Lassi Pekka Tilander has been contracted by an Estonian company Golfer OÜ to design a new golf course near Pärnu.
This still unnamed course will partially be built in the same area where the uncompleted “Pärnu Golf & Beach Resort” was begun in the early years of this century. Located approximately 130 kilometres south ofTallinnin themunicipalityofTahkuranna, it is adjacent to the famous summer resort town ofPärnu. The Riia Highway (Via Baltica) borders the area several hundred metres away and the distance to the centre of Pärnu is only a couple of kilometres.
The course area is roughly 400 metres wide and 1.5 kilometres long. The extensive western portion borders on Pärnu bay and many of the holes will have views of the sea. The subgrade is sand, which makes construction ofEstonia’s first true links-style golf course possible. Well-structured water drainage qualities will assure that the course becomes playable quickly after winter.
The course will have three distinctive areas, each consisting of 5-7 holes. It begins and returns to a forest terrain of pines at the halfway point. In the middle of the first 9, as well as on holes 12 and 13, play will take place on open or sparsely treed sandy heathland. Truly exceptional will be the finishing holes (holes 14-18). They will be constructed on the shores of the bay beyond the tree zone where mostly reed grows now.
The course will honour the traditions of the “golden age” of golf course design. Typical features of this style include expansive fairway and waste bunker areas, and challenging, strategic greens.
Shaping will be moderate, except for the greens. It will be easy to keep the ball in play, although good scores will require skilful handling of the ball.
Clearing for the new routing has begun and actual construction is projected to begin this spring. The course will be finished completely before it opens, which is estimated to take place during the summer of 2014. Housing will be built in the vicinity of the course in addition to a potential hotel and spa.
Tilander Golf Design www.tgd.fi