Stensballegaard (Brakør & Elbæk) - Denmark

The Stensballegaard estate dates back to the 17th century, falling into the hands of the aristocratic Ahlefeldt-Laurvig family in 1928, and it was the current Count and Countess who decided early in the new millennium to develop part of their property into a modern golf facility.

Situated on the northern shores of Horsens Fjord, the 27-hole layout at Stensballegaard Golf Club – comprising the 9-hole circuits of Brakør, Elbæk and Guldbjerg – was set out by lead architect Rick Baril of the von Hagge, Smelek and Baril design company and it first opened its doors for play in 2009.

Whilst the Brakør and Elbæk nines are acknowledged as forming the strongest 18-hole course here, the most memorable hole on the estate is probably the par five 9th on the Guldbjerg loop, where a lofty tee placement sits 150 feet above the level of the fairway.