Virpiniemi

Located close to the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia, on the Baltic Sea, the fairways at Virpiniemi Golf fairways were set out by prolific Swedish architect Jan Sederholm, with the course first opening for play in 2006.

The layout comprises two distinct circuits, each of which returns to the clubhouse: the front nine holes play through a heavily wooded section (known as "Harju," the Ridge) then the “Meri” (or Sea) nine is routed to and from the coastline.

The par five 3rd is a highlight hole on the inland nine, its fairway splitting either side of a couple of lakes to offer golfers a variety of approach options. On the seaside nine, the short par four 11th is another memorable hole, doglegging left at an angle of 90 degrees between tee and green.

Star billing at Virpiniemi Golf is reserved for the very short par three 15th, played from a little peninsula to a tiny green across a small inlet. It hardly needs to be written but golf holes don’t come much more heroic than this little beauty!

The course hosted the Finnish Open, now a PDGA EuroTour event, in 2013.