Sierra Golf Resort

Gdańsk – great golf in the north of Poland The latest European Golf and Travel Media Association event took place last month in northern Poland, which is perhaps not the first European destination to spring to mind when considering an overseas golf trip but there’s a lot of good golf going on around the port city of Gdańsk – where thousands of Scandinavian golfers fly into every year – and we were among a small group who travelled with the EGTMA delegation to see what the region had to offer. Antti Pohjonen, the CEO at the Sand Valley Golf Resort hosted the EGTMA event, inviting journalists from several European countries to evaluate the complete Stay & Play experience – residing in the on-site villas (complete with sauna and private swimming pool), dining in the Finka Restaurant (which serves buffet breakfast, lunch and evening à la carte meals), and playing a course that has recently been ranked as one of the Top 100 in Continental Europe by one of the leading UK golf magazines. Sand Valley has had more than its fair share of obstacles to overcome, going back more than a decade to when the original construction company that was building the course had to be replaced and a new architect brought in to oversee the project. Described as an “inland links” due to the sandy nature of the landscape, the course plays firm and fast off the tee with possibly the most challenging set of greens you’ll ever come across anywhere. On day two of the visit, an excursion was arranged to Sierra Golf Resort, located on the other side of Gdańsk , which was the venue for the European Senior Men’s Team Championship in 2014 and the European Women’s Team Championship in 2016. It’s a beautifully manicured layout, with an abundance of ornamental plants, flowers, bushes and trees on every hole, bringing a blaze of colour to the course no matter the season. After the round, the cosy clubhouse, designed in the style of an English country club, was the perfect place to relax on the terrace overlooking the final hole. An opportunity presented itself on day three to have a look at the Martin Hawtree-designed course at Mazury Golf & Country Club, situated next to Lake Wulpiński, an hour’s drive southeast of Sand Valley. The property is dominated by an enormous, multi-storied clubhouse that can cater for non-golfers by hosting conferences and business meetings. There are also twenty-two bedrooms on the upper floors available for overnight stays. Out on the course, water hazards come into play at several holes, most notably on the 6th and 7th then again on the closing hole in front of the clubhouse. Before flying out from Gdansk airport – the smart new terminal was opened ahead of the UEFA Euro 2012 football championships – a final visit was scheduled for Postolowo Golf Club, also known as Gdańsk Golf & Country Club, which held the EGA European Amateur Team Championship (Division 2) in 2015. Designed by Jeremy Turner, who works mainly in Norway and Sweden, the course can be set up to play very long when testing the elite players – it’s actually reckoned to be the second longest par 72 layout in Europe, measuring a whopping 7,101 metres from the tips. KPMG published its “Golf Participation Report for Europe 2017” last year and a statistical analysis by nation ranked Poland at a lowly number 23 in the continent, with only 4,705 registered golfers in 2016. This was actually a 17% increase on the previous year, which is encouraging, but it’s easy to see why progressive Polish clubs like Sand Valley are keen to attract foreign golfers when there are so few native players to support the local golf market. All four of the above golf courses feature in our Top 10 for Poland and that’s as good an indication as any of the quality of the golf product in this part of the country. Three of the facilities are in the fortunate position of having on-site accommodation (Postolowo has an agreement with a nearby hotel) and transfers to and from Gdańsk airport can be included in very affordable packages. Visits between the courses can also be set up so golfers can gain a better appreciation of what’s available elsewhere and for those who might wish to travel further afield to explore the Pomeranian region, the Tricity metropolitan area of Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia is just a short distance away on the Baltic coastline, surrounded by the Kashubian Lake District, allowing golfers to select their cultural targets from a wide range of options. Jim McCann Editor Top 100 Golf Courses

We've curated four exceptional gifts for the discerning golfer—from handcrafted Sunday bags to contemporary art that reimagines golf's greatest holes. Pine Coast Golf Sunday Bags The Sunday bag represents golf at its purest. Pine Coast Golf has elevated this concept with bags handcrafted in a Polish workshop using Italian leather from a fourth-generation Tuscan tannery and waxed canvas from Dundee, Scotland. Founded by Lisette and Johan from a love for golf and commitment to mental health awareness, each bag features brilliant functionality: a skewed pocket that secures valuables naturally, accessible water bottle storage, and strategically centred shoulder loops that balance perfectly over 18 holes. The collection—The Dirty Shirley, The Whitecap, The Pine, The Moss, The Beach, The Sunset and The Orchid—ranges from 3,490 to 4,890 SEK (£260-£370/$350-490) for canvas models. The premium Leather Bag: 9,995 SEK (£750/$995). Personalised embroidery available. Perfect for: Minimalists, walkers, and golfers who value sustainability Why we love it: Handcrafted with purpose, these bags develop a beautiful patina that tells the story of your rounds. Charcoal Golf Art Prints Charcoal Golf bridges fine art and golf course architecture with urban contemporary flair. Artist Mark Rivard brings over 20 years of fine art experience—from skateboard art to founding "Do Rad Things" with Sharpie Markers—to golf's premier landscapes. His top-down hole designs are immediately recognisable yet gritty and unfinished, with geometric patterns and bold colours that push beyond traditional golf art. Each museum-grade giclée print on heavyweight archival stock is hand-signed by the artist. Recent works include Sweetens Cove, Sand Hills, Prairie Dunes, and Bethpage Black's 18th. Custom commissions available. Perfect for: Modern collectors, design enthusiasts, gand olfers who appreciate contemporary art Top100 Members & Subscribers: 15% off with code Top100 at checkout Why we love it: It represents golf culture's evolution—respectful of tradition whilst embracing modern expression. Fyfe Golf Harris Tweed Headcovers Handcrafted in Scotland using authentic Harris Tweed woven in the Outer Hebrides, these headcovers are wearable art. The dark charcoal herringbone pattern features 100% pure new wool that naturally repels water, with plush fleece lining protecting your clubs. Co-founded by Neil Rennie—whose grandparents worked at Aberdeen's famous Grandholm Mill—Fyfe reconnects golf with Scotland's manufacturing heritage. Fabrics come from heritage mills, including Halley Stevensons in Dundee. Carbon-neutral production. Made to order, shipping within 7-14 working days. Available for drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids: £85-95 ($105-122). The newly launched Shooter's Club line really hits the Scottish sporting estate vibe hard. Perfect for: Traditionalists, Scotland lovers, golfers who value heritage craftsmanship Why we love them: They age beautifully, developing character with every round. "Buying better and buying less." Gary Lisbon's "Great Golf Courses of the World" Melbourne-based photographer Gary Lisbon has spent two decades capturing 685 courses across 26 countries. This panoramic coffee table book showcases over 400 images—many never published—from 100+ courses in 20 countries. Playing off a mid-single-figure handicap at Royal Melbourne, Lisbon brings a golfer's eye to his dawn photography. Journey from Norway's Lofoten Links to the British Isles, Australia's Melbourne Sandbelt to New Zealand's clifftop masterpieces, and continental gems like Valderrama and Morfontaine. Over 95% of featured courses are accessible to travelling golfers. 1991 Open Champion Ian Baker-Finch feels it is "undoubtedly the best collection of golf course images from around the world." $135 with worldwide shipping. 18-month desktop calendar: $25. Perfect for: Dreamers, trip planners, course architecture enthusiasts Why we love it: Trip-planning material disguised as art—a worldwide golfing journey from your living room. Mymo Golf Personalised Prints Every round has a story. Mymo transforms those memories into watercolour-style prints featuring any hole from any course worldwide. Founded by Chris Pyatt after his first hole-in-one, Mymo creates personalised aerial prints capturing every detail. Choose your course and hole, add a custom message, and receive a digital proof within 48 hours. Printed on premium matte paper (189 g/m²) with water-based inks. Available in Medium (12 × 16") or Large (16.5 × 23.3"), framed or unframed. Course Map collection features all 18 holes with space for player names and dates—perfect for commemorating trips. You can also capture your three favourite holes on one print. Partnership with Arccos integrates shot-tracking data. Orders typically take 7 days. First-time customers: 10% off. Perfect for: Commemorating holes-in-one, bucket-list rounds, cand elebrating achievements Why we love it: Turns memories into masterpieces worthy of display rather than hidden in your golf bag. Editor's Choice Smathers & Branson Needlepoint Belt Founded by college roommates in 2004, Smathers & Branson now employs over 2,000 artisans creating 100% hand-stitched needlepoint using French cotton thread, full-grain Italian leather, and solid brass buckles. Arrives in a handmade wooden gift box. $185. Pro tip: add 2-3 inches to your pant size. Editor's Note: "The St Andrews Scene belt is my personal favourite. The detail is extraordinary—a daily reminder of golf's spiritual home." Vessel Skyline PrimeX Backpacka For travelling golfers, the right backpack is essential. Vessel features crosshatch embossed synthetic leather—durable, weather-resistant, easy to clean. Padded laptop compartment (15" MacBook Pro), velour-lined valuables pocket, internal water bottle sleeves, hidden top pocket, trolley sleeve, compression-moulded neoprene back panel. Once you have one you'll wonder how you travelled without it. Available in Black, Maroon, Navy: $195. Editor's Note: "A lifesaver on 50+ flights. Transitions seamlessly from airport to office to course." Gift Pairing Ideas Heritage Collection: Pine Coast Sunday bag + Fyfe headcovers for European craftsmanship Art Lovers: Charcoal Golf print + Lisbon's book contrasting contemporary and classical Travel Package: Vessel backpack + Smathers & Branson belt for the well-travelled golfer Memory Makers: Mymo personalised print + Lisbon's book with a promise to book a featured course Scottish Links Experience: Fyfe headcovers + Smathers & Branson St Andrews belt Why We Selected These Gifts Each product celebrates craftsmanship, sustainability, and artistic vision whilst supporting small businesses with genuine purpose. From Scottish workshops to Polish leather artisans, from contemporary artists to master photographers, these gifts honour the game and inspire golfers to play with intention. And don't forget about Top 100 swag at shop.top100golfcourses.com

We’ve published a Top 10 chart for Poland every two years since 2010 but an increase in panellists allows us to add another five courses this time around. As there are only around thirty affiliated golf courses across the country (according to the R&A’s Golf Participation in Europe 2021 report) we think we’re doing well enough to cast a spotlight on half those golfing layouts. Modry Las First up, we have a new national #1 with the Gary Player-designed 18-hole Modry Las layout at the Modry Las Golf Resort moving up two places to the top spot, a position it last held between 2014 and 2018. Designated as PGA National Poland, the venue is now also home to a lovely little 9-hole par three track called Orli Las which overlooks the crystal-clear waters of Lake Raduñ, close to the clubhouse.  Rosa Also rising two places from #4 to #2 we have the 18-hole layout at Rosa Private Golf Club. Built almost twenty years ago by Arkadiusz Muś – the owner of Press Glass, whose new company headquarters are located next to the course – the course was laid out by Hans-Georg Erhardt, with several lakes excavated and quite a bit of soil shifted to fashion a really interesting series of holes on a largely flat landscape. Wroclaw The course at Wroclaw Golf Club – formerly known as Toya Golf & Country Club – rises two spots to #6 in our Polish rankings. Designed by French-based architect Jeremy Pern and opened for play in 2005, this 18-hole layout occupies an old military training ground where some of the old bomb craters and bunkers are said to have been incorporated into the design! Black Water The new course at Black Water Links is our highest new entry at #11. It only opened for business last year but it’s already making a name for itself with golfers in the Poznan area. Situated less than half an hour’s drive from the city airport, the layout is a Caspar Grauballe design with holes routed across a gently rolling landscape, surrounded on all sides by agriculture. A temporary clubhouse is in place for the time being. To view the entire detailed list of our latest Top 15 Golf Courses of Poland click the link. View list here. 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