, while the Panorama Restaurant serves Czech cuisine with a modern touch. Slovakia – Tále (Gray Bear) The 27-hole operation at Tále Ski, Golf & Hotel Resort is located in the Low Tetras National Park (a good 2½-hour drive northeast of Bratislava) with an 18-hole championship-standard course called Gray Bear and a 9-hole bi-directional layout named Little Bear. Opened for business in 2002, the golf centre was literally carved out of dense woodland in a mountain valley by American architects Bob Walton and Skip Malek. The 3-star Stupka Hotel extends to 41 guest rooms. comprising apartments, twin rooms, deluxe double rooms, suites and a presidential apartment. The spa and wellness centre includes a saltwater pool, Finnish sauna, two steam saunas and a hot tub. The Koliba Stupka restaurant sits up to 100 people and serves chicken, pork ribs and other typical Slovak dishes grilled in a traditional style on charcoal. Hungary – Old Lake Continuing south towards Budapest, the Old Lake Golf Club & Hotel sits less than an hour’s drive outside the capital, within the former hunting grounds of the noble Eszterházy family. Launched in the late 1990s, this 18-hole layout has hosted several international ladies and senior tournaments under the auspices of the European Senior Golf Association, the European Golf Association and the Ladies European Tour. The 4-star on-site hotel at Old Lake boasts thirty-four air-conditioned guest rooms (29 standard, 5 suites) and the Esterházy Restaurant serves both Hungarian and international food. The Bowling Bar is a great place for groups with a two-lane bowling alley, dart board and billiards table for relaxation. The wellness centre features a jacuzzi, Finnish sauna, steam cabin, fitness room and a couple of massage rooms. Slovenia – Grad Otočec Continue 500 kilometres southwest from Budapest and you’ll arrive at Golf Grad Otočec, which lies halfway between the Slovenian capital Ljubljana and Zagreb in neighbouring Croatia. Howard Swan was the architect behind this project, working with a local student architect, and they set out the course across a hilly, heavily forested landscape above the Krka River. Positioned on an island in the river, 1½ kilometres from the golf club, the 5-star Otočec Castle Hotel has 16 guest rooms available for visiting golfers, consisting of ten double rooms and six suites. The Castle Restaurant is a member of the renowned Chaîne des Rôtisseurs gastronomy association and guests can also enjoy the extensive spa facilities in the nearby 4-star Hotel Šport (which has another 88 rooms). Bulgaria – Pirin Our final destination lies a thousand kilometres to the southeast of Slovenia near the ski resort of Bansko in Bulgaria at Pirin Golf & Country Club. Designed by Gary Johnston of European Golf Design, in conjunction with Ian Woosnam, the main 18-hole layout is laid out around several lakes and a mountain creek which winds its way through the property. Built by the Balkanstoy construction company, it’s a sister course to Lighthouse on the Black Sea. The 5-star Pirin Golf Hotel and Spa contains 62 guest rooms and 9 suites and the apartment complex (spread out over five districts) provides many more one-, two- and three-bedroom self-catering options, along with three luxury chalets for large groups. There are eight restaurants offering a wide choice of cuisine – everything from local dishes to Asian food. The wellness centre has seven pools, thermal and therapeutic zones plus treatment and massage areas. If you have any comment to make on the above article then please use the “WRITE A RESPONSE” link at the bottom of this page. Jim McCann Editor Top 100 Golf Courses

Great Golf Resorts in Northern Europe Our last resort golf article focused on countries in central Europe and this time we move further north to examine a selection of golf facilities located in mainly Nordic and Baltic countries. Our journey starts near Oslo in Norway, moves south to Malmö in Sweden then across the Samsø Bælt by ferry to Aarhus in Denmark. We then traverse a thousand kilometres through northern Germany into Poland and the northern port of Gdańsk. From there, we head further east towards Vilnius in Lithuania before veering north through Riga in Latvia and the Estonian island of Saaremaa before another ferry trip across the Gulf of Finland and our final destination to the north of Helsinki. Norway – Miklagard We start at Miklagard Golf, one of 33 European golf facilities in the IMG Prestige network. For twenty years the club has operated a Robert Trent Jones II-designed course and this layout was purposefully built on a grand large scale to host elite golfing events, staging three editions of the Norwegian Challenge tournament between 2007 and 2017. Five years ago, a new hotel and spa was built on the former practice area, resulting in the remodelling of the opening hole and the construction of five new holes. The hotel, which trades under the name Lily Country Club, boasts 486 guest rooms, along with four restaurants and bars, conveniently situated close to Gardermoen international airport. Sweden – PGA Sweden National   Designed by Kyle Phillips, the 45-hole golf complex at PGA Sweden National comprises two 18-hole courses, the Links and the Lakes, along with a 9-hole par three layout. First opened for play fourteen years ago, the facility presented a couple of editions of the Nordea Masters in 2014/15 and the season-ending Swedish Tour Final has been played here the last two years. On the top floors of the clubhouse, there are sixteen fully furnished suites for golfers who wish to stay and play at what effectively is a boutique hotel. The accommodation has inspiring views across the playing fields and the Skåne landscape beyond and it’s well worth taking advantage of a package deal to be able to wake up right at the first tee! Denmark – Lübker  The 36-hole Lübker Golf & Spa Resort is home to another Robert Trent Jones II-designed layout, consisting of three championship-standard 9-hole circuits (named Sand, Sky and Forest) and a shorter Pay & Play course where absolute beginners are welcome to literally come in off the street and tee it up without any formal golfing qualification. Accommodation incorporates 27 apartments (which can sleep up to 4 golfers) next to the clubhouse, along with 19 holiday houses for rental that are dotted around the property, with each of these buildings capable of sleeping 4 to 6 people. Lübker Square is the resort’s wellness oasis and it includes indoor and outdoor spa facilities, subtropical baths and a gymnasium. Poland – Sand Valley  The 18-hole layout at the Sand Valley Golf Resort opened its doors to visiting golfers in 2009, several years after building work first began on the site. The original construction company was replaced and American architect Tony Ristola brought in to oversee the efforts of new local contractors who eventually delivered a rather unique “inland links” style of course for the Finnish owner. On-site accommodation is described as “Scandinavian in design and American in spirit” with 18 villas (77 beds) and 12 suites and apartments (17 beds) positioned close to the clubhouse – villas are equipped with saunas and designer kitchens and larger buildings come complete with their own private swimming pool. Lithuania – V Golf Club  Located half an hour’s drive north of Vilnius, the 18-hole layout at the V Golf Club held the European Men’s and Ladies’ Team Shield tournaments in 2019. Jon Hunt from PGA Design laid out the course fourteen years ago, when he expanded the original very modest golf facility of three short holes and a driving range into a modern setup which is now able to hold international golf events. The hotel at the adjacent Vilnius Grand Resort has 240 rooms, complemented by a spa and wellness centre (with pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and a variety of water massage experiences). There are also basketball and tennis courts, a lake for fishing and during the summer season guests can visit the private beach. Latvia – Jurmala Fashioned by Dirk Bouts from Nicklaus Design, the Championship 18-hole layout and 9-hole par three academy course at Jurmala Golf Club & Hotel in Riga debuted in 2018. Like V Golf Club, Jurmala staged the same two EGA team competitions in 2021, confirming its tournament-hosting capabilities. It’s hard to believe with the quality of this new design that a rather ordinary course once occupied the same site. The on-site boutique hotel features 17 double/twin rooms (extending to 18 square metres) and 2 suites that are more than double the size of the standard rooms. All rooms are air conditioned, with stay and play guests also having the use of the sauna. Meals can be taken in the clubhouse restaurant (with seating for 70) or by ordering room service. Estonia – Saare Saaremaa in Saare County is the largest island in Estonia, requiring visitors to take the ferry across the Suur Strait then drive across a causeway from the island of Muhu to reach it. Saaremaa Golf & Country Club is the island’s golfing jewel, designed by Lassi Pekka Tilander in 2008, with holes set out as two returning nines and water coming into play more often than not during a round here. The club collaborates with several hotels – namely the Arensburg Boutique Hotel & Spa, Georg Ots Spa Hotel, Johan Spa Hotell and Grand Rose Spa Hotel – to offer 5-day or 7-day golf packages, allowing visitors unlimited golf, breakfast at the hotel and use of the club sauna while residing at these spa hotels in nearby Kuressaare. Finland – Linna One of a select group of 18 European golf facilities in the worldwide European Tour Destinations portfolio, Linna Golf is an early new millennium production from Tim Lobb when he was working with European Golf Design. With holes routed through mature woodland next to the crystal-clear waters of Lake Katumajärvi, the course was a popular venue for professionals competing in the inaugural European Tour Properties Senior Classic in the summer of 2017. Positioned only a short 5-minute walk from the clubhouse, the Hotel Vanajanlinna provides luxurious accommodation in a historic manor house setting from the early 1900s. The main building contains 34 guest rooms, restaurant and event rooms, all decorated in the style of the original Manor. Additional boarding options are available at the Grand Suites, Club Suites and Vanajanlinna Villas which are situated even closer to the course. If you have any comment to make on the above article then please use the “WRITE A RESPONSE” link at the bottom of this page. Jim McCann Editor Top 100 Golf Courses

Top 50 Golf Courses of Denmark 2022 Welcome to the fourth of our five Nordic chart releases for 2022. After this one, Sweden’s the only nation still to be updated across the countries in northern Europe. Denmark was ranked 9th in Europe – between Scotland and Finland – when the last KPMG Golf Participation Report was published a couple of years ago so it’s a big hitter when it comes to the royal & ancient game. There are approximately 165,000 registered golfers playing on 150 courses in Denmark and the ratio of golfers per golf course (789) is actually better than four of the top 10 countries in the survey. Great Northern Let’s delve straight into our newly extended Danish rankings, where the course at Great Northern takes over as the new national #1. Opened five years ago at considerable expense, this 18-hole layout from Nicklaus Design was the first course in Denmark built by the Golden Bear’s golf design company. It’s located close to Odense, near the E20 motorway, with an ultra-chic clubhouse, spa and hotel suites anchoring the upmarket development. Water plays a large part in the playing strategy here so be prepared for the aquatic demands of this modern facility. “Wow. What a place,” wrote a recent Great Northern reviewer. “The course will challenge you to the teeth… Course management is high on the agenda… It looks amazing and is just brilliant as a concept… The condition of the course was impeccable… When you visit, make sure you take your time before and after to get to know the place… It doesn’t have the history of the great golf courses around Europe but this place lives on for generations to tell great tales of great games.” Silkeborg Ry The Syd and Vest nines at Silkeborg Ry Golfklub found favour with quite a few of our panellists, reflected in its rise of three places to #4 in our new listings. Home club of former Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjøn, Silkeborg Ry hosted the Made in Denmark tournament in 2018, when Matt Wallace won a 4-man playoff against three other Englishmen. Originally laid out in the mid-1960s by Frederik Dreyer, the fairways were hewn from dense forest and they’re even tougher to negotiate in the modern era as the trees have matured – expect an exacting arboreal test when teeing it up here. Rungsted Climbing three positions to #8, the course at Rungsted Golf Klub dates back to the mid-1930s, when Charles MacKenzie (brother of Alister MacKenzie) set out a new course for some disenchanted members of Copenhagen Golf Club who had broken away to set up their own club. Overlooking the Öresund strait which separates Denmark from Sweden, the layout is routed across hilly terrain with little streams cutting across several fairways short of the green. The European Ladies’ Team championship was held here in 1963, when Belgium emerged victorious at the end of the competition. Hvide Klit The 18-hole track at Golfklubben Hvide Klit enters the national Top 10 for the first time, rising five spots to #9. It’s situated near Skagen, the most northerly town in the nation, and it opened for play in the early 1970s, with holes laid out across an ideal sandy soiled landscape. In recent years, the course has undergone significant upgrades, not only to the layout, but especially with the conditioning of the fairways, greens and bunkers. And there’s more to come as the club states on its website: “the greenkeepers are not finished at all, the improvements continue.” Nordvestjysk The biggest climber in our new chart is the course at Nordvestjysk Golfklub which soars fourteen places up to #10. The club began operating in 1971 with a par three course which then became a 9-holer a couple of years later, designed by Eric Schnack. It took another twenty years until this layout was doubled in size, quickly becoming recognized as one of the toughest tracks in the country. With free-draining fairways, the course is never closed due to rain and it’s renowned for its lightening quick putting surfaces. Langesø Further down the table, another course makes a prodigious double-digit leap up the new standings. Situated next to the picturesque Langesø Castle near Odense, the woodland layout at Langesø Golf(up eleven to #28) was remodelled recently by Spogárd & Vandervaart, with nine new holes added to an already existing 9-hole course. Fairways wind through a mature and protected forest and meandering streams come into play on a number of holes, adding greatly to the challenge. The round at Langesø now concludes with a tough par five played to a peninsula home green. Mariagerfijord The highest new entry arrives at #16 and it’s the Michael Traasdahl Møller design at Mariagerfjord Golfklub which was unveiled in 2007. Extending to just over 5,500 from the regular tees (playing to a par of 71), with holes arranged as two returning nines, the course lies half an hour’s drive north of Randers, overlooking the placid waters of Marianger Fjord, the longest fjord in Jutland. According to the club’s website, club members think their golf course offers “Denmark's most beautiful views, surpassing all other golf courses”. To view the complete detailed list of our latest Top 50 Golf Courses of Denmark click the link. View list here.