Holstebro (Skovbanen)

Holstebro Golfklub lies close to the town of the same name in the heart of Jutland which forms the main body of Denmark. Erik Schnack laid out the Skovbanen (Forest course) on classic heathland in the early 1970s. We have to confess that we don’t know a great deal about the architect, except that he laid out nine holes for Sønderjyllands Golf Club in 1968. We’d love to hear from anybody who can enlighten us.

There is a great deal of tradition at Holstebro, so it seems fitting that the course should weave its way between the pine and heather. The course shares more than just a passing resemblance with Blairgowrie and, as with Holstebro's Scottish look-alike, accuracy rather than sheer length will pay dividends, especially on the numerous doglegged holes.

Holstebro has few bunkers to worry the errant drive, it’s the trees and heather that will cause to frustrate. With gently undulating fairways, Holstebro represents an honest challenge and, in the crisp and clear Danish air, there can be few more pleasant places to be.

Feature holes include the short par three 3rd, played through an avenue of pines, and the par four 9th, rated stroke index 1, which veers left towards the clubhouse. On the back nine, the long par five 16th is probably the best hole on the card, with a double doglegged fairway that tracks slightly uphill to the green.