The National (Links)

It’s reckoned the Swedish PGA complex just outside Malmö took over ten years of planning and construction before the new 18-hole National Links course emerged in the summer of 2009. On first impressions of the new course, such an inordinate amount of time looks worth every single one of the many days that it took to bring the project to life.

Strategically located on a site of nearly 700 acres that belonged to Malmö city council, the 45-hole golf development is easily accessible not only to many golf-mad Swedes, but to golfers from Germany, Denmark and Norway too.

The Links was designed by architect Kyle Phillips and built by his lead shaper Peter Scott in a style reminiscent of a traditional Scottish links – complete with fine fescue greens – and this first course at the National was followed in 2010 by a more parkland layout when the Lakes course opened for play.

Built with tournament play very much in mind, the Links plays to nearly 7,500 yards off the back tees and its modern configuration of two nines containing a couple of par threes and par fives contributes towards a very well-balanced routing.

Only one of the four short holes – the 5th – plays to less than 200 yards from the back markers and already some believe this 120-yard little beauty could become the Scandinavian version of the world-famous “Postage Stamp” in years to come.