Vuosaari

We’re not exactly sure when the Vuosaari course was established but we do know that the layout came to prominence following a Mackenzie & Ebert remodelling programme that was carried out over a two-year period, not long after the architects conducted a detailed survey of the site in May 2006.

Martin Ebert of Mackenzie & Ebert was kind enough to supply this exclusive quote:

The invitation to visit Vuosaari, close to Helsinki, was an interesting one as the course had been conceived as a ‘links-style’ layout. However, it has been entirely manufactured, having originally been the site of an old dumping ground. The overall layout and shaping was judged to be very good. Some area had been raised by over 20m from old levels but the overall look of the course is very appealing.

Where the design did not really fulfil its links objectives was in the shaping of the bunkers and, to a lesser extent, the shaping of the greens. The bunkers were very shallow and almost always hidden from the view of golfers. Another factor to be considered was the problem which Finnish courses have from ice damage in the winter. On the worst occasions, virtually the entire course has to be reseeded and the shapes of the greens dictate how badly they are affected.

A programme has now been completed to reconstruct the bunkers to achieve a steep, grass-faced, links-like character and a two third-size version of Hell Bunker was also constructed on the 14th hole. The 6th and 11th greens have also been redesigned and rebuilt to provide more pleasing contours and surfaces which drain better.