St Sofia

First unveiled in 2004, the course at St Sofia Golf & Spa underwent a renovation from Paul McGinley not long after its debut, with the upgraded layout officially opened for play by the Bulgarian Prime Minister on 5th May 2012.

The course is laid out on a rather flat 145-acre site around half an hour’s drive east of the capital, with more than half the holes on both returning nines routed around lakes that were constructed to provide fill for fairway contouring.

Today, the course measures 5,949 metres from the tips, playing to a par of 71 (36 out then 35 in). Highlight holes include the left doglegging par five 5th (rated stroke index 2) and the par four 8th which bends right from tee to green with water on the left.

On the shorter inward half, the very short par thee 15th plays to an island and there’s more aquatic menace either off the tee or with the approach shot at each of the last three holes before the round concludes on the home green located immediately in front of the clubhouse rotunda.