The finest scandinavian 2015 event special vol6 ed1

DELIVERING EXCELLENCE SINCE 1999

LUXURY SOUVENIR EDITION

2015 VINTAGE

VOLUME 6 EDITION 1

THE FINEST

A SOUVENIR GUIDE TO THE TOP THREE GOLF EVENTS IN SCANDINAVIA

Ladies European Tour highlight

MADE IN DENMARK

McIlroy: the best of my generation?

CONTENTS

8 10

Editors Introduction Nordea Masters Foreword A foreword from the PGA National for the Nordea event

12

Made In Denmark Foreword A foreword from the Himmerland GC.

14

Helsingborg Open Foreword A foreword from Vasatorps GC to the Helsingborg Open

32 40

PGA National - Sweden. , Denmark’s Himmerland GC superb, spectacular and amazing golf club!

44

Vasatorp GC -the very, very special GC

70

Great Clubs in Scandinavia - must visit - world class venues

148

Nordqvist’s FEDEX Trophy smash…

THE FINEST

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FROM THE EDITOR

The Finest Scandinavia

W

Nordic Events Special

elcome to the Finest Scandinavia - Event Special. Scandinavia and golf are becoming synonymous with style, challenge and an abundance of world class golf courses and clubs. Perhaps the highlight and pinnacle of golf in this region are the three top European Golf and ladies Tour Golf events, namely, the Nordea Masters, Made in Denmark and the superb Helsingborg Open.

Make no mistake - these are three of the best golf events to be enjoyed anywhere and are all widely anticipated by golfers and golf fans across the world. All three events boast enormous fan bases and are attended to the brim with local fans and well travelled golf connoisseurs alike.

Coming off the back of our recent ‘Finest Golf Scandinavian Special’ which has this far received in excess of 500,000 readers, downloads, impressions and printed copies, this series of publications will be the cornerstone and hand book both to the attending masses and golf fans who enjoy Scandinavia golf.

Once again, in addition to enjoying these three awesome events, we decided to raise the bar and our level of expectation to present the best golf in Scandinavia We have been supported and assisted by the great clubs we feature as well as the National Golf Unions and Federations who know a thing or two about their own strengths and weaknesses. This is a golfers book, for and by golfers. We hope you enjoy this edition and it helps you select the very best golf and travel experiences available in this wonderful part of the world. If you have downloaded this publication at one of the events, please enjoy it on your smart devices (without forgetting you are at a LIVE event and being considerate to your fellow attendees).

Scandinavia retains its culture, personality and warmth of welcome and adds a year’s more experience this time around - the things that make Scandinavian golf so memorable and unique just got better.

I hope you enjoy the events themselves, this book and the great clubs and experiences we present. Go and visit the clubs and let me know what you think. The events are listed in chronological order so enjoy all three!

Dr James Gunn: Editor

Our thanks to, Sweden Golf Danish Golf Union Finland Golf Iceland Golf Norway Golf

NORDEA MASTERS

A warm Welcome To the Nordea Masters On behalf of the PGA National of Sweden and the Nordea Masters Tournament, the warmest of welcomes is extended to all those attending this summer from the 4th June - 7th June.

This years event promises to be one of the great events and one which The PGA National of Sweden has prepared and ensured the very best preparations and quality of course available anywhere in the world.

For those watching at home, please enjoy the class, quality and challenge of the golf. For those fortunate enough to have tickets - please enjoy the superb hospitality and quality of service provided as well as the world class golf!

Have a wonderful event and best of luck to all the players.

MADE IN DENMARK

Himmerland awaits one of the European Tour’s great new events rd 20-23 August 2015 After last years spectacularly successful and enjoyable Made In Denmark European Tour tournament, 2015 will see the second event take place at the beautiful and superbly challenging Himmerland Golf and Spa Resort.

Himmerland excelled in hosting the event to great acclaim from the hundreds of thousands who attended, the players who made such a memorable and world class event through to the countless millions who enjoyed the golf at home on TV.

This year will once again contain a world class line up of many of the best professional golfers on the planet and will enthral hundreds of thousands of avid golf fans from the 20th - 23rd August 2015,

Please enjoy the service, surroundings, quality of the resort as well as one of the best golf events and tournaments anywhere!

HELSINGBORG OPEN

A Welcome to Vasatorps

Marc Potter, CEO Vasatorps Golf Club

Helsingborg Open 3-6th September 2015 www.helsingborgopen.com/ www.vasatorpsgk.se/

A welcome to Vasatorps Vasatorps Golf Club has a strong history of delivering first class events and its champions roll includes major winners such as Seve Ballesteros, Sandy Lyle, Greg Norman and Annika Sörenstam.

In a new era of the game, Vasatorps Golf Club is proud to host the Helsingborg Open for the third consecutive year. An event now recognised as one of the leading and favoured tournaments on the Ladies European Tour.

At last year’s memorable event, Holland's Dewi Claire Schreefel secured her first win on the Ladies European Tour with a commanding victory. Schreefel led from start to finish and saved her best round of the week until last, a closing 66 giving her a 17-under-par total of 271 and a seven-shot win over defending champion Rebecca Artis.

Recently inducted World Golf Hall of Famer, Laura Davies finished a shot behind Artis in third after a closing 66 which featured eagles on the third and sixth. All three women as well as many of the world’s top lady golfers will contest this year’s event which promises to be one of the closest and most competitive on the Ladies tour.

A true celebration of golf and excellence which highlighted perfectly the challenge and demands unique to Vasatorps Golf Club’s Tournament course and also the superb level of the Ladies game today.

The Tournament Course is in pristine condition and promises to provide a uniquely difficult and treasured event and we at Vasatorp will provide the warmest welcome with unrivalled charm, facilities and quality to compliment one of the world’s top Golf events.

Enjoy the beautiful scenery, surroundings and hospitality we offer at Vasatorp and indulge in the magnificent golf of the Helsingborg Open 2015.

Sincerely

Marc L. Potter CEO Vasatorps Golf Club

MASTERS M E M O R I A L NORDEA H R E D O U NMO M Y E CD O W

F IN S T

THE NORDEA MASTERS 2014 A glance back to the 2014 event in preparation for this years extravaganza!

Rewind twelve months to 2014 ‘s event at the PGA National. By Peter Allinson Thongchai Jaidee overcame Victor Dubuisson and Stephen Gallacher in a play-off to seal a dramatic victory at the Nordea Masters.

The Thai carded a closing 65 at PGA Sweden National, where a host of players – including World Number Two Henrik Stenson – saw their chances of victory come and go.

Having set the clubhouse mark at 16 under par, Jaidee then had to wait as the last four groups made their way down the par five last – with only Dubuisson and Gallacher able to reach his score.

On the first trip back down the 18th, Jaidee spun his third shot to three feet and, after seeing Dubuisson and Gallacher miss lengthy birdie putts, converted to seal a sixth European Tour title.

“I worked hard today,” said Jaidee. “I started with three birdies in a row, had another one on six, then a good comeback on 11 [where he made an eagle three].

“We were nervous the last few holes - 16, 17 and 18 are tough holes – but 16 under was good enough for a play-off.

“The golf course is wide open, you have to hit good golf shots and the weather helped a little bit.”

France’s Dubuisson would have won with a birdie on 18 in regulation play, but three-putted from just off the green.

Gallacher’s chance looked to have gone when he bogeyed the 17th from a greenside bunker, but he bravely converted from 20 feet at the next.

Stenson, playing in the final group with Eddie Pepperell, needed an eagle to win his national title for the first time, but pushed his second into trouble right of the green and eventually bogeyed.

“It was a disappointing last day,” the Swede, who lost a play-off for this event in 2005, said of his 71. “Apart from the first hole I got off to a good start and made a couple of birdies, but the bogey on the sixth was a momentum killer.

“It was one of those days when I didn’t quite get it going and missed a few chances and a couple of bogeys slipped onto the card too easily. You can’t afford that if you are going to win the tournament.

“I was still fighting and in with a chance on the last, but I just missed it in the wrong place. It left me in a bad spot.

“It would have been nice to win in front of home fans, but there will be more chances and there will be more chances to win other golf tournaments, so you can’t be too disappointed.”

Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen matched Jaidee’s 65 to take fourth on 15 under, with Stenson alone in fifth and Pepperell sharing sixth with Spain’s Alvaro Quiros and another local favourite in Robert Karlsson – whose 63 was the best round of the week.

Earlier Jaidee had followed his opening hat-trick of gains with a birdie form close range at the sixth.

M E M O R I A L NORDEA H O N O MASTERS REE DOW

F IN S T E

His only dropped shot of the day came at the seventh, but a lengthy eagle putt on the 11th was followed by birdies on the 14th and 15th - not that the former paratrooper felt he had done enough coming down the stretch.

“I thought 16 under would be second or third with the last hole being a par five,” he added.

“Then you never know in a play-off. A play-off was good for me as I finished early so I was very lucky.”

Asked about his tactics in the play-off, he continued: “I had a good drive, then I knew I couldn’t get reach the green. I played a great shot as I knew the pin was very tough, so I played the hole really well.”

Gallacher, whose missed birdie putt in the play-off was similar to the one he had made at the same hole 30 minutes earlier, was still pleased with his week’s work despite failing to add to his win in Dubai earlier this year.

“I had a good week and I was delighted to get into the play-off,” he said.

“I holed a lovely putt on the last after lipping out on both 16 and 17. Jaidee just hit a lovely shot there, or lovely three shots, on the last, which was playing really tough.

“I was hoping to peak for a couple of weeks. I knew I was playing well, so to finish fifth and then second is not bad. I’m delighted with that.

“Play-offs are fine margins. My ball got up to four foot from the hole and then spun back. If the wind drops a bit instead of gusting and I’m stone dead. Play-off golf, you need that bit of luck, but the putt to get into the play-off was great.”

Above & Below : Thongchai Jaidee

NORDEA MASTERS

NORDEA MASTERS FACTS & FIGURES First played: 1991 Most wins:

Youngest winner: Oldest winner: Lowest 18 hole score: Lowest first 18 hole score: Lowest first 36 hole score: Lowest first 54 hole score: Lowest 72 hole score: Lowest under par winning score: Lowest final round by a winner: Wire-to-wire-winners: Largest 18 hole lead: Largest 36 hole lead: Largest 54 hole lead: Largest winning margin: Biggest final round 4 shots: Play-offs:

Holes-in-one:

Low cut: High cut:

3 - Colin Montgomerie, 1991, 1999 and 2001, 3 - Lee Westwood, 1996, 2000 and 2012 Graeme McDowell, 23 years and 5 days, 2002 Thongachi Jaidee, 44 years and 205 days, 2014 61 (-11), Fred Couples, 1991 63 (-9), Lee Westwood, 2000, Anthony Wall, 2001, 63 (-8), Marc Cayeux, 2005 129 (-13), Bradley Dredge, 2005 195 (-18), Barry Lane, Bradley Dredge, 2005 262 (-22), Mark Hensby, Henrik Stenson, 2005 262 (-22), Mark Hensby, 2005 64 (-8), Vijay Singh, 1994 Peter Baker, 1993, Lee Westwood, 2000, Peter Hanson, 2008, Alex Noren, 2011 3 shots, Anthony Wall, 2001 3 shots, Thomas Bjørn, 1996, Nick Dougherty, 2003, Alex Noren, 2011, Lee Westwood, 2012 11 shots, Alex Noren, 2011 9 shots, Colin Montgomerie, 1999 Colin Montgomerie, 1991, Thongchai Jaidee, 2014 Peter Baker beat Anders Forsbrand, 1993 Lee Westwood beat Paul Broadhurst and Russell Claydon, 1996 Mark Hensby beat Henrik Stenson, 2005 Marc Warren beat Robert Karlsson, 2006 Thongchai Jaidee beat Victor Dubuisson and Stephen Gallacher, 2014 Masahiro Kuramoto, 17th hole, round 2, (Drottningholm), 1991 Philip Walton, 8th hole, round 4, (Barsebäck), 1992 Patrik Sjöland, 8th hole, round 1, (Barsebäck), 1999 Maarten Lafeber, hole 4, round 3, (Kungsängen), 2002 Peter Hanson, hole 15, round 2, (Barsebäck), 2004 Martin Maritz, hole 6, round 2, (Kungsängen), 2005 Robert Karlsson (AM), hole 4, round 4 (Bro Hof Slott), 2012 Andrew Dodt, hole 7, round 2 (Bro Hof Slott), 2013 Andrew Dodt, hole 11, round 2 (Bro Hof Slott), 2013 José Maria Olazábal, hole 16, round 4 (Bro Hof Slott), 2013 Albatrosses: Lloyd Saltman, hole 12, round 2 (Bro Hoff Slott) 2012 138 (-4), 2005 148 (+4), (par 72), 1996, 148 (+2) (par 73), 2009

NORDEA MASTERS

NORDEA MASTERS HISTORY Scandinavian masters 1991 Colin Montgomery 1992 Nick Faldo 1993 Peter Baker 1994 Vijay Singh

270 (-18) 277 (-11) 278 (-10) - Play off 268 (-20)

Volvo Scandinavian Masters 1995 Jesper Parnevik 1996 Lee Westwood 1997 Joakim Haeggman 1998 Jesper Parnevik (2) 1999 Colin Montgomerie (2) 2000 Lee Westwood (2) 2001 Colin Montgomerie (3) 2002 Graeme McDowell

270 (−18) 281 (−7) - Play off 270 (−18) 273 (−11) 268 (−20) 270 (−14) 274 (−14) 270 (−14)

Scandinavian Masters - Carlsberg 2003 Adam Scott 2004 Luke Donald 2005 Mark Hensby

277 (−11) 272 (−16) 262 (−22)PO

Entercard Scandinavian Masters 2006 Mark Warren

278 (-10) - Play off

Scandinavian masters 2007 Mikko Ilonen

274 (-6)

SAS Masters 2008 Peter Hanson 2009 Ricardo Gonzalez’

271 (−9) 282 (-10)

Nordea Masters 2010 Richard S. Johnson 2011 Alexander Norén 2012 Lee Westwood (3) 2013 Mikko Ilonen (2) 2014 Thongchai Jaidee

277 (−11) 273 (−15)2012 269 (−19) 267 (−21) 272 (−16) - Play off

MADE IN DENMARK

MADE IN DENMARK 2014 The Inaugural Made In Denmark Event - 2014 - Peter Allinson Marc Warren made it two impressive rounds in a row to hold off a strong challenge from Bradley Dredge and win the inaugural Made in Denmark.

On Saturday Warren defied gusts of up to 30mph to card a remarkable five under par 66 for a share of the overnight lead with Dredge.

Warren capitalised on slightly lighter winds during the final round to shoot five birdies in a calm round of 68 for a competition score of nine under.

He was pushed all the way to his third European Tour title and first since winning the 2007 Johnnie Walker Championship by Dredge, who went round in 70 for seven under overall.

Warren’s win was particularly sweet after several recent near misses, including coming third at last month’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and sharing second in the 2013 BMW PGA Championship.

“It feels incredible,” he said. “I felt the last couple of years I’ve been close to winning a couple of times but for whatever reason it hasn’t quite happened for me, whether I’ve made mistakes or someone else has played really well.

“This summer I feel more confident than I’ve ever done.

Today I kept telling myself I was swinging the club really well and I was confident in what I was doing.”

Warren’s confidence ahead of this tournament was boosted by tying for 15th in the US PGA Championship last week.

He found the atmosphere at Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort, where more than 80,000 fans watched during the week, similar to Valhalla.

“This is a fantastic event for the European Tour,” Warren added. “There’s been rumours of an event in Denmark for a few years and now we are here and it is on; it has been incredible.

“The crowds have been amazing. To play in front of that has been amazing. Coming from the PGA last week, it definitely had that same feel to it. Coming down those last four holes, the crowds were so big.”

Dredge, the halfway leader, looked to have surrendered his challenge by bogeying three of the first seven holes on Sunday amid one birdie to drop back to four under.

Warren made two gains during that time to reach eight under but, after both birdied the par four eighth, suffered a bogey five at the next.

That encouraged Dredge, who picked up three shots in four holes from the 11th to move two behind the Scot.

However, Warren held that advantage, including with a monster putt at the par four 14th to match the Welshman’s birdie.

Dredge, whose last European Tour victory came at the 2006 Omega European Masters, explained his bitter sweet sentiments.

MADE IN DENMARK

“In a way there are mixed feelings in that if someone said they’d give me second at the beginning of the week it is a great result, considering I’ve not had a chance to win in a long time. But it was a chance to win a tournament,” he said.

“Marc did play really well and I didn’t play well enough, but it would have been nice to have pushed him a little harder coming down the last few.”

Warren and Dredge finished well clear of the rest, England’s Phillip Archer ending third on four under.

Home hero Thomas Björn was one shot back alongside Englishmen Oliver Fisher and Eddie Pepperell, who like Archer were all two under on Sunday.

Björn attracted a particularly large following among impressive crowds throughout the first European Tour event in Denmark since 2003.

The spectators were not put off by a rain delay of an hour and 15 minutes before the leaders started their last round.

MADE IN DENMARK

Right: Mark Warren receiving the trophy from Lars Larsen (Owner Himmerland)

Right: The emphatic and overwhelming support at Himmerland all through the event.

Left: Thomas Bjorn finished as the top Dane

HELSINGBORG OPEN

HELSINGBORG OPEN 2014 The Superb Helsingborg Open Event at Vasatorps - 2014 - Peter Allinson Dewi Claire Schreefel secured her first win on the Ladies European Tour as she raced seven strokes clear of Rebecca Artis at the Helsingborg Open in Sweden.

She comfortably kept the lead that she had held from the first round, saving the best until last. With rounds of 68, 70, 68 and 66, she ended on a total of 271, 17 under par at Vasatorps Golfklubb.

The 28-year-old from Alkmaar in Netherlands started the day two strokes ahead of the 2013 tournament champion Artis and set her goal at 15 under.

In the final round, Schreefel bogeyed the fourth but found her groove with three straight birdies from the fifth hole, gaining a five stroke advantage until Artis birdied the eighth and both players then bogeyed the ninth hole.

Artis continued to chase with three straight birdies from the 10th and another on 14, but Schreefel matched them with birdies on 10, 12, 14 and 15.

After Artis bogeyed 16, Schreefel was five strokes ahead before a two shot swing on the last hole which Artis bogeyed and Schreefel birdied.

“It’s a good way to win. Rebecca had a good chase on and I was glad to be playing well to keep up with her and I can’t find a better way to win that this,” said Schreefel, who turned professional in 2008 and won her first pro title at the 2009 New England Golf Classic in her rookie season on the US Futures Tour.

“I’ve been a pro for five years and every year has got better but I felt like this year it was going to come. All the elements came together,” said the Dutch professional, whose previous best finish on the Ladies European Tour was second at the 2012 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters and who holds full playing status on the LPGA. Schreefel may have had a stranglehold on the tournament from day one, but Artis produced a performance to remember. With rounds of 69, 70, 68 and 71, she ended in solo second on 10-underpar. “I chased late in the back nine, birdied 10, 11, 12 and 14 but she was matching me, so there was not much I could do about it,” said the 25-year-old Australian. “I probably didn’t play my best golf on the front nine; I needed to get it going early and make some birdies early and put pressure on her and I didn’t do that. I turned one over through nine and I made a bit of flurry on the back nine and a charge but every time I made a birdie she matched me. I played pretty good golf out there today and was happy with my effort and what can I say? Second when I come back to defend: I’m happy with that.”

Dame Laura Davies finished a stroke further behind in third place after a final round 66, which included two eagles and two bogeys on the front nine and four birdies on the back. “A 67 for a top five was what we were looking at, so a 66 for a top three is obviously a bonus,” said Davies, who flew out of the blocks with eagles on the third and sixth holes.

HELSINGBORG OPEN

“I was just short of the third in two and had 40 yards and hit a little pitch, checked up and it ran right up in the middle, so that was nice,” she continued. “Number six, just pulled a five-iron into the greenside bunker but it was an easy bunker shot, flopped it out and it just went in like a putt again.

“The British Open was more important in that it got me into a lot of stuff in America but a top three is better than a top nine. I don’t judge tournaments by money or prestige: if you play well on the week, top three is a great finish so this is a big week for me.”

Frenchwoman Valentine Derrey ended fourth on six under par, with England’s Felicity Johnson and Line Vedel of Denmark a stroke behind in a tie for fifth.

Johnson won a VW Golf Sport Combi car as the first professional to ace the 17th from 145 yards using an 8-iron and she said: “This is my third hole in one. I had one at home when I was 10, one in a practice round in Sweden in 2008 and this is my third today. This is the first important one.

“The pin was in the middle of the back tier so I knew that we didn’t want to go past the flag and I knew 8-iron wasn’t bringing the back into play. There was very little wind and what there was, was just off the left. It was pretty calm so I hit a really solid 8-iron, probably one of the best strikes of the week.”

NORDEA MASTERS

THE NORDEA MASTERS HISTORY Scandinavian Masters was first played in 1991 and has quickly established itself as one of the most prestigious competitions on the PGA European Tour. Scandinavian Masters was created by a merger between two former professional competitions – Scandinavian Enterprise Open (SEO) and PLM Open.

Today, the competition is called Nordea Masters and is has one of the largest audiences of all the 50 contests on the European Golf Tour.

It is only the 139-year-old British Open that attracts more spectators.

During the competition, Stenson managed to stand the pressure and went out in the lead ball on the last day. Unfortunately, he didn’t last all the way. Tongchai Jaidee won after a playoff with Victor Dubuisson and Stephen Gallagher. Stenson finished in fifth place and still has to wait for his first Nordea Masters-victory.

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

The first Scandinavian Masters was played at Drottningholm Golf Club outside of Stockholm and the winner was Colin Montgomerie. he victory was also Montgomerie’s first big step on his way to world fame.

The event was hosted by Barsebäck Golf & Country Club. The competition was a success, both in terms of a sports event and a public event. More than 80,000 spectators camE to see former number one Nick Faldo win the game.

1993’s competition, at Forsgårdens Golfklubb in Kungsbacka south of Gothenburg, was marred by persistent rain. But it didn’t prevent the attendance record from being beaten. As a sports event, the contest was a cliffhanger and a playoff was needed to determine the winner. Anders Forsbrand became the first Swedish winner, beating Brit Peter Baker.

In glorious Swedish midsummer it was again time for Drottningholm to welcome the Scandinavian Masters’ stars. With temperatures constantly over 30 degrees everyone enjoyed the heat. Vijay Singh from Fiji, with a magnificent final round triumphed.

Hosted at Barsebäck with more than 120,000 spectators, Jesper Parnevik managed to play almost perfectly and secure a 5-point victory over Europe’s number one Colin Montgomerie. John Daly also starred after winning the British Open.

The 1996-year’s contest at Forsgården was contested by three Brits in a truly thrilling playoff. Lee Westwood, (then a talented 23-yearold) finally defeated his compatriots Russell Claydon and Paul Broadhurst.

The 1997-year’s contest was much alike the one in 1995. Again Barsebäck was the venue and the public got to pay tribute to a popular Swedish winner‐ Joakim Haeggman, who just like Jesper Parnevik in 1995 entered the 72ⁿ� and final tee as unchallenged leader.

The PGA European Tour Course in Kungsängen hosted the 97’ event. For the third time in four years a Swedish player won the Scandinavian Masters, when Jesper Parnevik became the first two time winner beating Darren Clarke.

In 1999, Jesper Parnevik was defeated by Colin Montgomerie was superior in almost every respect. The Scot won by nine shots over Parnevik, making this his second victory at the Scandinavian Masters.

In 2000, the contest was played at Kungsängen once again and won by Lee Westwood.

Colin Montgomerie took the victory in ‘01, beating the unfortunate Peter Hedblom who suffered a triple bogey on the final hole.

Greame McDowell won his first victory on the European Tour, winning the 2002 event in style.

Adam Scott led the young brigade, winning the 2003 event and continuing a fine career in the world’s elite.

Another talent presented himself in the form of Luke Donald from England. The Swedes Peter Hanson and Henrik Stenson shared second place but were never really close to pinching the victory during the final round in the 2004 event.

The contest was played at Kungsängens GC. It was marred by heavy rain and after a playoff against Henrik Stenson, Mark Hensby managed to take home the victory.

NORDEA MASTERS

2006

In 2006, the competition returned to Barsebäck G&CC attracting 100,000 spectators. Home favourites, Henrik Stenson, Jesper Parnevik, Carl Pettersson and Fredrik Jacobsson failed to meet the expectations. The competition was exciting all the way till the end when Robert Karlsson fell on the finish line and was caught up by Marc Warren, who after a playoff took his first victory on the European Tour.

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

First year at Arlandastad Golf. In front of crowded terraces on the 18th hole, the German Martin Kaymer finally lost to Mikko Ilonen from Finland.

Another Swedish winner in 2008- Peter Hanson took the lead on Thursday and never let it go. He was challenged by another Swedish player, Pelle Edberg, who took the second place and just missed his first European Tour victory.

On the final day, in glorious weather, Ricardo Gonzalez played dream golf on the last six holes and won two shots over the Welshman Jamie Donaldson. The ninth Masters competition on Barsebäck G&CC was over.

Choi, Sabatini, Fowler and Dustin Johnson worked on their shape early in the week on beautiful Bro Hof. The British Open winner Louis Oostehuizen led until a rainy Sunday, when Richard Johnson birdied on the 18th hole to win.

It was the second year at Bro Hof Slott, and the second year in a row a Swede won. Alexander Norén went out on Sunday with a safe eleven-shot lead ahead of Bubba Watson. Despite severe gales, he managed to control the game and won by seven shots before tens of thousands of spectators in Victory Valley.

Lee Westwood won in 2012 after a world-class golf performance! Sergio Garcia finished nicely in third, but never looked as though he could overtake the Englishman.

Finland’s Mikko Ilonen ended a six-year victory drought by once again winning the Nordea Masters in Sweden. Ilonen’s final round of 69 had a victory margin of three shots, 21 under par in total. Conditions at Bro Hof in Stockholm were amazing. The course was in top trim and the sun was shining brightly all week. Jonas Blixt chased Ilonen into the final and finished second. 2014 In 2014, Nordea Masters returned to Skåne, which meant a premiere for PGA National in Bara outside of Malmö. Henrik Stenson, number two in the world at the time of competition, was the brightest star on the Lakes Course 31 May-1 June. He was accompanied by among others Thomas Björn, the Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez and the home player Jonas Blixt. The Thai Thongchai Jaidee won in impressive form and has vowed to retain his championship. His recent top showings in the Irish Open (May 2015) suggest he is in fine form to mount a strong challenge once again.

(Opp page) Far Left: Parnevik in 1997 Left: Westwood 2012

The 5 Best (current) Golfers Without A Major *FORMULA: PGA Tour/European Tour wins since start of 2012 (WGC, FedEx Playoff, Players & BMW PGA events weighted more) + Average Official World Golf Ranking points + Career "close calls" in major championships (finishing within four shots of winner).

In the midst of a Tournament special edition, we thought it might be interesting to have a sneaky peek into the best golfers who haven’t won a major… Please bear in mind that this is a Scandinavian special and as such - it might fall into the hands of a Scandinavian…. We wanted the victor to have consolation in at least one triumph…

10. IAN POULTER

9. LUKE DONALD

Holding him back: Ball-striking

Holding him back: Total driving

Best chance: 2013 British Open (A torrid Sunday stretch got him to within two shots of the lead on the back nine before he cooled off and finished T-3)

Best chance: 2011 Masters (A late flurry, including a chip-in on the final hole of regulation, gave him a T-4, four shots behind winner Charl Schwartzel)

Breakdown: People may be surprised to find Poulter so far down the list, but the clutch putting he's displayed in the Ryder Cup hasn't always carried over to the game's biggest individual events. That doesn't mix well for a below-average player on the PGA Tour when it comes to greens in regulation.

Breakdown: Of the players on this list, Donald has won the most tournaments since the start of 2011, a big reason why he's spent the most time ranked No. 1. However, his lack of high finishes in majors is perplexing. Only one time has he played in the final group at a major (2006 PGA Championship) and he did not fare well. If you recall, he matched Tiger Woods by wearing red that day (left). Let's just say he didn't match his score.

5. LEE WESTWOOD

4. SERGIO GARCIA

Holding him back: Short game

Holding him back: Attitude

Closest call: 2009 British Open (Three-putted final hole of regulation to finish T-3, one shot out of a playoff with Stewart Cink and Tom Watson)

Closest Call: 2007 British Open (Missed an eight-footer for the win in regulation before losing in a playoff to Padraig Harrington)

Breakdown: Westwood has put himself in contention at golf's four biggest events as often as anyone in recent years. He's finished in top three at all four, including in seven of 15 at one stretch from 2008 to 2012. However, his putter has gone cold at some inopportune times, most notably at Turnberry in 2009. Westwood picked up an eighth top-three finish at a major at the 2013 British Open at Muirfield, where he led by two after 54 holes before being passed by Phil Mickelson and his magical final-round 66.

Breakdown: The playoff loss at Carnoustie was Garcia's toughest loss (left), but there have been other close calls.

The Spaniard has 18 top 10s and nine top fives in majors, including a runner-up to Tiger Woods at the 1999 PGA Championship at 19. Combine that with his eight PGA Tour wins, including a Players, and Garcia probably has the best career resume of anyone on this list.

Unfortunately, those close calls have created enough scar tissue for Garcia to hint numerous times that he doesn't have what it takes to win a major. Yeah, that kind of thinking probably doesn't help.

AND THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD WITHOUT A MAJOR IS. . .

1. HENRIK STENSON Holding him back: Short game Best chance: 2013 PGA Championship (Finished third to Jason Dufner) Breakdown: After a couple quiet years, the Swede is back and playing the best golf of his life. His third place finish at the PGA came three weeks after a runner-up to Phil Mickelson at the British Open. He then captured two of the four FedEx Cup Playoff events, including the Tour Championship. Having won golf's biggest payday -- the $10 million bonus that comes with claiming the FedEx Cup -- Stenson is a heavy favorite to be the first person to remove his name from this list in 2014.

PGA OF SWEDEN NATIONAL THE FINEST

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In 1996 the Swedish Board of the PGA had just concluded their daily chores and retired to enjoy a whisky (or two) and discuss the future of Swedish golf, advancement and the possibilities of creating world class golf courses to rival the very best in the world.

The idea excited everyone, but the sheer scale of the task gave a reality check to most who had been so enthused the evening before.

All that is - except one. The next morning, Mikael Sorling began a project that 13 years later would result in one of the world’s greatest golf courses – The PGA Course of Sweden.

The investment was sourced and found, Kyle Phillips was recruited as the Golf course architect (and lead design) and its location perimeters (proximity to Denmark, Germany and accessible to golfers) all set and implemented.

Finding prime land resources to match the strict criteria was an unenviable task - securing over 275 hectares of land - ticking all the boxes - seemed almost impossible. Nils Yngvesson the former city councillor knew of Malmö council´s interest in selling the magnificent grounds of Torup Castle. Kyle gave the thumbs up for the site and the vision had now become reality.

A vast project begun in re-developing the land back to its former undulating and natural state from its agriculturally flattened condition. Easier options were always available, but this project had to be perfect and this course to be the very finest in Sweden and one of the best in the world – so NO corners were cut.

The ethos of the PGA Course, Sweden was to create a world class modern golf venue, one which had everything a top-tier club needed, but also one which was sympathetic to tradition and included the very best classical features. The service and quality had to exceed excellence in every department from the quality of the facilities to the challenge of the golf – whilst remaining accessible and open to all golfers and being the course where every player sought to return to and enjoy again.

When everything is complete there will be two magnificent 18 hole golf courses, a fantastic 9 hole par three course, conference centre, state of the art practice facilities, a restaurant overlooking the finishing holes on both courses, spa, magnificent hotel rooms, teaching studio´s, golf shop and a custom fitting service.

Thirteen years after the preliminary discussions the official opening of the PGA of Sweden National took place on the 12th of June 2009 – and a club exceeding all earlier expectations was formed.

The venue houses the renowned Links Course and a park land inspired course, the Lakes course. Both championship 18 hole courses and together under the PGA course banner – formidable! Their attachment to nature and sympathetic allegiance to the harmony of the land make them unique in their quality, experience and of course challenge to golfers.

The club house, another feat of perseverance and design excellence contains 16 luxury suites, a restaurant, bar and facilities all meeting those high exacting standards.

All these enviable attributes and assets however are only topped by the sheer friendly professionalism of the superb staff who welcome everyone with the same custom and make it a real pleasure to visit and enjoy the PGA Sweden.

The project with all its tireless dedication, hurdles and challenges together with all of the money, time and minute planning that went into creating this masterpiece, would only be worthwhile if the challenge and enjoyment of the golf exceeded all other things. As you may have gathered by now – - and how!!

The only way to properly share the fun to be had at the Links and the Lakes courses is to suggest you make plans to play both. For the purpose of at least wetting your appetite though a brief overview of each and the 9 hole Academy course for basic and golfers to play.

Lakes Course On May 29, 2010 the Lakes Course was inaugurated by European Tour winner Peter Hanson and course architect Kyle Phillips, it was fully opened just a month later on the 29th June.

Here the player faces typical creeping bent grasses, small greens, more water hazards and large bunkers. The course has been built with the most modern methods and completely in harmony with nature. Right from the opening, the Lakes Course is a terrific test of golf and thoroughly examines and pushes the most avid and dedicated golfers of all standards.

You play with the clubhouse in the background and views over the beautiful countryside all around you. The large, purpose-built lake bordering holes 9, 17 and 18 is daunting and provides a true test and fabulous backdrop for any connoisseur of the game. Bunkers on the Lakes Course are 74 in number, no fewer than on the Links Course but with an overall area equal to almost three times that of the Links course. Most definitely obstacles to be reckoned with or avoided.

The Lakes Course opens with a slight dog leg right par five measuring nearly 500 meters. Uphill, heavily bunkered all the way to a small undulating green. .

The secret of the ninth hole is to get the ball in play. A great drive, slightly right of the fairway, will help. But it is long and narrow all the way to the green, where both water and bunkers await, An extremely challenging golf hole.

The tenth green is tricky to say the least tricky and there are some extremely tough flag placements, Carelessness can easily result in a double bogey. The three finishing holes are demanding and require great courage and skill. The sixteenth although “only� protected by a little winding creek is all the more reason to keep the ball on the fairway.

Seventeenth on the Lakes Course and the Links Course are crucial short holes. You have to fly the ball 155 meters over the water, into a narrow but deep green with several bunkers guarding the right side.

The closing hole is 500 meters long with the lake all the way up the left side. The slope down to the water will punish the unaware or the careless.

Links Course The Links Course is a classic 18 hole championship course created in tandem with nature. The course has the typical characteristics of links golf with large undulating greens and numerous small deep bunkers.

The greens are built on a bed of sand then shaped to liken the soft sand dunes of a typical Scottish links course. The grass specification for the links course is a fescue blend, providing the playing characteristics typical to links courses – they all play true and consistently.

The stunning red brick clubhouse is visible from every hole on the course and on clear days one can see all the way to Turning Torso in Malmö so it is as pretty to the eye as it is adrenaline pumping to the soul!

With around 20 meters altitude difference the course is a demanding and exciting golf experience which requires a certain amount of guile to avoid the small stream which runs along seven of the holes on the links.

As with all links courses, there are no trees – in breaking with tradition – even if only a little bit, the Links has one… It grows all by itself behind the first green – it actually adds to the unique feel of the course and a little badge to wear on the lapel for this true masterpiece. There are also two very old mining sites on course - Legend has it that a young farmer’s son had fallen into one of these sites and his father tried to rescue him. His screams of help are still to be heard on the long light summer nights apparently!! (Keep an ear out when you pass by).

PGA of Sweden National Box 5, 233 02 Bara, SWEDEN Reception +46 (0) 40 635 51 00 r http://www.pgaswedennational.se/

Academy Course The nine hole Academy course consists of nine full length par 3’s that have the same quality as the Lakes and Links. It is also designed by Kyle Phillips so maintains all the same high standards of play and the same spirit and stunning look and feel. The course is perfect for those who fancy a quick round or want to practice their short game/ iron play. It is open for pay & play as long as one player holds a handicap.

All facilities are world class, the service is fantastic and the golf, simply some of the best we have ever played. The fairways and greens all play consistently, honestly and true. The Pro Shop is perfect and you get personalised scoring cards and a detailed stroke-saver when you play. The food as you would expect – fantastic and even when the course is quiet, the same standards and menu is available to provide freshly cooked food in the lovely surroundings.

No guide on the finest golf of Scandinavia would be complete without the magnificent PGA National of Sweden.

HIMMERLAND GOLF & SPA RESORT THE FINEST

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O

ne of the golfing highlights and featured events in Scandinavia is the coveted and renowned “Made in Denmark” tournament. Essentially this is the Danish Open – the biggest and most prestigious golf event in Denmark. It’s obviously not only an honour to host and manage this event – but a massive responsibility. ‘Made in Denmark’ is a top-tier European Tour Event which takes place from the 14th-17th August (2014) and is attended by the majority of top ranking professionals. Himmerland proudly hosts this tournament and what an incredible venue and hosting club it really is!

Making our elite list of top-tier and spectacular golfing highlights and recommendations is the stunning Himmerland Golf & Country Club - It really is a breath taking and incredible venue.

Himmerland lies approximately 20 kilometres to the West from (reputedly) Europe’s cleanest city, Aalborg (a stunning and relatively undiscovered city location in the exposed North of Jutland, Denmark. This is an area of outstanding natural beauty and history and boasts a natural effervescence and scenic beauty which can only be enjoyed in this part of the world.

Not only is Himmerland a stunning, superb and absolutely top quality country club, it’s Northern Europe’s largest golf resort boasting 45 superb holes and extensive practice facilities of the highest order.

With so many challenges contained within the luxurious centre of excellence, there is a decision to be made with regards to which course to select! Each option offers its own set of challenges and pushes your game in different ways; however, , Back-Tee New) many will choose the PGA New Course ( which was originally laid out by Jan Sederholm in 1993.

It was completely closed for renovation by Spogard and Van der Vaart Course architects to stunning acclaim and opened to play in April 2013. The work has been incredibly well received and has transformed this already superb course into a world-beater of a golf course! It looks and plays amazingly with so many beautifully crafted hazards and a layout to push your shot selection and strategic thinking to the full.

The redeveloped PGA New Course, now measures almost 7,400 yards (and now renamed the ‘Back-tee New’) and will debut on the European Tour circuit in 2014. The course is made for top quality golf. It is a dream to play for both long hitters with ultra-High-Tec kit and regular players with tried and trusted clubs. It is designed so that each and every hole will push your game should you allow it and provide the vigour and mental intrigue that all world class circuits need to deliver.

Himmerland has a pedigree in hosting major events and the quality and standard testifies as such - Thomas Bjørn, for example, won his first professional title here in 1995 at the New Course. The greens, fairways and overall condition of the course is superb. Manicured and maintained with precision and dedication. It is managed with the utmost of professionalism and it looks like ‘money is no object’ in providing you with the best quality in comfort, play design and upkeep to enjoy a terrific and memorable round (or two) of golf.

Although the course measures almost 7,400 yards, it shouldn’t intimidate you. Different Tee placements mean that regular hitters can also find the right challenge to suit.

“

The course is made for top quality golf. It is a dream to play for both long hitters with ultra-High-Tec kit and regular players with tried and trusted clubs.

”

The resort, as mentioned, has two full 18 hole courses (The Garia and aforementioned Back-Tee) as well as a practice/ beginners course – The Bette Course. Though the Back-Tee steals the headlines with its sheer playing and fluid challenges, the Garia is well worth a visit too!

Himmerland ticks so many boxes and fulfils so much it is difficult to simply review or critique the golfing parts alone.

Golf is much more than just the round itself. It has to provide a complete experience and be comparable to numerous other recreational activities and pleasures, that these days, clubs and resorts have to be resourceful and generous if they want to succeed. Himmerland gets our vote as it simply achieves on every single level to most, if not all groups of golfers and travellers. Families, friends, business groups or get-together's can all arrive at Himmerland to one of the warmest welcomes you are ever likely, and lucky, enough to be spoilt to!

As a complete country club, Himmerland is bursting with activities and facilities. From Bowling , an incredible bar (The Sky Bar) as well as the simply opulent restaurants (the POLO fine dining restaurant and the Brasserie - my favourite!) which serves superb classic and contemporary cuisine and will satisfy…

Genuinely, I cannot fault any of the facilities, set-up and offered services. It is managed to such a high degree of care and ‘ . All staff we encountered couldn’t be happier to help and provide a service which will make you glad to be there. It all feels genuine, as if they know how good an experience this is and are glad they can help add to your enjoyment.

I visited with two fellow golf writers, and trying to combine my obsession with golf with an even greater professional obsession to find objective faults or failure became the challenge of the week-end! We gave up looking for fault as it just oozed comfort and provided a welcoming and relaxed ambience Such is the attention to detail, there could be no suggestion, improvement or “what if..” that you may have experienced in a get-away or round of golf.

Everything about Himmerland (as mentioned) deserves the maximum credit.

www.himmerlandgolf.dk

In searching for the finest in golf and golf travel, Himmerland delivers in a truly unique and gratifying way. From a purely aesthetic vantage point, it has a unique and definitely Danish charm and elegance – full of typical Danish wildlife and scenery. Every corner holds a little surprise and something to enjoy and the quality of care and finish - to everything - adds that something extra.

The golf challenge, as stated, is here in abundance and with a breadth and variety unmatched anywhere in Europe the longevity and longer visits are not only possible, but virtually a requirement! All facilities from fitness to feeding will astonish and surpass your expectations and that magic ingredient of ‘quality of service’ and management is possibly the greatest asset and most impressive feature!

I will certainly be returning to Himmerland Golf & Country Club and can happily recommend and award them the highest acclaim as one of Scandinavia’s stand-out and superb venues.

Himmerland Golf & Country Club Centervej 1, Gatten.

DK-9640 Farsø Denmark Phone: +45 96496100

Bookings: +45 96496100

hgcc@himmerlandgolf.dk www.himmerlandgolf.dk

VASATORPS GOLF CLUB THE FINEST

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Vasatorps is recognised as one of Europe’s top golf courses and having indulged ourselves and played this magnificent course, we can absolutely see why all golf writers and visitors rave about the quality, ambience, condition and service they have all received here.

Situated approx 12km from Helsingborg in Sweden and easily accessible to visitors, Vasatorps ranks as one of the great golf experiences to be enjoyed anywhere.

Everything about this course and club screams class - the grounds are meticulously and expertly groomed to such a high standard and with such care and attention that it is a rare and real privilege to visit and especially to play here.

The golf club has been hosting major events since the 1970’s - the original course designed by Ulf Wiederstrom - former head of the Skanska construction company - was completed in 1974 and within six years, the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Sandy Lyle and Greg Norman were winning the Scandinavian Enterprise Open here and enjoying every minute of it!!

VASATORPS GOLF CLUB THE FINEST

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Vasatorps is established as one of the great golf clubs and with the new management structure in place and establishing a level of quality others sadly do not even strive for, the future looks even brighter for this spectacular club. The Helsingborg Open has been successfully staged here and the level of play achieved has been partially due to the challenge Vasatorps possesses. Many spectators were promoting Vasatorps as a venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup which was awarded to France for golf developmental considerations, but it must surely be a matter of time before they will be asked to bid.

The introduction in 2008 of the Tournament course designed by Arthur Hills and Steve Forrest has raised the bar in terms of golf across Sweden and Europe. Its layout is a combination of remodelled and upgraded holes within a complex that extends to 54 holes of superb golf!

The short par 4, 8th and the tough par 4 13th are two stand out holes amongst 18 adrenalin filled holes and the shape, design and intelligent design all combine to make the TC (Tournament Course) one which lingers in the memory and captivates you as you play it.

VASATORPS GOLF CLUB THE FINEST

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Vasatorps stunning 16th Hole

Every inch of the grounds through to the world class facilities are prepared with accuracy, warmth and affection. The service and quality standards displayed are unequalled and perhaps most noteworthy is the comfort and relaxation you enjoy the instant you arrive. All staff are professional, welcoming, happy and genuinely warm in character. Its obvious they are proud of their club and want you to enjoy your stay here. The greenkeepers and ground staff – although expert in their care and maintenance are almost invisible.

It is everything a world class club should be and Vasatorps reaches even further – extending its ambition to become even greater. In terms of receiving the most welcoming and enjoyable round of golf and experience it is impossible to see beyond Vasatorps. Across the web, golf writers and delighted guests and visitors all agree that Vasatorps Golf club excels in every way. A privilege and delight to visit, topped with outstanding golf. Our advice, provided with the greatest confidence and reassurance is to make your visit several days and indulge in more than one round, take in the beauty of the course, the challenge of the golf and the warmth of the welcome from this exceptional club.

The tournament course, Vasatorps GC The result is a varied, interesting and dynamic test of golf that has a little something for everyone. Power hitters will appreciate holes 6 and 10 where they can get home in two. Accurate drivers will shine on 7 and 13. Precise iron play will be rewarded on holes 2 and 17.

Everyone will have fun with the tempting choices on holes 5 and 8.

What are Forrest’s favourite holes? He likes the beauty of hole 3, the intrigue of hole 11, and the deceptiveness of hole 15. Skilled players and casual golfers alike have fallen in love with TC. It has risen steadily in the Golf Digest rankings and promises to provide challenge and enjoyment for the golfers of Sweden for many years to come.

The TC was designed by international golf course architect Steve Forrest, a past president of the distinguished American Society of Golf Course Architects. Forrest brought over thirty years of design experience to the drawing board when he began designing the “Tournament Course”. He was no stranger to the Swedish landscape at the time, having created Hills Golf Club in Gothenburg and Sand Golf Club near Jonkoping, both of which have been praised by Swedish and international golf publications.

The site that Forrest was given for the TC was a mix of open farmland and some wooded hole corridors from an existing nine holes on the Club property. His direction from the Committee was to “design a dramatic, links-style course like Sand, but to soften it up a little.” So, in the open farmland areas, the Scottish linksland was created, while in the existing wooded corridors, a parkland style course with just a touch of ruggedness was put in place.

Renowned architect: Steve Forrest

Tournament Course (TC) 18th Hole

VASATORPS GOLF CLUB ‘TOURNAMENT COURSE’ GUIDE

1 Par Index

41 28

4 10

Next Tee

14

0

36 69 83

116 BRUNNSLOCK

51

236

47

181

67

252

63

235

60

207

57

193

51

156

47

101

159 169

-2,5 m*

**position height relative to the green

67

242

63

225

60

198

57

183

67

422

47

63

407 60

379

51

57

365 51

57 60

327 47

272

63 67

W

S

E

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N

THE FINEST

2 Par 32

Index

3 12

29 16

16

12

14 9 0

S

162

60

140

N

63

W

162

E

67

114 92 92

51 47

67

178 57

63

178 60

156 57

129 60

51

108 47

108 67 63

VASATORPS GOLF CLUB ‘TOURNAMENT COURSE’ GUIDE

THE FINEST

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3

25

5 Index 4

20

Par

12

56

8

0

72

-9

100

EK

161

ENSAM BJÖ RK

208

DUBBELBJÖ RK 1:A TRÄ D

67

259

63

259

60

234

57

208

51

175

47

175

252

1:A TRÄ D / BJÖ RK

S

67 E

512

W

63

512

N

60

486 57

454 51

51 47

426 47

426

57

60

67 63

5

35 28

4 Index 2 Par

19 9

0

67

-4

70

SLUT DAMM

88 RYGG / Å S

67

304

63

57

231

51

275

60

231

183

47

183

113 BRUNN 106

67

280

63

252

60

210

57

210

51

165

47

165

N

E W

S

67

373 51 63

345 60

301

60 57

51

301 51

63

257 47

257

67

47

VASATORPS GOLF CLUB ‘TOURNAMENT COURSE’ GUIDE

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OUT OF BOUNDS

6

36

18

Par

24

19

Index

14

5 16

-27

0

67 88

129 START WASTE

START WA

67

326

63

298

60

298

57

262

51

225

47

205

67

274

63

247

60

247

57

210

51

172

47

153

165 BJÖ RK 197

BJÖ

67

258

63

231

60

231

57

193

51

156

47

137

S

67 W

472

E

63

443

N 47

60

443 51

57

406 51 57

368 47

349 63 60

67

7

39

4 Index 8 Par

28

15

14 8

9

3

33

0

72 DIKESHÖ RN

104 SLUT WASTE

129

SLUT WASTE

67

254

63

231

60

231

57

196

51

164

47

138

TOPP

149

N E

W

S

67

379 63

356

47

60

356

51

57

321

57

51

288 47 63 60

262 67

VASATORPS GOLF CLUB ‘TOURNAMENT COURSE’ GUIDE

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8

31 25

Par

19

Index

14

13

4 14

8

0

31

67

260

63

260

60

234

57

199

51

199

47

166

69 Å S 57 ÅS

67

218

63

218

60

191

57

156

51

156

47

123

106 Å S 89

67

186

63

186

60

160

57

127

51

127

47

91

N

W

ÅS E

S

67 47

298 63

298 57 51

60

271 57 60

235 51

235 67 63

47

205

9

36 OUT OF BOUNDS

4 Index 6 Par

30 22

13

0

44

SLUT WASTE

67

296

63

270

60

270

57

238

51

203

47

173

83

SLUT WASTE

67

264

63

238

60

238

57

205

51

171

47

135

129

67

242

63

216

60

216

57

183

51

150

47

113

155

W

N

S E

67

47

404 63

378 60

51

378 57

345

57

51

312 47

275

63 60

67

VASATORPS GOLF CLUB ‘TOURNAMENT COURSE’ GUIDE

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10

Next Tee

22

5 Index 9 Par

16

10 0 10

86

START DAMM

E

145 287

60

287

57

272

51

248

47

228

W

63

N

346

S

173 67

265

START MUR

297 67

229

63

170

60

170

57

155

51

132

47

112 67

532 63

473 60

473

47

57 51

457 57

63 60

51

434 47

413 67

11 Par Index

26 19

4 15

12

15 7 0

+28

67

292

63

256

60

237

57

230

51

196

47

169

46 61

119

67

250

63

215

60

196

57

189

51

155

47

123

47

67

376 63 51

340 60

321 57

57

313

60

51

280

63 S

47 E

W

67

N

249

VASATORPS GOLF CLUB ‘TOURNAMENT COURSE’ GUIDE

12

24

14

5 Index 7 Par

14

80

5 0 -9

131 E W

178 N

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S

THE FINEST

OUT OF BOUNDS

67

255

63

255

57

198

51

166

60

229 130

47

67

218

63

218

60

190

57

159

51

126

47

88

232 259 290

67

534 47

63

534 60 51

506 57

57

60

474 51

440 67 63

47

402

13

40

4 Index 1 Par

23

21 16 9 0

98 125 147 167 DAMM / RÖ

67

320

63

290 265

57

265

51

232

47

232

67

241

63

206

60

177

57

177

51

143

47

143

W

60

N

S E

67

419 63

51 47

386 60

359

60

57

57

359

63

51

326 47

326

67

VASATORPS GOLF CLUB ‘TOURNAMENT COURSE’ GUIDE

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14

33

Par 23

Index

17

3 13

7

S

E

0

185 156 130

W

63 60

N

67

57

120

51

98

47

98

51 47

57

67

200 60

63

172 60

145 63

57

135 51

113 47

113 67

15

38

4 Index 3 Par

27

15

0 67

285

63

251

60

251

57

219

51

189

47

152

67

243

63

212

60

212

57

184

51

158

47

126

48

67

206

63

172

60

172

57

140

51

110

47

74

134 156 175

N

W

E

S

47

67

426

51

63

391 60

57

391 57

361

63 60

51

331 47

293

67

VASATORPS GOLF CLUB ‘TOURNAMENT COURSE’ GUIDE

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16

38

4 Index 5 Par

21

20 14

11

49

0

99 BJÖ RK 67

316

57

257

63 BJÖ

51

316

60

257

226

47

197

158

START DUNGE

67

258

63

258

60

200

57

200

51

170

47

141

67

227

63

227

60

169

57

169

51

136

47

108

178 MUR

67 47

425 63

N

51

425 60

W

366 E

60 57

57

366

S

51

334 47 67 63

305

17 Par Index

3 17

24 19 15 12

13 11 6

11

4 0

113

57

113

51

90

47

90

N

125

60

W

125

63

S

67

E

67

135

51 47

63

135 60

123 57

123 51

60 57

100 47

100

67 63

VASATORPS GOLF CLUB THE FINEST

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‘TOURNAMENT COURSE’ GUIDE OUT OF BOUNDS

18

41

28

Par Index

19

4 11

10

51

0

117 MUR

OUT OF BOUNDS

67

327

63

295

60

258

57

258

51

218

47

176

MUR

161 MUR 67

263

63

230

60

192

57

192

51

152

47

110

204 MUR

W

N

S E

47

51 67

428 63

60 57

397 60

363

63

57

363 51

326 47

285

67

VASATORPS GOLF CLUB THE FINEST

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‘TOURNAMENT COURSE’ GUIDE

TOURNAMENT COURSE: PLAYING TIPS 1: Aim for the right side of the fairway from the tee to get a good angle of attack to the green. Keep in mind that the green is very deep so take an extra club if the flag is in the back.

2: It is better to be short than long on this green to give you the best opportunity for two putts and a par.

3: Generous fairway. If you are not certain that you can carry the stone wall on the second shot, take a club less to set up a safe third shot to the green. Aim at the left side of the green as the green tilts right.

4: Aim at the left side of the green to avoid the waste-area to the right where your ball can end up in a difficult location.

5: Place your tee ball to the right of the fairway bunker if you do not feel safe. The second shot view over the creek can be blocked so make sure you aim on the trees behind and determine the length of the stroke required. Do not hesitate!

6: Stay on the left side of the fairway all the way to the green to give you the best chance for a good outcome of the hole.

7: Aim as close to the right side of the fairway as you dare to get a good view and angle of the second shot to the green.

8: A tempting holes to go for the green, but think twice. Let the flag placement determine your opportunity. Rather lay up short and attack with your favorite club increasing your chance of making par.

9: Challenge the left side of the fairway from the tee to give you an open shot to the green. Make sure to leave it short of the flag rather than long on this heavily undulated green.

10: There is plenty of space both on the right and left off the tee. Leave your second stroke short of the water so that you get a full stroke towards the green. Forget the pin on the approach. Instead aim to the left side of the green and let gravitation do the rest of the job.

11: Keep your drive on the right side of the fairway. The approach is hidden and green slopes in all directions.

12: There's more space to the left of the fairway than you think off the tee. Always place your second shot on the right side of the fairway giving you the best angle to the green.

13: Signature hole. Aim for the fairway bunkers. If you end up in one of them play the hole as a par 5. The green is deep so take an extra club if necessary.

14: Favor the left side of the green. If the ball does not stop on the green, you can putt the ball from the short grass off the green.

15: There's plenty of space to the left of the fairway, so challenge the left fairway bunker to get a good angle into the green. Take an extra club to the green as it plays uphill.

16: The right side of the fairway is recommended. When you lie there, the path is open to the middle of the green. Do everything to avoid the deep green side bunker.

17. Always play to the middle of the green, regardless of the flag placement. If you play past the pin you will often face a fast and tricky downhill putt and ending up short leaves a difficult chip or pitch uphill.

18: Make sure to utilize the left side of the fairway so that you will get a good angle into the green on the second shot.

Play the approach towards the left side of the green where hills will help the ball toward the center of the green.

THE BEST SCANDINAVIAN GOLF CLUBS THE FINEST

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Enjoy these clubs As part of this souvenir and guide to the best golf events in Scandinavia, we would like to showcase the very finest golf clubs to visit and enjoy whilst you take in the ambience and hospitality of this fine region.

The clubs have been visited, played, tasted and pushed to the limits. Only the very best made the cut and we are certain that you too will find the following clubs both challenging and a welcome experience to savour.

Left: Vasatorps

Opp: Bro Hof Slott

Dan Loria

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BRO HOF SLOTT GOLF CLUB

omance, history, desire and tradition. Just four words that come close to summing up even a fraction of one of the finest Golf Clubs in the World. Bro Hof Slott is a delight to all the senses.

Outside of the UK, The Stadium course is considered the second best course in Europe (according to many journalists), The Castle course, similarly, is thought of in such terms. We look for the experience, the charm and challenge, the facilities and the club in an overall capacity before we can honestly recommend or rave about any course or club.

Choose between The Castle Course, a challenging first-rate beauty with a Scottish links character and small challenging bunkers, and The Stadium Course, one of Europe’s absolute finest courses and either way you are spoilt for choice!

Virtually all observers and professional writers alike agree that these really are special places and courses. Upon reflection, you’d better play both, as they offer different challenges and throw up their own conundrums whilst allowing you to inhale such a special atmosphere and feeling of privilege when you play through each hole and each round.

From tee-off to the final hole, from the changing room hot tubs to exquisite lunches on the terrace, this is an experi- In Sweden, Golf Digest ranked the ‘Stadium ence you’ll remember for the rest of your life. course’ in first place (once again) whilst ‘The Castle course’ placed fifth - so competition is high, even Bro Hof Slott is located in Upplands-Bro near Stockholm, between these two world class courses!

Sweden, approx. 30 minutes’ drive from the city centre.

Superlatives are difficult to begin to describe the quality Bro Hof Slott is regularly ranked in the world’s top and feeling when you arrive and play these landmark courses in every (and any) course ranking. Considcourses. A ‘Things to do before you die’ list, to include ering there are more than 32,000 golf clubs across both the Stadium and Castle courses at Bro Hof Slott. the world and tastes differ of course, more-theThe main gates, in keeping with the elegance and grandeur, remarkable given both appears in recognised top present a view of the Castle. You should have goose 50’s lists. bumps all over by this point!)

It’s taken centuries to create and develop this area, even before the recent huge investments from the Club and its history and traditions are as great as they are esteemed. In the Middle Ages, Brogård (now Bro Hof Slott) was a royal demesne estate. The Rålamb, Funck, Ribbing, Cederhielm, Sparre and Reuterskiöld families all owned it at one time or another and under the dynamic management of Count Johan Sparre (1856-1938), the estate flourished.

The existing castle, which was designed by architect Herman Holmgren and built in 1888, was given a Baroque architectural style with Empirical elements, as was typical of the period.

Through various leases and sales, wealthy businessman Björn Örås purchased the property in 2002 and began its transformation into the Bro Hof Slott Golf Club we see today. The Castle has been completely and meticulously renovated to recreate its original appearance and is a breath taking feature and surely one of the world’s great Club residences.

One of the rooms, the 'Sparre Room', is named after the aforementioned Count Johan and is adorned with befitting furnishings and a portrait of the Count himself. The current banquet hall, which previously consisted of two unfurnished storage rooms, has been restored, painted and again looks and feels treasured, exquisite and as though you are immersed in Royal history.

The garden surrounding the castle has been redesigned with green open spaces and those period-typical gates we mentioned. A further 250 hectares off the golf course is managed by Bro Hof Slott and is dedicated to Nature (which flourishes) and is enjoyed by a plethora of wildlife and too many species of birds to list.

The golf development has resulted in the preservation and maintenance of the cultural and natural heritage of the area, safeguarding this astonishing landmark and area for generations to come and visitors from across the globe.

It is undeniably Swedish, though it has many of the best attributes of US, Scottish and Links courses. The fairways, greens, approaches, tees, the rough (!) – In fact everything is perfect. It is managed and maintained expertly. The level of commitment and skill required to develop and keep all features in their pristine state is truly testament to the expert management and team ability Bro Hof Slott has in abundance.

"We are very proud and happy about the high ranking that we get in Sweden, Europe and Worldwide. It's amazing that a course in northern Stockholm can compete world-wide," the proud owner, Björn Örås says of his prized Stadium Course.

Though every part of the course is ideal and cared for perfectly, not for one second do you feel awkward or in awe.

“

From tee-off to the final hole, from the changing room hot tubs to exquisite lunches on the terrace, this is an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your life…

”

You will be made to feel welcome, part of the family and cared for in the same manner as each part of the grounds (which is a good thing!). The luxurious and superb facilities, equipment and level of service, serve only to expand and take your experience further into golf heaven.

The “Boka Bord” restaurant would be in keeping with many of the top restaurants , golfing or otherwise. Again, service and commitment from the staff make this more than just top quality food and drink. The friendly smiles and genuine feeling of warmth you receive make this special – very special, but with all the comfort and relaxation you could wish to enjoy.

“

”

Our first goal was to create the best Golf Course in Sweden. Our next goal is to have the best course in Europe.

Björn Örås

The par 72, 18-hole Stadium Course, which, like the estate's second Championship layout, the Castle course, was designed by US golf course architect, Robert Trent Jones Jnr, opened its doors to the public in 2007 and is amongst the very longest in Europe, stretching up to 6 955 metres (7 607 yards) from its back tees.

Jones commented: “Everything is big at Bro Hof. The holes are longer, greens bigger, course has more water and bunkers larger and well placed. Besides which, the wind is always part of the game. On the dogleg holes, you not only have to hit the ball a long way, you have to get it to stop too!”

The Stadiums thick roughs and elevated greens will really punish wayward approaches and drives, its design tempts and teases you in equal measure. The twists and turns encourage you to add a little risk into your game – irrespective of whether you are a regular or long hitter, though longer shots may be handy here.

Choose to tee up from the white or black tees and each hole presents a brand new set of challenges and add a few notches to the difficulty...

The Castle Course, which opened in 2009, is shorter and a little more forgiving though full of its own special challenges and personality. It includes numerous spectacular holes and its greens are fast and true.

info@brohofslott.se www.brohofslott Bookings: + 46 (0) 8 545 279 90

The stunning water features and hazards on both holes, though typically stunning are there for the challenge of the course and not merely for show.

The practice facilities with a superb driving range and chipping and putting greens as well as a top notch pro shop complete the enviable list of features Bro Hof Slott boasts.

There is simply no better way to explain the quality, feel and charm of Bro Hof than to encourage you to enjoy and visit yourself. It is a true marvel and experience to repeat and repeat again. You will seriously indulge in one of the finest golf experiences available.

Contact Phone: + 46 (0) 8 545 279 90 E-mail: info@brohofslott.se Bro Hof Slott SE-197 91 BRO

FALSTERBO GOLF CLUB THE FINEST

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Absolutely, positively NO trip to play golf in Scandinavia should be made without a trip to the unbelievable Falsterbo Golf Club of Sweden.

It shares numerous members with Royal County Down and Prestwick to name but two courses. Make no mistake. Falsterbo is absolutely in that league.

If we are to uncover a gem which may not be the most familiar with golfers from the UK, US, Southern Europe or Asia – this has to be it.

Falsterbo was actually founded in 1909 and is Sweden’s third oldest club. It is located in one of the most stunning and picturesque conservation areas in the world, at the Southernmost tip of Sweden on the Falsterbo Peninsula – which is as remarkable as it is beautiful. The Oresund and Baltic meet here and its bird colonies and rare varieties bring not only golfers but bird watchers to witness the extremely rare breeds which enjoy this area. It can rightly claim to have the utmost authority on birdies… (apologies my last pun)…

It was designed by the remarkable Gunnar Bauer – a local Doctor with a passion for golf and an intelligence and character to match. He took the existing 9 hole course which was built round the lighthouse and extended the course to the 18 magnificent and extraordinary holes we know today. Only the 7th and 14th remain of the original 9 to this day.

Between 1996 and 2001 some course modernisation and remedial work was carried out on the greens, but apart from that, the course stays true to the exquisite design and challenge Bauer first dreamt back in the early 1900’s.

The 7th green by the clubhouse

Having played Falsterbo recently, it is the more remarkable given the modern advancements in the game and the course still plays and holds true (& then some!). It is as difficult and challenging as it is thought provoking and charismatic. Every hole, each shot asks a question and requires thought and technical know-how. Big hitters, short tacticians, combination players. There is something here for everyone. Professional through to beginners, I defy any golfer not to enjoy and be mesmerised by the quality of this world class venue.

The course and climate are quite British-esque in a way.

The wind and sea breeze meets the sand and rough with perfect harmony. It is effectively looking at the best of British Links with all the wisdom, wit and character of the Swede’s. An absolute delight.

You will find yourself smiling from ear to ear as you suck in the fresh sea air and admire the scenery which envelopes the course. White sandy beaches on your side, the Sea crashing away and the rugged rough lining the perfect fairways leading to perfection in the greens.

The brilliant 18th is everything a short par 5 should aspire to be. The green can (just) be reached in two should the prevailing wind assist you, however should you stray off line a bucket and spade should be in your bag (to help locate your ball in the dazzling white sands!).

The climate is mild and the sea’s impact on the course means that Falsterbo can be played all year round and is a different beast in Winter than Spring and again a whole new course to play in Summer as opposed to the climactic variances of any other season. It literally takes on a new personality depending on when you play.

In 1984, David Blair (Captain of the R&A Club of St Andrews) when visiting Falsterbo exclaimed “this is an outstanding Links!” – he was notoriously hard to please.

Falsterbo is a classic example of the original Scottish golfing terrain - links. Sand dunes with sparse vegetation intervenes with lower lying areas where under decades a natural and fine turf has come forth. The natural water hazards, many large sand bunkers as well as depressions and the fast running greens are some of the characteristics of the course, which has for many years constantly been ranked among Sweden’s top-3 courses.

The 17th flag

Falsterbo lies within a virtually unique selection of classic and true links courses in Scandinavia and as mentioned, one of the oldest – full of character and traditional virtue but remaining relevant to the modern games criteria. The club house is alive with history and feels like you are entwined with historical significance.

It’s not stuffy or uncomfortable – far from it. The welcome-could-not-be-greater!

Without exaggeration, you feel like a member in this great club te moment you arrive and everything is done to invite and make you feel at home. The importance of the club is not forgotten to golf in Sweden and it is displayed throughout.

The warmth of the hospitality soon erodes when you begin your round and make your way to the first tee.

The winds are notorious and punishing on occasion – it all adds to the mystique and the challenge though. Reaction to the first hole is mixed, but we found it fantastic and a great (risky) start to your round. A careless shot could destroy your card before you properly get started! golfers enjoy – hit the ground That is exactly what running and begin as we mean to go on.

The 7th hole transforms this spectacular course into the acclaimed links for real. A short dog leg par 4 which ends in front of the club house. Again, full of tricky shots and shot-selection-posers and brimming with risk/ reward choices.

The 11th hole is located on a island green with a wooden bridge providing access. Its 160 yard status belies the challenge which confronts you and the obvious damage to your round such a hole can inflict.

The back nine contain many of the most beautiful holes I have experienced in world golf. With water on both sides and dunes around you, you are isolated from the world with only the challenge of the hole to accompany you around. The 17th and 18th holes run along the peninsula edge towards the clubhouse and the walk is a pleasure to be savoured with the rare birds to keep you company.

The fairways through the course, though narrow and punishing – are consistent and true. The priority (in my opinion) is to play straight and accurately rather than long, though both aspects would be beneficial. The greens, immaculate (despite the wind and sea barrage) seem to always play true and reward brave putting.

This is an Open Championships quality course in my humble opinion; to find such an outstanding course so far from the traditional location of the British Isles is remarkable. Add to this the unique Scandinavian influences – which make the course – and this is truly something special.

A refreshing drink feels and tastes so much better having earnt it on course – completing 18 gruelling and remarkable holes of world-class golf in a setting which is second to none.

A quick paddle in the Baltic to top off one of the greatest rounds of golf to be played anywhere in the world and your trip will be complete.

– (as you will be busy making plans for your next visit).

Falsterbo – simply one of the finest golf clubs in the world.

Falsterbo Golf Club Fyrvägen 34 239 40 FALSTERBO SWEDEN Phone: +46 40 47 00 78 Email: info@falsterbogk.se

The magnificent Ljunghusen Golf Klubb has been described as the Turnberry of Sweden – The Ailsa course to be precise. It’s a little misleading and extremely difficult to try to find comparisons between any two golf courses – especially two from different countries, cultures and terrains, however the similarities are most certainly there in several aspects.

The beautiful Swedish landscape is one feature which of course cannot be replicated or compared to any other – nor would you ever want it to. Located approximately 30km South of Malmo, just to the West of Trelleborg on the Southern tip of the Swedish (Falsterbo) peninsula lies Hollviken - A most picturesque and typically Swedish town.

Although quintessentially Swedish in its personality, it’s actually closer to Copenhagen in Denmark than to the Swedish capital, Stockholm! It is easily accessible by road to Denmark and even Germany and well covered by airports and ferry services too.

LJUNGHUSEN GOLF KLUBB THE FINEST

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was opened to play in 1932 and it boasts 27 spectacular holes in its unique maritime heath on the Falsterbo peninsula. It has held numerous championships and both National and International tournaments – such is the high level and standard of challenge – which include the PLM Open, Telia Tour GP and the European Men’s Team championships. Designed by Douglas Brasier, this course this is a course full of imagination and charisma.

Like Turnberry and other famous Scottish cousin courses, Ljunghusen is blessed by nature with both its scenery, landscape, rugged location and weather variations – which ultimately mean that the course can play completely differently from one season, week, day, EVEN one hour to the next! The challenges and style of challenge that face you alter and differ so greatly that should you ever assume you have a particular hole beaten, the wind changes speed and direction and it plays completely differently, like a brand new hole.

Superb golf courses should always be testing and this is absolutely in that category.

The Baltic weather and climactic variations are only one hurdle you must prepare and arm yourself for. The 80 deep bunkers and numerous (I think 12) extreme water hazards combined with thick gorse and heather areas mean this is a genuine Championship course designed to meet the highest and most exacting of golfers requirements. Some courses are designed to play with a recreational or relaxing attitude, like a Golden retriever using dog breeds as an example: reassuring and comforting – Ljunghusen is more of a wolf, unpredictable, dangerous, fierce!

Below: Ljunghusen club house today

Above: Ljunghusen club house 1933 Below: Ljunghusen 17th

It is the epitome of a risk and reward course – take it too easy and your score card will reflect the safety, try to risk a shot here or there and the consequences can be severe.

That is exactly what golf should be about though – shouldn’t it?

The 17�� and 18�� holes demonstrate this point exactly.

The 280 metre 17�� par 4 is an absolute beauty of a hole. It invites you to take a risk which could destroy your score card, or make you a hero! The water at the front, left and right is threat enough, but when added to the elevated green with four bunkers around the hole, it really results in a spectacular hole with as much charm as it has difficulties to overcome.

A genuine feast of golf for the connoisseur and aficionado of golfers to savour. Ljunghusen has been consistently ranked in the top 10 Swedish golf courses and the top 100 courses of Europe so you should expect great things. Believe me, you wont be disappointed.

The food is magnificent in the restaurant and service is of an extremely high standard. They take pride in everything they provide at the club which includes the look, feel and maintenance of the grounds on both the course and around the comfortable Club House.

The Club House is a modern building that has an impressive and comfortable balcony which allows for a welcome drink to consider your round. It houses all modern facilities and caters for the most demanding of golfer’s needs.

The Glass walls let the light and natural scenery into the club which helps to keep the feeling and round clear in your thoughts. The members are equally welcoming and happy to share their thoughts and tips on the course to match the day’s conditions.

The environmental considerations are paramount to the club. The exquisite heath lands and attachment to nature are evident and the club takes it’s responsibilities seriously in the maintenance and success of the local species which add to the experience and unique quality of Ljunghusen.

It was incidentally the first ever course to be GEO (Golf Environment Org) certified, which means it exceeds all environmental and sustainable targets and leads the way in modern golf design and maintenance. Not only does Ljunghusen deliver a golf experience to savour and stay with you long after your round has been completed, the legacy and leadership it displays in collaboration with its surroundings and with nature is second to none.

Ljunghusen green

Ljunghusen club house from the 18th

LJUNGHUSENS GOLFKLUBB KINELLS VÄG 236 42 HÖLLVIKEN SWEDEN TEL +46 40 � 45 80 00

Ljunghusen course aerial

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This is a golfers circuit, made to test and push your game for real enthusiasts and high calibre players. Any local golf course can allow you to make 18 comfortable holes, it takes a wolf to stir the blood and awaken the adrenaline in you.

The fairways are tight and narrow, mis-hit your tee shot and you will be fighting to recover on almost all of the holes. The sea and landscape all around you are stunning to the eye, but you will barely have opportunity to enjoy the views. The ground plays consistently and true, there is shape and undulation, however, the heights and fall of the ground is not the major draw or consideration. Its all about accuracy, gauging the power and dealing with the wind and conditions on each hole.

Every single hole and each individual shot needs your utmost concentration, it’s not enough to simply select your club; you have to consider the wind, the feel and the pressure in the air, simply awesome as you play your round. One of our group mentioned after the round that he felt like he was playing at the Open. He felt the pressure and enjoyed the challenge of every single shot raising his standard and never allowing him to rest on his laurels. Even after playing a great shot, a new set of challenges faced his shot where he was confronted with a new set of problems to overcome.

The 6th, 7th and 8th holes in sequence are superb to play in particular.

Be confident and free in your swing and try not to worry about the width of the fairway.

Though it looks tight, there is plenty of room to land safely, just trust your game and consider your risks. Trying to steal a shot may cost you two or three!

LJUNGHUSENS GOLFKLUBB KINELLS VÄG 236 42 HÖLLVIKEN SWEDEN TEL +46 40 � 45 80 00

HORSHOLM GOLF CLUB THE FINEST

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THE FINEST

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The picturesque and elegant Hørsholm Golf club is one potential hidden gem which we are pleased to introduce non-Danes (or those unfamiliar) to J

Its classic understatement and tranquillity are in tune with the phrase strong words spoken softly. Hørsholm, though mostly unknown in most of Europe is actually one of Denmark’s premier golf clubs, renowned and well respected by golfers and enjoyed by corporate guests and visitors alike.

The coastal town of Hørsholm is situated in Northern Zealand and is 20 minutes distance from Helsingør and about 15km or 20 minutes distance from Copenhagen. It sits almost opposite Helsingborg (across the water admittedly) and right in the midst of some of Scandinavia’s major cities and thoroughfares – although you would never, ever, know it.

It’s a peaceful, naturally impressive and superbly designed (and created) golfing masterpiece! The course itself was built in 1992 and was officially opened in ‘93. Originally just 9 holes, today it boasts 27 superb holes, broken into three 9 hole divisions which are rotated accordingly. The three different courses - North, West & East - provide good room for members and guests as well as a healthy variation. Such is the quality and thought that has gone into creating these courses, it genuinely doesn’t matter which combination you play – they are all unique and with a character unique to Hørsholm Golf club.

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The three 9 hole courses are titled, the West Course - 'Vest banen', the North Course - 'Nord banen', and the East Course 'Øst banen.'

The rotation of the courses changes once a week, e.g.

West/North is the 18 hole course whilst East is the 9 hole course. The rotation means that you can experience a different 18 and 9 hole course every week and because of the quality and differences of all three, the variety and challenge though different is always exceptionally playable and just as competitive regardless of the title.

The East Course is usually considered the most challenging due to the many natural lakes that are in play. But in reality, all three offer the same relative lengths, natural hazards and tactical manoeuvring to guide through.

The course itself is typically Scandinavian in character but it’s charisma is definitely Danish. The look and feel is stunning with the native woodland and green adorning the course, full of typical Danish shrubs and flora. It has been meticulously created to be in-tune with nature and its natural surroundings, and everything is designed and placed with that in mind. There are apparently more than 400 active bird houses hosting numerous species of native bird – carefully and professionally fitted and camouflaged so that we couldn’t spot many through the course.

The native wildlife thrive and co-exist happily and its impact on the local landscape is minimal – as mentioned above, understated brilliance.

Every part of the course and club for that matter is perfectly manicured and treated. The layout is so perfectly managed that the tree lines and shapes fit like a jigsaw into the view around the course. Impressive stuff.

The green keepers and ground staff work tirelessly of course to ensure the look is tidy whilst being character-full and natural.

Though it is a beautiful sight, it is not just a nice walk… Far from it in fact. Hørsholm in that respect is a wolf in sheep’s clothing…

Passive and calm, but a shadowy menace lingers and contrasting “dark side” which all top tier golf courses need to possess.

An apt comparison given they apparently utilise sheep to naturally manage certain rough areas – away from golfers to protect the sheep by the way…

Below: Natural Maintenance, Horsholm’s resident (extra) green keepers.

Hørsholm Golf A/S Grønnegade 1 2970 Hørsholm Denmark

Tel: +45 45 76 51 50 E-mail: post@hoersholm-golf.dk

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The holes are demanding, tricky, clever and will punish the lazy shot maker. The greens are fast, always true and consistent – (so completely fair) – but their placement and turns, contours and run offs will punish the wary and reward (equally) the brave.

The fairways are equally impressive and challenging ranging between narrow and tricky to wide and spacious. The turns and angles all come into play and vary upon the conditions and variable winds that courses create and experience – some shots will carry whilst others hold dependent upon your striking of courses, but also the day and atmosphere. This course is almost more fun in wet and windy conditions, though my preference has always been sunny clear and warm days. We played on a variable day which changed from clear, bright skies to a little drizzle. It was fortunate really as the course was great fun through the bright sunshine, but developed a new personality with the drizzle and slight wind. With some courses nick-named the “beast”, “the devil” and so on, Hørsholm deserves a mantra befitting a varied, smiling, clever and extremely playable golf course which has the potential to punish you should you take it lightly.

Without wishing to cliché, it’s a classic risk/ reward golf course. It can be the ideal relaxation and calming experience for the leisurely golfer or the aforementioned ‘wolf’ waiting to pounce at any given occasion dependent upon your style and mood. The opportunities exist through the golf course to push that extra few yards, create a better angle to the green, work your approach to give better birdie opportunities or not. I am always an preacher of pushing your game to the limit – especially when a golf course encourages and allows for it. Many courses – in fact most, play safe and don’t. Hørsholm is definitely in the category of allowing and secretly wanting you to try to score well and push your game. Around every corner and hole though, lurks danger and risk to your score card… The lakes and water hazards intermingle with lush green, the bunkers merge into the natural shape and topography of the land.

The brilliance of Hørsholm is that it doesn’t try to recreate or invent an area, it has used the best mother nature can establish to tempt, tease and produce some spectacularly fun and frustrating hazards a golf course can think of. Working together rather than two different forces pulling against each other. This I believe is the future of golf course design and Hørsholm, though respectful of history and tradition is full of spirit, personality and presence and is a forward thinking modern golf club.

Hørsholm Golf A/S Grønnegade 1 2970 Hørsholm

From beginning to end the service was top notch and always with genuine warmth. The members were encouraging, helpful and full of tips and advice. The facilities and academy is amongst the very best and is recognised as the best in Denmark which alongside the fantastic restaurant Lerbækgaard made this a truly memorable and fantastic golfing visit. A must play golf course and highlight of Scandinavian golf.

Denmark

Tel: +45 45 76 51 50 E-mail: post@hoersholm-golf.dk

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DROTTNINGHOLMS GOLF CLUB THE FINEST

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Kungliga Drottningholms (as it’s name implies) is located close to Drottningholms Castle – the Official residence of the King of Sweden. The Royal Castle is a Unesco World heritage site and as spectacular as it is beautiful. It is located approximately 15km from Stockholm and takes a few mere minutes to travel to.

Ask any Swede – and they ALL know where Drottningholm is located.

Most think of the Swedish Royal Family´s beautiful palace just outside Stockholm. However, for hundreds of thousands of golfers Drottningholm is familiar as one of the best-known golf courses in the country. Royal Drottningholms Golf Club''s 18 holes are laid out on crown property and the nearly 1000 members and many guests players are able to enjoy both the beauty of the surrounding nature and the nearby Royal palace. Drottningholm has played host to many major competitions – and Not because of its Regal connections alone – mostly due to the exceptional level and quality of golf.

In addition to its remarkable and unique connection and locality to the Royal castle, not only does Drottningholms golf club have one of the most prestigious and “once in a lifetime” play factors, it has one of – if not – the most exceptional range of facilities available to any golfer lucky enough to have the opportunity to play here.

The course was laid out by Rafael Sundblom and Nils Skold and opened officially in 1959. In some of its major tournaments, Drottningholms has enjoyed Faldo, Montgomery, Singh, Couples and Ballesteros (who is quoted as saying the course made him feel “like a King playing the finest greens in Europe!”) – to name but a few.

Johan Benestam a renowned and exceptional golf architect was bestowed with the envious task of designing and introducing an upgrade to this classic and much loved course fifty years after its opening.

Benestam spent many years playing Drottningholms so knew almost every inch of the course from a golfers perspective and was already familiar with the natural surroundings and the local nature all around. This allowed him a unique opportunity to design this world renowned area and adding to an already spectacular course from a perspective of affection and challenge which others may not have been able to offer.

In 2012, the revised course opened with a brand new bunkering scheme, new green areasm re-capped fairways and the introduction of modern drainage and modern practical solutions. The old course was loved - adored even - and any modernisation was tricky to introduce. Benestam’s process has been universally approved and is credited with truly bringing this world class course in line with the world’s best.

For those of you who may never have enjoyed the pre-Benestam course, the newly upgraded course will provide an experience and round which you will truly remember. Its trickery, and thought provoking holes and layout will have you stretching your brain as much as exerting your swing!

Above: The Royal Drottningholm Palace

It’s a beautiful parkland courses, tranquil, peaceful and truly a wonder to the eye.

The new contours, bumps and run-offs make even the simplest looking shots tricky.

Although always fair and consistent, the fairways will punish wayward shots and make sure you concentrate through the entire round, The greens with newly introduced complex features will make approach shots demanding and those inevitable recovery shots both interesting and fun.

The first nine holes are played predominantly through an open scape whereas the back nine are played through a mostly wooded environment. It works and compliments the course perfectly engaging your brain and the layout is devilishly clever.

Throughout the course, Drottningholm provides a memorable and exquisite round of the finest golf to be enjoyed anywhere. It is as challenging for modern big hitters as it is for those short game connoisseurs.

The 18th hole illustrates this point perfectly. A splendid par 3 which finishes in front of the clubhouse terrace. Those fortunate enough to navigate through the elevated green without becoming victim to the run-off will be admired and enjoy a sense of achievement – however those unfortunate enough to miss the green will join the understanding spectators enjoying the view whilst sympathising with your plight‌

Most visitors tend to stay long after their round – which due to the long Swedish evenings can be played late into the day – enjoying the fantastic facilities, restaurant and amenities available.

It has been said that the fairways at Drottningholms roll out like the “swell of the sea”, which is a phrase I believe perfectly explains the nature of this immensely beautiful course. It’s natural and playable to such a high level whilst accommodating any level of golfer – that combined with the service (which is possibly the very best we have ever enjoyed) make this an experience you have to enjoy and savour.

We feared Drottningholms golf club might be pretentious, even uncomfortable.

Within seconds of entering, these fears had vanished completely. You are welcomed as one of their own, made to feel invited and absolutely a pleasure to entertain. The smiles and warmth of the staff – everyone from greenkeepers through to service – is testament to the good nature and management here.

The golf is truly a wonderful and memorable experience and one we look forward to enjoying once again soon, but the lasting memory is of the sheer quality of experience from the entrance through to our departure. It’s a universal feeling judging by the numerous positive reviews and thanks strewn all over the web.

Drottningholms maintain and provide the highest quality experience and challenge of golf anywhere. As Seve so aptly put it, you will feel like a “King” enjoying the welcome, challenge and splendour of this memorable and uniquely beautiful course.

Kungl. Drottningholms GK

Telephone

LovĂś KyrkallĂŠ 1

Kansli +46 (0)8-759 03 11

178 93 Drottningholm

Shop +46 (0)8-759 03 14

info@kdrgk.se

Restaurang +46 (0) 08-759 07 50

Course Map Hole 1

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Hole 7 Hole 6

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Hole 11

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Course Map

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Hole 18 Kungl. Drottningholms GK LovĂś KyrkallĂŠ 1 178 93 Drottningholm info@kdrgk.se Telephone Kansli +46 (0)8-759 03 11 Shop +46 (0)8-759 03 14 Restaurant +46 (0) 08-759 07 50

AALBORG GOLF KLUB THE FINEST

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ew golf clubs and courses are always an exciting proposition, better still however is to have all those newly built benefits wrapped up with a pack or two of tradition, history and established charm. ’Aalborg Golf Klub’, situated in Northern Denmark, is one of Scandinavians hidden gems.

It’s Denmark’s second oldest club having recently celebrated its centenary in 2008 but feels modern, classy and in the top-tier of virtually standard of excellence.

With absolute certainty, Aalborg Golf Club features as one of our finest golf clubs in Scandinavia. Originally an 18 hole Championship Course designed by John D. Harris in the late ’60s, Aalborg has recently undergone a complete refurbishment of all its greens and tees. A further 9 holes have been added and integrated to the already superb, existing 18 holes resulting in 3 seperate 9-hole courses, which are rotated weekly to give one 18 hole course and one 9 hole course. In other words, the 18 hole course changes combination every week, effectively, you have a new 18 hole challenge each week.

Each 9 hole group has its own charm, challenge and individual features. These are carefully and beautifully managed holes on this exceptional course all adding that .

You finish your round completely wrapped up and captivated in the experience with an immediate twinge to return and play again. There are very few courses with that special indescribable magic.

Aalborg is distinctly Danish, though unique to its own geographical and elemental location. The weather, ground, climate and environment all play their part (together with expert management and maintenance) in creating a unique experience. Having enjoyed this marvellous course on three ocassions, each round was completely different and conjured its own personality to my game as though it was alive – changing windes, temperatures all adding to its mystique. It really is one of those courses that you must enjoy more than once to fully appreciate and understand.

All 27 holes, in whichever order- are superb. The fairways and greens immaculately and expertly cared for with the stunning Lake and woodland features brimming with natural beauty. Although its natural and designed beauty is obvious, Aalborg is not just for decoration. It is a course that wants to push your game to its absolute limit if you dare.

Aalborg has signature holes described and compared to the infamous ’Amen corner’ with some of its combinations.

A highlight, is the most picturesque par 3 Hole which forms one of the three best holes in Scandinavian, European – even World golf – courses. It brimms with stunning

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The clubhouse has recently undergone extensive renovation including a first class Proshop along with typical Danish Cuisine in our renowned restaurant. Danish meatballs are (in my view, obligatory) on any visit to Aalborg GC while sitting in the superb restaurant which overlooks one of the finest finishing holes in Danish golf.

The clubhouse itself is testament to the care, attention and spirit of the club. You are welcomed instantly, made to feel at home and comfortable.

Along with superb golf, any club seeking to reach the summit amongst its peers must provide both a challenging and enjoyable days visit where you leave mentally and physically satisfied and .

Aalborg, obviously makes the grade with infinite room to spare. The Stunning white exterior of the main building complimented with its dark slate roof, though of great architectural beauty, blend in to its surroundings so feel natural and in keeping. There is an unbelievable 26 bay driving range and a short game area which are worthy of a visit alone! Genuinely amongst the very best in the world.

Aalborg Golf club is enjoyable irrespective of your golfing prowess. Keen amateurs, tournament players and top professionals will all be pushed to the very limit. The European Challenge tour, European Team Challenge for girls as well as the European Championships for men have all been hosted by Aalborg to great success. Its layout – in any combination – is exciting and strategic, whilst ensuring your long and short game, big and regular hitters, competitive and friendly rounds and players are all happy and challenged.

… There is an unbelievable 26 bay driving range and a short game area which are worthy of a visit alone!

Genuinely amongst the very best anywhere in the world.

”

The holes are clever in delivering tension filled decision making shots followed by spectacular drives and approaches. Relentless if you are seeking to score well, but not a bully if you’re looking to enjoy the round.

Aalborg prides itself on having the most successful mens team in Denmark with 11 championships in just 20 years. Testament, once again to both the unique and competitive challenge the course provides added to its quality of facilities and structure.

www.aalborggk.dk Bookings: +45 98 34 14 76

Aalborg Golf Club over the last 20 years has delivered many players to the Danish National team, and European Tour player Søren Kjeldsen is a product of Aalborg Golf Club along with ladies European Tour winner Lisa Holm Sørensen (Finish Open).

Every visitor is made to feel 100% comfortable from the moment you enter the grounds and the level of facility is only trumped by the quality of service filtered down from the faultless management. Every detail and part of the club has been considered and designed/ implimented to ensure each guest, visitor and obviously member enjoys every part of their experience. It truly is such a joy to play here and one experience we recommend you do when considering the finest golf in Scandinavia.

Aalborg city itself (as featured in the guide) provides numerous attractions and reasons to visit. At the absolute forefront of these is Aalborg Golf Club. It really is worth the airfare and investment in time to play (and play again) alone!

It’s serviced by the excellent Aalborg Airport just 20 minutes away and connected to most major European destinations so is convenient and easy to get to.

In selecting the very best, we were highly critical and standards/ expectations were at the highest level. Aalborg Golf Club is one pleasure you will undoubtably agree deserves its place at the very top of our recommendations. , golf, recreation, experience and charm combined with those uniquely Danish which make it a memorable and a ”must play-again” treat. It really is to go on a bucket list, more a .

Aalborg Golf Club Jaegersprisvej 35, Restup Enge DK-9000 Aalborg Denmark Telephone +45 98 34 14 76 Website www.aalborggk.dk

LUBKER GOLF CLUB THE FINEST

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Lübker Golf Resort is a phenomenon in golf development – incredible, spectacular and generous in its capacity to provide a welcoming, warm and relaxing environment for golfers, visitors and anyone looking for some serious rest and recreation.

The golf course stands out as one of the finest to be created and built in Europe over the past 20 years and provides not just a ‘second to none’ range of facilities, but a challenge and golf course bursting with attractions, tricks and intricacies where Robert Trent Jones Jnr., the preeminent course designer of this generation, has installed a 27-hole championship course (plus an academy layout) that has, in its short existence, garnered a collection of international awards.

For a country more used to exporting golfing excellence – see impressive European Tour winners Anders and Soren Hansen, and more recently Jeppe Huldahl – Lübker represents a landmark shift in the bid to attract international golfing visitors.

Lubker was opended in 2008, yet despite this relative youth – it has already begin to be acknowledged as one of the best fun and challenging courses to play in Europe. Golf magazine for example awarded Lubker “Best New International Course” ahead of David McLay Kidd’s Castle course at St Andrews.

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Lübker Golf Resort

Trent Jones Allé 3 DK-8581 Nimtofte +45 38 40 80 00 info@lubker.com

Situated close to the east coast on the bit that juts out into the sea about halfway up the country and very near to Den, this wonderful resort sits commark’s second city, fortably on gently undulating, wooded terrain. The brainchild of the eponymous Mr Lubker, it is no more than ten minutes along the road from Aarhus airport which is connected to most European cities and countries.

The Sky, Sand and Forest courses, although each with a distinctive accent, are all carved gently into the stunning Jutland terrain, peppered with mature pines and apparently God-given for championship golf. The local restrictions on development mean that the natural landscape is fiercely protected, and the result is a golfing experience where striking natural beauty is assured. It must be stated from the outset that the architect’s brief, laid down by the inimitable Poul Anker Lübker himself, was to manipulate the land to produce a course capable for the rigours of top level tournament golf, and it seems likely that prestigious championships are not far in the distance. Impeccable conditioning, five star golf concierge services and top class facilities underscore the ethos of golfing at Lübker.

A deluxe spa, complete with outdoor hot tubs and traditional Scandinavian thermal experiences including ice baths, is the ideal antidote for weary golfers, and also for groups with nongolfers. Visitors are accommodated in the privately owned apartments and houses, which can be rented per night or per week; all are within easy reach of the resort amenities, and are decorated and furnished to an astonishingly high standard.

A development such as Lubker, with various high-end properties scattered around a stunning golf course, is unlike anything Denmark has seen before. Financed by a flotation on the Danish stock market and with the majority of the properties sold before a sod was turned, the dream has steadily taken shape over the past few years as various top-of-the-range facilities have been completed.

Robert Trent Jones and his lead architect, Bruce Charlton used a number of extremely bold and forward thinking bunker styles, combined with heavily contoured greens and fairways.

The forest and range and depth of trees and the use of natural features really stand out and burst through many holes – providing an overall feeling of being “at-one” and not against the natural world and with nature rather than fighting it.

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The very best courses manage to piece together (like Lego…) a combination of natural obstacles, hazards and perils with deliberately tricky man made bunkers and highlights to tease, indulge or push your game to the limits. Lubker, absolutely manages to fulfil even the most demanding of golfers requirements in terms of difficulty of play and challenge, whilst offering the comfort, relaxation and low key round for those wishing it.

Personally, I love to fight a course and try to squeeze every ounce of play from it – my playing partners do however occasionally play in second gear and test different shots on different holes to play their round at a more leisurely pace. Lubker is genuinely THAT good that it can deliver both at the same time.

Lubker has been described as “Scandinavia’s Valderrama”. As mentioned, a few minutes from Aarhus and a mere 2-3 hours from Copenhagen, Lubker is as accessible to anyone in Europe as it is enjoyable and spectacular. This flawlessly maintained, expertly conditioned 27 hole masterpiece will only get better and better as the years pass.

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Trent Jones Allé 3 DK-8581 Nimtofte +45 38 40 80 00 info@lubker.com

Of the three nine hole courses, perhaps the Forest course is the least demanding of the three with the Sky and Sand courses supplying the premier pairing. They are all so brilliantly designed and created – that it honestly doesn’t matter which combination of courses you play – you will be delighted and will come back for more!

The best advice I can give is to try all three 9 hole courses over a few days as the weather, atmosphere and ambience on any given day serves up a new set of questions and posers.

The accommodation and facilities alone make this something special and something the family can enjoy and indulge in.

Truly a wonderful and memorable experience – Lubker Golf quite easily is one of Europe’s best get aways – not only one of the world’s best golf experiences.

ELISEFARM GOLF CLUB THE FINEST

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ELISEFARM GOLF CLUB THE FINEST

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There are a few ambitious golf clubs and courses in Sweden that provide members and guests with a complete club experience rather than just having 18 holes and a simple clubhouse.

Elisefarm ranks as one of the finest, always recognised in rankings and writers favourites. Although wanting to be individual and ground breaking – we have to place Elisefarm as genuinely something special in terms of golfing and golf holiday destinations and one which is a must play in Scandinavia at any time of the year.

Elisefarm is situated in the South of Sweden approximately 40 minutes drive from Malmo’ Airport and about an hour from Copenhagen. It is a modern complex with the feel and grace of a traditional establishment – but without any airs or graces. The welcome and quality of service and staff is exceptional and the warmth of the greeting smiles guarantee a memorable stay or round of one of the “great” rounds of golf you will ever play.

When it opened in 2005 following an exhibition match between Henrik Stenson and Louise Stahle – the 18 hole layout at Elisefarm was the first Hawtree golf design in Sweden since Martin Hawtree’s grandfather completed the Old course at Bastad back in 1928.

The Hawtree family has been associated with numerous championship courses such as Royal Birkdale, Portmarnock, Royal Dublin, Lahinch and at Royal Melbourne to name just a few world class, legendary courses – and any potential suitor to invite Hawtree had to be willing to create a masterpiece otherwise Hawtree simply wouldn’t consider the project.

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Martin Hawtree, the grandson of FG Hawtree, has designed Elisefarm Golf Course to display some of the recognizable Hawtree bunkers and green surrounds. With careful attention and respect for the existing landscape the course was created with the classical British golf course as it’s role model deeply rooted in the history of the game. It is obvious that Hawtree set out to tick a few, almost impossible boxes in creating something unique whilst tipping his hat to tradition and history. He wanted a modern club, excelling in contemporary requirements and satisfying the needs of today’s demanding golfer with modern lengths, facilities and a challenge not simply built upon driving the ball as far as possible, but full of surprise, wit, questions and strategies.

Elisefarm has a minute attention to detail – designed to fulfil the greatest traditions of golf challenge whilst pushing the boundaries of modern golf. Everything has been designed to be near perfect, thought through and considered. It is in the style of a classic Heathland course, very much in the British sense boasting bunkers and a layout which demands precision – both off the tee and in the green areas that test your short game repertoire. Along with the area’s stone walls, a sparse but high red fescue ruff creates a natural setting for each hole.

The Fairways on this absolute masterpiece are laid out over rolling contours that overlook the Lake Ringsjon. During construction, large native and natural stones which were unearthed were strategically placed around the course, illustrating the natural feel and to enable this renowned course to establish an identity all of its own.

Ponds and streams were introduced to create a golf course, possibly unlike any other which you may have enjoyed before. It is a truly wondrous experience playing Elisefarm – golf writers and experts regularly rank Elisefarm as one of the finest courses in the world – not simply Sweden or even Scandinavia.

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The Hawtree philosophy of creating a fair and challenging course for all players regardless of skill level also holds true for Elisefarm GC where four sets of tees allow a choice to suit your mood or ability.

The complex not only boasts one of Scandinavia’s foremost courses, but also caters for golf breaks/ holidays. The accommodation is superb, comfortable and luxurious. The facilities absolutely what you would expect and desire from a top tier golf club and and the restaurant serves food guaranteed to satisfy even the most critical of food critics.

Though bursting with quality, style and just a general feel of superbly managed, maintained and respected grounds, accommodation and service, Elisefarm is perhaps so well thought of because its welcome and attitude to players and visitors stands as an example in “how to do things correctly”.

You are made to feel like a member instantly with a sense of belonging and freedom which puts you at ease the moment you approach and drive into the grounds. The green keepers are perfectionists and experts in golf care and upkeep – the fairways, greens – even the rough areas look pristine. Staff throughout Elisefarm are helpful, welcoming and professional – there is a sense of pride in helping to provide an experience – they all seem to understand – is special.

With several top tier and exceptional clubs to select in Scandinavia – Elisefarm stand out as a very special golf course and destination. Treat yourself to a few days of superb cuisine and spectacular golf with friends. You can stay right on the golf course in exceptional rooms enjoying a buffet breakfast followed by one or two rounds of incredible golf, a fantastic lunch and visit to the Spa and completing a day from heaven with a delicious three course dinner accompanied by a carefully selected bottle of wine.

It simply does not get any better than this.

Elisefarm GC Phone: +46 (0) 413 330 70 info@elisefarm.se www.elisefarm.se

GRONHOGEN LINKS GOLF CLUB THE FINEST

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Grönhögen Golf Links Country Club Öland lies off the coast of Smaland in the Baltic Sea and is the second largest Island in Sweden. Basically it is South Eastern Sweden on a peninsula connected to the mainland by a bridge that spans the Kalmar Strait.

The small town of Grönhögen can be found at the southernmost tip of the Island and the golf course here started out as a recreational 3 hole affair that quickly grew into 9 holes and then into an 18 hole course into the masterpiece of design, fluency and fluidity we see today.

It was in 2004, Pierre Fulke a three time European Tour winner, revamped Grönhögen with an upgrade so mesmerising that in 2005 when it re-opened it was greeted with widespread excitement and acclaim as golfers and writers began to see that this was no ordinary course – but something very, very special.

Niklas Fasth held off the challenge of Joachim Haeggman and Pierre Fulke himself to win the first competition on the course and then, most people took note and began to consider this as a course to savour and be rightly proud of.

Hardened and serious golfers tend to like to challenge themselves in all conditions, all course types and experience those pleasures to be enjoyed when courses are not simply flat, lush greens. Possibly the hardest type of course to master and create for that matter, is a true Links type course – the very nature of Links mean that the elements, the conditions and the sheer task in creating and maintaining such a course make it a mammoth operation – and one many golf course

GRONHOGEN LINKS GOLF CLUB THE FINEST

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Grönhögen I am delighted to say is a modern masterpiece which has built its unparalleled reputation as one of the finest golf courses, best experiences and superb achievements of golf course design and creation that anyone has seen. Absolutely everything about this course shouts class, its like a school kid who had all the odds stacked against him yet managed, quite remarkably to find a way, not only to achieve, but to excel at the top of all of his peers and set new standards of playability and golf excellence.

Set alongside the seaside, full of Links features – including a double green on the shoreline shared by holes 4 and 14 – Grönhögen is such a thoughtful and clever course that it plays like a true game of two halves. The back nine (with 4 par 5’s) is more than 1,000 yards longer than the first nine.

It doesn’t feel strange or out of place, each hole in sequence leads to the next until the crescendo and sense of achievement you will absolutely feel when you complete your round here.

Three of the four short holes are found on the outward half and golfers have to wait until the home hole to complete the quartet of par 3’s. Like the par 3 9th, the 18th hole plays across water (to a spectacular island green) so a vicious sting in the tail awaits you if you lose concentration or misjudge the conditions.

From the first Tee to the very last putt, Grönhögen is almost 6,500 yards of pure adrenalin. In the finest traditions of world class courses, this course rewards the brave and fearless with the threat of losing your card altogether if it goes astray. It will pull and push you around the course, tempt and tease the wary and punish those who aren’t concentrating. Its as much a strategic and mental process as it is a physical one – which is exactly what playing a once in a life time course should be.

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The winds, sea breezes and conditions make this course devilishly difficult to predict and mean you are always forced to question your shots and club selection accordingly. The views over the Baltic are awe inspiring, however such is the level of challenge that you will rarely get a chance to relax and admire it… Each breath of the sea re-invigorates and refreshes the mind to the next hole, the next challenge. Just when you manage to navigate a “world class” approach to the green, the pace and lightning speed of the surface wipes any chance of a birdie away. They are fair and consistent, but the undulation, rolls and slopes are created so naturally and in keeping with this stunning landscape that it deceives you with a calm or straight forward hole.

Although this is a modern, state of the art course, it relies and is designed around the natural and native land and conditions. It has natural drainage utilising the natural ground rock to maintain a balance with nature. The 60km irrigation system sustains the lake and the natural grasses and greens, as mentioned, though tournament class are always honest and true.

There are 86 natural and characteristic bunkers – “tvärtorvade bunkers”. Easy to get in, but oh so hard to escape from. Golf Digest commented that after playing Grönhögen, “all other course designers in Sweden over the past 30 years have been designing without vision or inspiration” – perhaps a little harsh given a handful of similar extraordinary courses, but understandable given the brilliance to be found here.

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Not resting on their laurels, Gronhogen completed a further upgrade in 2013 on holes 4 and 14, which is the course we have enjoyed playing and without having had the pleasure to play the previous incarnation, I can only compliment the current layout and course for the remarkable challenge it represents – it is impossible to find a flaw or room for improvement, but I’m sure the astute management will probably keep tinkering in search of absolute perfection – whatever that may be….

The Grönhögen Wärdshus - the restaurant serves amazing food, made with local ingredients and is typically Swedish in character and ambience. Worth a visit even without the golf!

Accommodation is similarly comfortable and a pleasure to enjoy making this an exceptional place to stay and enjoy for more than just one round.

With golf experiences, it has to be worth the trip and worthy of pushing and testing your game as well as the recreational side – like playing at the Bernabau or Camp Nou for a footballer. If you take your golf and memories of life seriously, have golf running through your veins, then you simply have to treat yourself to a visit to Gronhogen, it’s a visit you will savour.

Grönhögen Golf Links Country Club Golfvägen 1 386 63 Öland, Sweden Address: Golfvägen 1, 380 65 Degerhamn, Sweden Phone: 0485 - 665 995 E-mail: info@gronhogen.se

Anna Nordqvist receives LPGA Classic trophy smashed in post

Swedish golfer Anna Nordqvist sealed her LPGA Tour Shoprite Classic victory by kissing the glass trophy.

The world number nine's one-shot win over Christel Boeljon in New Jersey on 31 May was a moment to cherish - her first tournament success for a year.

But the next time she saw the trophy it was in pieces - smashed in the post.

On Thursday she tweeted courier FedEx, thanking them "for delivering my Shoprite Classic [trophy] in a thousand pieces. No words to describe it."

Her tweet of complaint has drawn comments from sympathetic fans who have used the photographic evidence to not only question the courier, but also the way the trophy was packaged.

Ironically, after success in New Jersey - Nordqvist's fifth LPGA Tour win in seven years - she said: "I fought hard today and can't believe I'm sitting here with the trophy."

Alas, Nordqvist may need to make a trip to her local The use of an emoticon with tears on its face perhaps recycling site but maybe the $225,000 (ÂŁ142,000) of prize money she claimed softened the blow. underlined her frustration.

(Einstök (adj.)= unique) Iceland’s golfing jewel: Situated just by Reykjavik, Iceland.

Brautarholt Golf Club offers a unique blend of golf and drama.

Einstök (adj.): Unique Lygilegur (adj.): Incredible Contact us at gbr@gbr.is to book.

www.gbr.iis - Brautarholt Golf Club - Reykjavik, Iceland Telephone: +354 5666045 - Email: gbr@gbr.is

M E M O R IA L H D O U NMO MR E Y E CD O W

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Changer With unparalleled determination,

ANNIKASORENSTAM became not only one of golf’s best female players but simply one of the greatest of all time

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HEN ANNIKA SORENSTAM feigned a weak-kneed wobbly walk off the tenth tee at Colonial Country Club in the 2003 Bank of America Colonial, where she became the first woman in more than 50 years to play a PGA TOUR event, she stepped into history and carried with her the women’s game, ushering it into a new era of awareness and

appreciation. At the same time, she also opened new frontiers for herself. By the end of that magical week in Fort Worth, Annika was in a very different place, not just as a player, but also as a person. The game of golf—and not just women’s golf—had picked up a passionate spokesperson whose words off the golf course would become as

The run-up to Colonial had been remarkable. Think of the two weeks of hype before the Super Bowl—then multiply it by 10 time-wise. Annika let drop at the PGA Merchandise Show in late January that she would be interested in playing if offered a sponsor exemption into a men’s event. That was all she needed to say. The offers came

quickly, and she chose Colonial because it favors strategy over length—and Annika has always been all about strategy. Essentially, her pre-tournament press conference for the Bank of America began that January day in Orlando and didn’t end until she teed it up at Colonial nearly four months later.

During that time, all she did was grow

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“NO MATTER WHERE THIS GOES, AND IT CAN GO ANYWHERE, WE WILL FIND IT AND HIT IT AGAIN.” —ANNIKA SORENSTAM

Annika Sorenstam was raised near Stockholm, Sweden.

While others tried to figure out why she would take such a risk—what would it mean for women’s golf, the LPGA and her own legacy if she shot 86?—Annika never lost her focus. “The worst that can happen,” she told her inner circle as she prepared, “is that I learn something.” On another occasion she said: “No matter what I shoot, Nelson [her cat] will love me.” And as they walked to the first tee (No. 10) in that first round, she said to her caddie, Terry McNamara, “No matter where this goes, and it can go anywhere, we will find it and hit it again.”

What Annika did was take her 4-wood, which she normally hits about 225 yards, and rip it 252 right down the middle of the fairway. What followed after that was pure magic: three opening pars and then a birdie that put her on the leaderboard. In all, she putted for birdie on all 18 holes and shot a 71 that could have been in the mid-60s if nerves hadn’t robbed her hands of some of their feel on the greens.

She had won the hearts of the fans, both on site and on TV, she knocked the socks off the U.S. Open-sized media contingent, many of who were unfamiliar with her game, and she bonded with her playing partners, Dean Wilson and Aaron Barber. It was clear from the emotion that the normally stoic Sorenstam shared with the public—from that endearing opening walk to the tearful hugs on the final green—that she was surprised by the outpouring of respect and affection for her. She responded by showing more of her personality than those of us who followed her for years were used to seeing.

F IN S T E

Not only did Sorenstam change, she changed attitudes as well, and that, among her numerous accomplishments, is why she was chosen as this year’s Memorial Tournament Honoree.

“I wasn’t smart enough to understand it,” Scott Hoch, a PGA TOUR player who was a critic of Sorenstam receiving a sponsor exemption, said after she played Colonial. “What she did here was great for golf. I get that now.”

That Annika missed the cut after a 74 on Friday in which she was clearly playing on an emotional gas tank with the needle well on empty was of little consequence, other than the fact that it cut short a story full of goose-bump moments.

“I didn’t want it to end,” she said.

In many ways, it never did end.

Annika left Colonial in a very different place, shedding once and for all the shy Swede who, as a junior golfer intentionally finished second on occasion so she wouldn’t have to give a victory speech, and emerging as someone comfortable for the first time with her status as a superstar.

She left Colonial not as Annika Sorenstam, but as ANNIKA— the one-word hero everyone now knew. And she quickly grew into that role and embraced its responsibilities.

The same woman who arduously avoided the spotlight for nearly a decade on tour, saying she wanted to help the game with her records not her words, left Colonial on a remarkable path.

Along the way, she became a leader of the LPGA, a spokeswoman for the game who worked tirelessly with Jack Nicklaus to get golf back into the Olympic Games, as well as becoming a successful business woman, respected TV personality, articulate public speaker and champion of junior golf as she became Mom to the two children that she has with her husband, Mike McGee.

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“I am proud of this honor,” Sorenstam said. “I really respect Jack and all of his accomplishments on the course, but even more as a person. Family comes first to him, and he does so much for kids with his charity [the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation] and children’s hospitals. To be recognized by a legend on his stage and great Tournament means a lot to me.”

The transformation in Sorenstam left her a long way from where she was when I first interviewed her in 1996. It was so difficult to get a quote from her directly that I had to talk to her caddie to get something I could use in my story back then.

Her journey to Colonial began at Bro Balsta Golf Club near Stockholm, Sweden, when she was 7 and, with her younger sister Charlotta, would ride on the pull carts of their parents, Tom and Gunilla, waiting for ice cream cones at the halfway house.

By the age of 12, she was playing golf herself and already showing her legendary passion for practice, honing her short game by helping pick up balls on the range. With her friends, she got golf balls to play with by diving into a pond on the course and retrieving them. By 17, Annika was on the acclaimed Swedish national team, for whom she played from 1987-92.

In 1992, she won the World Amateur Championship and was runner-up in the U.S.

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“I REALIZED THAT IF I WAS GOING TO BE THE PLAYER I WANTED TO BE, I HAD TO MAKE A 100 PERCENT COMMITMENT…” —ANNIKA SORENSTAM

Women’s Amateur. In 1990, she brought her game to the United States, enrolling at the University of Arizona, where she was the women’s NCAA champion in 1991 and runnerup in ’92, winning seven collegiate titles and sharing the 1991 NCAA Player of the Year title with Kelly Robbins. In 1994, she was the LPGA Rolex Rookie of the Year.

Moving to the United States was key in her development. In Sweden, there is the word: “Logom.” It means “just enough.” When Vikings were drinking from a beer skin they would mutter “logom,” meaning take just enough to quench your thirst and then pass it on.

And then there is this Swedish phrase: “Enough is as good as a feast.” That sense of fairness is so ingrained in Swedish culture that standing out can seem rude. Coming to America, where Sorenstam has lived for more than 20 years and has become a U.S. citizen, helped her develop a competitive fire.

That fire first flickered brightly at the 1995 U.S. Women’s Open at the Broadmoor, her initial LPGA victory. The next year she made it two U.S. Women’s Opens in a row at Pine Needles when she hit 51 of 56 fairways and won by six strokes. There are several snapshots that stand out that reveal what makes Sorenstam a great player and remarkable person. The first is in 1999 at the U.S. Women’s Open at Old Waverly in Mississippi, where she missed the cut. Sorenstam already had won 16 LPGA events and two majors. Yet, she was furious that she putted so poorly at Old Waverly. She skipped the next major—the DuMaurier Classic— and set about redoubling her commitment to the game. “I realized that if I was going to be the player I wanted to be, I had to make a 100 percent commitment to every aspect of the game—not just technical but physical, emotional and mental

Sorenstam learned how to play golf at Bro Balsta Golf Club in Sweden, then began to hone her game at the University of Arizona.

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Left: Annika and her younger sister Charlotta.

Below: Sorenstam won the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship individual title in 1991 at The Ohio State University Scarlet Course in Columbus, and she finished as the runner-up in ’92.

THE TEAM SHE PUT IN PLACE WAS PART OF A PLAN THAT WOULD TAKE HER TO A VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN GOLF.

as well,” Sorenstam said.

She changed caddies that September, hiring McNamara, who remained with her the rest of her career. That winter, she sought out Dave Stockton for a putting lesson and for six weeks hit no other golf shots other than putts. Shortly later, she hired Kai Fusser as her fitness coach.

The team she put in place—along with Henri Reis, who has been her swing coach since her mid-teens—was part of a plan that would take her to a very special place in golf.

The second window into the wonder of Annika comes in 2002. Then-LPGA commissioner Ty Votaw called a mandatory players summit in Phoenix early in the year to discuss how to better market the tour.

On Saturday during the marketing meeting, the LPGA had its annual awards banquet and Sorenstam had won them all, including Player of the Year and the Vare Trophy. Her speech was not a good effort, sabotaged by the shyness that consumed her. It was brief, mentioned none of her sponsors and did little to enhance the image of the LPGA. That seemed to me to be ironically problematic for the LPGA, coming as it did at a meeting about how to better market the tour. I wrote that in a column and when the magazine arrived in the locker room on Wednesday she

was furious with me.

Late on Friday, after her post-round practice session, we had it out on the range. “I’m sorry if what I wrote hurt your feelings,” I said. “But I am not sorry about what I wrote.” I explained that others close to the LPGA felt the same way I did. They wanted to see her raise her game as a marketer of the tour.

“That’s not who I am,” she replied. “I’m not Nancy Lopez. She’s a talker. That part came easily for her. I try to help the LPGA and women’s golf by playing great golf.” I said that was a fair point and that she should write that in a column for us. With my help, that is what she did. A month later was the Masters and the Golf Writers Association of America annual awards dinner. Annika was there to accept the Female Player of the Year award. As a Board member of the GWAA, I was sitting at her table.

Her speech was amazing—pitch perfect, recognizing all the proper people, showing emotion as she brushed away a tear and connecting with the crowd. When she got back to the table I leaned over and said, “That was a

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of the year. But she never won again.

What I lost sight of was one of the things that made Annika such a great winner—her complete commitment to her decisions. When she settled on a club and on a shot, there was never one ounce of doubt when she swung the club. When she decided to retire from competition, there was a part of her brain that retired. The hard part was the decision. Once made, she was completely committed.

When we finished our interview that Sunday night, sitting alone in a closed restaurant at the Kingsmill Resort, she said to me, “What are you going to do?” When I asked what she meant she said with a giggle, “You once told me that you only write three stories— Annika won, Annika should have won or Annika didn’t play this week—and you said when I retired you’d have to retire, too.”

We laughed and I told her how some executives at an equipment company whose clubs she did not play had taken to calling me “Ronika” because I wrote about her so much.

And I told her I said to the equipment home run.” Without missing a beat she looked at me and said, “Couldn’t have been worse than the last time, could it?”

At the Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill in 2008, Annika took me aside on Wednesday and told me that the following Tuesday she was going to announce that she would retire from competitive golf at the end of the year. I was stunned but not completely surprised. She was only 38 and, along with Lorena Ochoa, still considered to be the best player in the game. But I knew she wanted to start a family. And I knew Annika did everything only one way—totally and with complete commitment or not at all. It would be competitive golf or family, but it could not be both.

We agreed that we would do an interview for an exclusive story on her retirement Sunday night after the tournament was over. What I witnessed over the next four days was one of the most remarkable athletic achievements I have ever seen. Annika won by six strokes, shattering the tournament scoring record, knowing—but not telling anyone—that two days after the tournament she was going to announce her retirement.

At the time, I thought she might run the tables and win every event she entered the rest

Left: Sorenstam won her second straight U.S. Women’s Open in 1996 at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C.

Below: Sorenstam with her 1999 New Albany Golf Classic trophy.

I KNEW ANNIKA DID EVERYTHING ONLY ONE WAY—TOTALLY AND WITH COMPLETE COMMITMENT

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executive that I’d write about one of their players just as much when they get one who wins 72 times with 10 majors. I realized at that moment that I felt the way Annika did when she missed the cut at Colonial: I didn’t want it to end.

Those stories detail the fire, the passion, the dedication, the humor, the humanity, the decency and determination of Annika Sorenstam.

Now let me share with you some numbers that demonstrate exactly how dominant she was.

From 2001 through 2006, Annika had what I came to refer to as her “Sandy Koufax Years.”

She was as dominant in her time on the golf course as the old Dodgers pitchers was 40 years earlier on the baseball diamond.

For those six years, Annika may have played golf on a consistently higher level than anyone—male or female—has ever played.

From 2001-06, she competed in 124 LPGA events, missed only two cuts, won 46 times, had 76 top-three finishes, was in the top-10 an unbelievable 102 times (82 percent) and won eight major championships.

She was so good during those years that her most memorable shots, in my mind, were her bad ones because there were so few of them. When they happened, they were startling. Annika led the tour in greens hit in regulation 2001 through 2005 and was second in 2006. She shot the LPGA’s only 59 in 2001, making birdies on the first eight holes and 12 of the first 13.

“If you’re kicking yourself because you didn’t

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see Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, Sandy Koufax or Nolan Ryan in his prime, you should come see Annika Sorenstam, because you’re seeing a once-in-a-lifetime excellence in a sport,” Votaw said at the time.

Above: From left, Charlotta, Annika and coach Pia Nilsson take a celebratory leap into the water after Annika’s 2006 Scandinavian TPC win in Sweden, an event she also hosted.

Left: Sorenstam with the 2001 World Ladies Match Play Championship trophy, won at Sohsei Country Club in Narita, Japan, after beating Se Ri Pak 1 up in the final.

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“[ANNIKA] HAD AS GOOD OF A REPEATING SWING AS I HAVE EVER SEEN, RIGHT THERE WITH BEN HOGAN AND MICKEY WRIGHT.” —JUDY RANKIN

Sorenstam finishes the second round of the PGA TOUR’s Bank of America Colonial at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, with playing partners Aaron Barber, left, and Dean Wilson.

the best in LPGA history, and she owns five of the six lowest season scoring averages. Her 72 career victories trail only Mickey Wright and Kathy Whitworth, and her 10 majors are behind only Louise Suggs, Wright and Patty Berg and is easily the best in the modern era, three better than Juli Inkster and Karrie Webb.

“I don’t ever think you can say any woman plays at a man’s level because of a lot of factors, but Annika is as close as we’ve seen,” Hall of Famer and TV commentator Judy Rankin says.

“She had as good of a repeating swing as I have ever seen, right there with Ben Hogan and Mickey Wright.”

Two other Hall of Famers singled out her dedication and mental toughness. “When she

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was on the range, it was all work,” says Beth Daniel. “She played golf for one reason: To beat you. She wasn’t there to chat, just work and win.”

“Her mind was on another level,” says Juli Inkster, who snatched the 2002 U.S. Women’s Open from Sorenstam at Prairie Dunes with a brilliant 66 on Sunday. “You could almost hear her think. And she just about never lost her focus.”

Go back to that 2003 season. While it is remembered—and rightly so—for her appearance in a PGA TOUR event, she accomplished so much more that year. First off, she came within a couple strokes of pulling off the calendar year Grand Slam, finishing second in the Kraft Nabisco Championship by one stroke and missing the playoff in the U.S. Women’s Open by one stroke while winning the LPGA Championship and the Women’s British Open.

That victory at Royal Lytham & St. Annes completed the career Grand Slam, and a month later Sorenstam led Europe to an emotional victory in the Solheim Cup in her native Sweden, the first time the event had been played anywhere other than the United States or Britain. In October, she was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Not a bad year.

“I suppose I am most proud of being in the Hall of Fame,” she said of her many feats. “I have a lot of wonderful accomplishments that I never could have dreamed possible … the 10 majors, all the wins, Colonial, 59, Solheim Cups, etc.

However the Hall of Fame covers the overall body of work. I was able to remain consistent over my entire 15-year career and steadily improve my game.”

That Sorenstam’s first major was the U.S. Women’s Open and that her last was the same event says a lot about her. It’s the hardest tournament in women’s golf—by far. And three consecutive years—2002-04—Sorenstam finished second, one stroke out of a three-way playoff and second again before winning at Newport Country Club in 2006. That the last shot she ever hit in a U.S. Women’s Open was a hole-out 6-iron for eagle at Interlachen Country Club in 2008 is somehow appropriate.

When I look back on Annika’s career—and other than her caddie, McNamara, I have probably seen her hit more shots in competition than any other person—the things that stand out more than the shots and the victories are the qualities she possesses that led to those victories.

If someone had to pick out one word to describe Sorenstam, the most apt would be “balanced.” Physically and emotionally, Annika never seemed to be out of balance when she was

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Above: Sorenstam’s victory at the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open at Newport Country Club in Rhode Island came after early-round fog delays, 36 holes on Sunday, and an 18-hole Monday playoff against Pat Hurst.

Right: Sorenstam with the U.S. Women’s Open trophy in 2006. She won the championship three times.

repeating swings in the history of the game, and her commitment to the mental aspects of championship golf was unmatched.

There were times she made the late Ben Hogan look like a daydreamer. No one worked harder than her—both in hitting balls and in hitting the workout room—and no one made smarter decisions on the golf course and then stayed totally committed to those decisions than Annika did. She also is remarkable for her commitment to the team she puts in place around her.

Loyalty is an Annika attribute. She has had one swing coach—Henri; one agent—IMG; one equipment company— Callaway; and from 1999, only one caddie—Terry—and one trainer—Kai. Now Henri, Kai and Charlotta work at the ANNIKA Academy at the Reunion Resort in Orlando, Fla. In an age in which many players like to blame their failures on others— firing caddies, coaches, agents and equipment companies when things go wrong—Annika was always about taking responsibility. At the end of the 2003 season, as she was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, Sorenstam ended her speech by saying: “Shortly after Colonial, Ron Sirak, a golf writer and a

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friend, was quoted as saying: ‘Annika is no longer a female golfer, she is a golfer.’ Truly, that is all I ever wanted to be.”

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Right: Sorenstam with Jack Nicklaus.

Below left: Assistant Captain Annika Sorenstam at the 2013 Solheim Cup at Colorado Golf Club with European Captain Liselotte Neumann, center, and Assistant Captain Carin Koch.

Below right: Sorenstam with Arnold Palmer.

“I GUESS I WOULD LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED AS SOMEONE WHO LOVED AND RESPECTED THE GAME.” —ANNIKA SORENSTAM

remembered—not as one of the best in the history of the women’s game, but as one of the best in the history of the game. Typically, she hopes her legacy is about that logom notion of the greater good.

“I guess I would like to be remembered as someone who loved and respected the game,” she says. “Someone who showed class in victory and defeat and tried to give back by growing the game globally.”

Annika transcended gender because she

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always remembered that she didn’t make golf, golf made her. And because of that, she never strayed from her mission to give back to the game. Enough is as good as a feast, the Swedes say, and in both her achievements and the way she has given back, Annika has been more than enough. She has been one of the best. MT Ron Sirak is executive editor at Golf World and a senior writer at Golf Digest.

Above: The McGees and Sorenstams pose for a family photo.

From left: Mike McGee (holding William), Ava McGee, Gunilla Sorenstam, Jerry McGee, Jill McGee, Tom Sorenstam and Annika.

Above right: Sorenstam has won ESPN’s ESPY Award for Best Female Golfer six times and for Best Female Athlete twice.

Right: Annika and Mike with their two children, Ava and William.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM’S CAREER RECORD MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORIES

1995 U.S. Women’s Open 1996 U.S. Women’s Open 2001 Nabisco Championship 2002 Nabisco Championship 2003 LPGA Championship, Women’s British Open 2004 LPGA Championship 2005 Nabisco Championship, LPGA Championship 2006 U.S. Women’s Open LPGA TOUR VICTORIES

1995 GHP Heartland Classic,

Samsung World Championship 1996 CoreStates Betsy King Classic, Samsung World Championship 1997 Chrysler-Plymouth Tournament of Champions, Cup Noodles, Ladies Open, Longs Drugs Challenge, Michelob Light Classic, CoreStates Betsy King Classic, ITT LPGA Tour Championship 1998 Michelob Light Classic, ShopRite LPGA Classic, JAL Big Apple Classic, SAFECO Classic 1999 Michelob Light Classic, New Albany Golf Classic 2000 Welch’s/Circle K Championship, Firstar LPGA Classic in conjunction with the Children’s Medical Center, Evian Masters, Jamie Farr Kroger Classic, Japan Airlines Big Apple Classic 2001 Welch’s/Circle K Championship, Standard Register PING, The Office Depot hosted by Amy Alcott, Chick-fil-A Charity Championship hosted

by Nancy Lopez, Bank of Montreal Canadian Women’s Open, CISCO World Ladies Match Play Championship, Mizuno Classic 2002 LPGA Takefuji Classic, Aerus Electrolux USA Championship hosted by Vince Gill and Amy Grant, Kellogg-Keebler Classic, Evian Masters, ShopRite LPGA Classic, Williams Championship, Safeway Classic, Samsung World Championship, Mizuno Classic, ADT Championship 2003 The Office Depot Championship hosted by Amy Alcott, Kellogg Keebler Classic, Safeway Classic presented by Pepsi, Mizuno Classic 2004 Safeway International presented by Coca-Cola, Office Depot Championship hosted by Amy Alcott, LPGA Corning Classic, John Q. Hammons Hotel Classic presented by Ford, Samsung World Championship, Mizuno Classic, ADT Championship,

2005 MasterCard Classic honoring Alejo Peralta, Safeway International presented by Coca-Cola, Chick-fil-A Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez, ShopRite LPGA Classic, John Q. Hammons Hotel Classic, Samsung World Championship, Mizuno Classic, ADT Championship, 2006 MasterCard Classic honoring Alejo Peralta, State Farm Classic, 2008 SBS Open, Stanford International Pro-Am, Michelob Ultra Open OTHER VICTORIES 1995 Holden Women’s Australian Open 1997 JCPenney/LPGA Skins Game 2001 Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge (with Dottie Pepper and Karrie Webb) 2006 Women’s World Cup of Golf (with Liselotte Neumann for Team Sweden) INTERNATIONAL VICTORIES 1995 OVB Damen Open, Hennessy Cup 1996 Trygg Hansa Ladies’ Open 1997 Compaq Open 1998 Compaq Open 2002 ANZ Ladies Masters, Compaq Open 2004 ANZ Ladies Masters, HP Open 2005 Scandinavian TPC hosted by Annika 2006 Scandinavian TPC hosted by Annika, Dubai Ladies Masters 2007 Dubai Ladies Masters 2008 Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTS • LPGA Player of the Year 1995, ’97, ’98, 2001, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05 • LET Player of the Year 2004, ’05 • Vare Trophy 1995, ’96, ’98, 2001, ’02 ’05 • Rookie of the Year 1994 • Solheim Cup 1994, ’96, ’98, 2000, ’02, ’03, ’05, ’07 • Inducted into World Golf Hall of Fame 2003 • Patty Berg Award 2003 • Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year 2003, ’04, ’05 • Bob Jones Award 2012 • Old Tom Morris Award 2014

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