Golf in Finland is very much a family sport and shows how the game should be played and approached for more traditional golfing countries. Golf is still growing at 10% per year in Finland where as it is probably declining by that amount in tradtional golfing regions.  

Go and see Linna Golf for yourselves – www.linnagolf.fi

The family enjoying some practice putting before dinner. The greens were in superb shape.

The putting course is 120m long and alot of fun for all to enjoy.

Playing the 8th hole at 10pm. We were there on the mid summer holiday weekend with almost continual sunshine

Strong contours entering the 12th green

The clubhouse is a superb barn renovation. Just fantastic

The adjoining 'castle' style hotel oozes charm and class

Tim and father on 9th tee. A proud moment. This hole was voted best par 4 in Finland.

Linna Golf is golf how it should be – relaxed, in harmony with nature and a family activity.

www.linnagolf.fi

The original 18 hole course was laid out by Colt in 1908 and is set amongst a 18th Century Capability Brown/ Humphrey Repton Landscape. Additionally the magnificent 18th Century Mansion House has been the scene for many movies including Goldfinger (James Bond), Layer Cake and Brigitte Jones Diary.

Stoke Park is a great golfing adventure, subtly integrated into this important landscape.

See below some pictures of the journey undertaken:

Some of the interesting bunker detailing at Stoke Park

John McGuiness, Paul Thomas and Andrew Goosen in front of the splendid clubhouse

Looks like a newly built bunker. There were some disparities in the style and playability of the bunkering

Golf in a grand landscape. Perfect subtly and respect.

John putting on the short par 4, 20th hole. The new nine was done by Donald Steele and fits in well with the spirit of Stoke

Golf can be a great driver to create revenue and finance to help restore historic destinations. Lets hope that planning authorities can hear this

Stoke Park is a great golfing and historic experience. Go play and enjoy the afternoon exploring the Clubhouse, afternoon tea on the lawn and photos in locker room.

www.stokeparkclub.com

By the way. John and Paul beat Tim and Andrew 2&1.

PRESS RELEASE

Challenge Tour impressed with TPL’s Carya course

Players describe heathland course as ‘probably the best we’ll play all year’

(London, United Kingdom – May 06, 2010) European Challenge Tour players and representatives have lavished praise on Carya Golf Club, designed by Thomson Perrett & Lobb, the golf course design practice founded by five-times Open Champion Peter Thomson, after it staged the Turkish Airlines Challenge.

The European Challenge Tour event, the first to be held in Turkey for 11 years, was won by England’s Charlie Ford, who described Carya Golf Club as ‘fantastic.’

The short par 4, 4th hole offered a great strategic challenge

He said: “The course is only 18 months old – I couldn’t believe it when someone told me that. It’s in great condition, and it’s a course that makes you think your way round, instead of just getting on the tee and trying to bomb it.”

Englishman Ally Mellor agreed, adding: “It’s a great test – probably one of the best courses we’ll play on all year.”

Carya, a unique heathland inspired course on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast is built on undulating sand hills with holes cutting through pine and eucalyptus woodland, has only been open for play for 18 months.

The propagated heather has established so well after less than 2 years

But the course in the Belek region of Turkey proved to be a hit with all involved in the tournament and looks set to become a permanent fixture on the Challenge Tour calendar.

Alain de Soultrait, Director of the European Challenge Tour, said: “The first edition of the Turkish Airlines Challenge was a resounding success, thanks in no small part to the quality of Carya Golf Club. All of our Members were very complimentary about the course, which looked superb and played even better.

The par 3, 7th hole played as the hardest hole all week

“The first edition of a tournament is always the hardest, but the week went so smoothly because the course was so warmly received. It is less than 18 months old and has great potential to mature and improve even more over the coming years, so we are already looking forward to returning to Carya for the second edition of the Turkish Airlines Challenge next year.”

Prior to opening in late 2008, nearly one million heather sprigs were planted around the course, to give it its heathland feel, inspired by the classic courses in the UK, such as Sunningdale and The Berkshire.

In a first-of-its-kind project, TPL propagated the heather in specially constructed glasshouses on site.

One of the broad scale propagation poly tunnels set up for heather cuttings

TPL principal Tim Lobb said: “We are overjoyed with the response from the Tour players who competed on the course and with the feedback we have received from those organising the event. Considering the course is not even two years old it is a great testament to the team who designed and built the course to have it looking and playing so well in such a short period of time.”

What the players said:

John E Morgan

“The course is absolutely gorgeous and it’s in phenomenal condition. It’s just a joy to play – as soon as you’ve finished, you just want to get out there again. It could definitely hold a main Tour event in years to come, there’s no doubt about it. The par threes are all demanding, and the par fives are all good risk and reward holes. They dangle the carrot, and if you play the hole well, then you can make birdies or even eagles. I particularly love the definition of the course, which really stands out. It looks beautiful.”

Jamie McLeary

“The course is absolutely stunning – you really couldn’t ask for a better set-up. All the players have really enjoyed playing it – if we play on a better course all season, we’ll be very lucky.”

Raymond Russell

“You can’t really afford to force the issue round this course, because there are a few holes where it wouldn’t be wise to attack the flag, so you have to use the contours of the green. And the rough’s quite penal in places – you can really tie yourself in knots out there. But it’s a beautiful course, and it’s in fantastic condition – especially as it’s only been open less than two years.”

Carefully detailed bunkers provided a striking hazard for players

ENDS

16th Hole on Red Course during the early days at The Berkshire.

Tim Lobb said: “We are looking at incorporating the heathland elements, including heather, native grasses and rougher edges, into the bunker complexes, to give them an authentic look but with a slightly more modern feel. They will be constructed to the highest technical specification to ensure good playability, maintenance and longevity.”

“The goal is to refurbish all of our bunkers improving the way they play, their drainage and their shape, returning them to the heather-topped look that the original designer, Herbert Fowler, created,” said John Hunt, secretary of The Berkshire Golf Club.

Some of the lovely natural bunkering that is found on the Red course

An in-depth analysis and consultation with the club will take place for the remainder of this year, with work likely to start next year.

From our first visit to site it was our design intent to create a traditional heathland inspired golf course. Five years on from that initial site visit to walk the site it is pleasing to see our design intent growing into a strong golfing experience for players at the club.

Below are some pictures that the Club sent us of the golf course.

The propogated heather is establishing well

Alot of work was put in by our design team and Golf Med (contractors) to get the distinctive bunkering style

Drive off the 8th tee, over heather to well bunkered fairway

Short par 4, 4th with cross bunkering to navigate through

Love the sky in this picture. Par 3, 7th

The heather carry on hole 13 has come in really strongly in the past 6 months

Carya Golf Club is hosting a European Challenge Tour event at the end of April, 2010. Good luck to the Club and players for the event.

In these times of glossy magazines and seductive/ touched up photos of exotic golf courses it got me wondering – has golf lost its ‘fit for purpose’ importance. Is the golf industry really creating golf courses that fit into each and every golfing environment that they are found in?

On a recent trip to Australia via Malaysia the need for diversity of mindset to produce a golf course that is 100% fit for it’s purpose was exemplified. Malaysia has torrential heavy rain to cope with while in Melbourne, Australia the golf courses are facing severe and prolonged drought conditions.

Hopefully the pictures below will help to explain.

Silty soils and torrential rain greets golf construction in Malaysia

The above picture was taken from the re-construction of the Bunga Raya course at Saujana Golf & Country Club, just out of Kuala Lumpur. The old firm I used to work with, E & G Parslow are undertaking the works and have to contend with very difficult conditions to produce a golfing product that is ‘fit for pupose’

Next on the tour was a visit to Yarra Yarra in Melbourne. Yarra Yarra is in the famed sandbelt region and ranked in the top grouping of Aussie courses. Recent design work has been undertaken by Hawtree Limited and the 10th green complex re-built to produce a fine example of a subtle renovation blending into the existing course.

The new 10th greensite at Yarra Yarra

On the Mornington Peninsula, just an hours drive from Melbourne there is some of the best golfing territory around. Rolling landform, deep sands and sea views make the perfect foundation for some of the best golf courses in Australia.

The natural and dramatic bunkers on The Ocean Course, National Golf Club

The silky swing of a 5 times British Open winner - Peter Thomson

Thomson, Perrett & Lobb enjoying a round. We all love playing golf. Some are better than others of course.

Last week also saw the hosting of the Nationwide/ Australian Tour event, The Moonah Classic on The Open Course at Moonah Links. The course was designed by our Melbourne office (Thomson Perrett) and has the good fortune of being built in perfect golfing land within the Mornington Peninsula.

18th green of The Open Course, Moonah Links, what drama

6th West at Royal Melbourne, natural terrain for a great hole.

Richard Forsyth, Course Superintendent at Royal Melbourne Golf Club was kind enough to show me around the West and East course to inspect the ongoing re-grassing activities. A major re-grassing exercise has been undertaken in preparation for next years Presidents Cup and it looks as if Royal Melbourne will be back on top of the perch once all grown in.

The final course visited was Riversdale Golf Club, 20 km out of Melbourne. It was my old home course and it brought back alot of memories to go back there.

Hole 10 at Riversdale Golf Club, a tempting short par 4.

It is always great to meet up with golf industry leaders in various golfing regions and environments. The underlying key to success for each and every region is that the individuals involved with the golf courses, whether it be the design, the construction or the maintenance of the golf course is that they produce a golfing product that is fit for the purpose.

That purpose will be environmental, financial, social and cultural considerations.

Back to the UK next week to enjoy some cold weather again.

During our trip to Dubai this week to review the design for Emirates Golf Club and visit Dubai Golf City we were fortunate enough to enjoy the hospitality of Jumeirah Golf Estates and play the newly opened Fire Course. The course is of championship length with wide fairways, subtle sloping greens (very fair and interesting) and striking bunkers with a lovely contrast of textures achieved through clever ornamental grass plantings.

Please see below some picture to help describe this achievement.

Lovely textured bunkers

Hole 2 is a cracking par 3 with significant challenge

So refreshing to see a natural looking golf course in the Middle East

Dramatic bunkering at the forefront of this design

Congratulations must go to Greg Norman Design, the onsite construction/ maintenance guys and to the Jumeirah Golf Estates team who are rapidly developing this into a world class golfing experience.

Please follow our upcoming blog posts in the near future describing the modernisation works that we are going to be undertaking on the Majlis Course, Emirates Golf Club. Good luck to all the guys at Emirates Golf Club for the upcoming European Tour event – Dubai Desert Classic.

TPL appointed to modernise Emirates Golf Club’s flagship Majlis Course

Bunkers to be repositioned and reconstructed for 2011 Dubai Desert Classic

(London, United Kingdom – December 7, 2009) Thomson Perrett & Lobb, the golf course architecture practice founded by five-times Open champion Peter Thomson, has been appointed by Emirates Golf Club to modernise its flagship Majlis Course, home of the Dubai Desert Classic.

Majlis Course, Emirates Golf Club. Host to the Dubai Desert Classic

TPL will carry out an audit of the course’s bunkering as part of a wider modernisation programme, overseeing the repositioning and reconstruction of bunkers to upgrade the course for professional events, including the Dubai Desert Classic and Dubai Ladies Masters, and day-to-day club and visitor play.

The 7,301-yard, par-72 layout, which opened in 1988 and was the first grass golf course in the Middle East, was ranked among the Top 100 golf course outside America by Golf Digest magazine in May 2009.

The stunning 8th hole

Rod Bogg, Special Advisor to Dubai Golf, and who oversaw construction of Emirates Golf Club 22 years ago, said: “We selected TPL to oversee the modernisation of the Majlis Course because of its experience in designing prestige golf courses in the Middle East and its expertise in bunkering.

“Our bunkers are out of date and, due to modern equipment, out of play. Some of the players are hitting the ball 60 or 70 yards past the fairway bunkers during the Dubai Desert Classic. While that is only one week of the year, we need to ensure that the course remains the enjoyable challenge that it is for professionals and amateurs all year round.”

Andrew Goosen (TPL), Rod Bogg (EGC), Tim Lobb (TPL), Craig Haldane (EGC), Chris May (EGC)

Mr Bogg added: “We are not redesigning the course and not adding additional bunkers to the course, but we are looking at relocating, reshaping and reconstructing the bunkers we do have to bring the course up to the highest modern standards, as well as making some improvements to the aesthetics of the course.” The new look course will be in play for the Dubai Desert Classic in 2011.

 TPL is already busy in the region, with its multi-course design for Dubai Golf City under construction, as well as a golf course for the landmark New Giza development in Egypt.

 Tim Lobb, TPL Principal, said: “As with all of the bunker work we do at important, established courses, we are taking a subtle approach to Emirates Golf Club, treading softly and respecting the much loved design that is already in play.

The Majlis course is ranked in the Top 100 outside of USA (Golf Digest, May 2009)

“What we are doing is reviewing the bunker positioning to ensure that professionals and amateurs alike will require a clear golfing strategy to plot their way around the course. The course needs to stand up to the challenge of the world’s best players, while also remaining an enjoyable challenge for the club’s members and visitors. This is an exciting project and we are delighted to be working with the team at Emirates Golf Club.” 

Golf Digest, July 1984

No-one who enjoys a game of golf could tee off at St Andrews on that first tee at the foot of the steps from the house without a racing of the heart. When I first looked out in September of 1954 it seemed like heaven. All my imaginings were proved true. There before me in the soft damp light of autumn lay this holy ground. So wide and keen was that first hole, sharing with the last the width of two cricket fields, and down at the end that dark surface ribbon that indicates the narrow burn (stream). And over it, banking it, the closer cut with the flag straight out in the wind.

Peter teeing off at St Andrews

Beyond in the near distance were the blackened railway sheds I would face to face come the 17^th hole, and beyond that the Hills of Fife in the direction of Edinburgh. The railway sheds have gone, alas, but nothing else has changed.

The North Sea rolls into the Firth of Tay and along the beach to the right. The Royal Air Force Station at Leuchars sends up its jets from the distant pines, the seagulls the real landlords.

Taken from Peter Thomson’s book ‘Lessons I have learnt’

Tim Lobb and Andrew Goosen were invited to play at Huntercombe Golf Club today by Robert Clive and Mel Thomas of 360 Golf.  A foursome format was adopted and the boys at 360 Golf had an easy win of 4 & 3 over the lowely TPL teaming.

Huntercombe Golf Club, in Oxfordshire, is a Willie Park Jnr layout with full of charm and quirk. Green complexes are highly interesting with very few bunkers found on the course.

The following photos from our Blackberry phone may help to explain this charm.

A great green complex

Robert chipping from the random movements

Andrew chipping from the greenside hazard - great mounding

Huntercombe's charming landform

One of the few bunkers on the course

Homeward bound

Huntercombe Golf Club – a true gem of a course and a great education on interesting and charming landform.

Go and play it if you get a chance.