Linna Golf in Finland, a European Top 100 Golf Course (‘Golf World’), is in its best ever condition thanks to a €500,000 course upgrade and the introduction of new, state-of-the-art turfcare machinery.
The acclaimed resort and venue of the European Challenge Tour’s 2009 SK Golf Challenge, won by Nicolas Colsaerts, has renovated 20 of its 93 bunkers and introduced a fleet of nine specialist fairway, rough and greens cutting machines to maintain playing areas to European Tour standards throughout the season.
Petri Keskitalo, Director of Golf, said: “We want all golfers to enjoy a world-class golf experience at Linna Golf whether they be professionals, elite amateurs or the many international visitors we welcome to our resort.
“This important investment is part of our commitment to maintain Linna Golf to the highest standards and it has been notable this summer that so many visitors have commented on the course being in outstanding condition.”
As part of the upgrade, 20 bunkers have been raised up and made larger so they can be seen clearly from the tee, as they were when the course opened in 2005.
“While the summers are warm and pleasant with long days, our winters can be harsh and take their toll on bunkers in particular,” continued Petri Keskitalo.
“Our greenkeepers work hard to bring the course to pristine condition in a short space of time. That’s why we have also invested in a fleet of new Toro turfcare machines, plus a new, bespoke course management facility to house the machines and our greenkeeping team.”
Linna Golf was designed by Tim Lobb while working for European Golf Design (the European Tour/IMG joint venture) and is part of the European Tour Properties portfolio. The scenic forest course borders a 7km long lake on the historicVanajan Linna Hotel estate, 100km north of Helsinki, and has been described by Golf Digest Sweden as the, “the most luxurious golf resort in northern Europe.”
In 2010 it hosted the European Amateur Championships and was the venue of the 2011 Finnish PGA Championship which, for the first time, was a Dunhill Links-style tournament featuring amateurs and professionals.
Linna Golf, which is the home course of two-time European Tour winner Mikko Ilonen, has now set its sights on hosting a full European Tour event in four to five years’ time, giving the venue the opportunity to put sponsorship and finances in place.
David MacLaren, Director of Property and Venue Development at the European Tour, said: “There is no doubt about the quality of the course and facilities at Linna Golf, and its suitability to host a European Tour event in the future.
“What is particularly impressive about Linna Golf is that even though the course has been open just six years, it continues to invest in its core product, the golf course, to ensure it is maintained to the highest standards and fulfil its promise of being a world-class golf destination.”
As well as the exquisite Vanajan Linna country house hotel, the only one of its type inFinland, there is luxury guest accommodation in the clubhouse, with suites overlooking the course featuring private saunas. There are also four new residences, each with two apartments, set into the forest surrounding the course, offering additional accommodation.
For more information, visit: http://golfpiste.com/linnagolf