Golf Course Architecture: Issue 57 - July 2019

60 But its courses are rarely mentioned in the conversation of Sweden’s best and they were increasingly showing their age. With more than 20 other clubs within 30 minutes’ reach – including close neighbour Ullna, which was recently renovated by Nicklaus Design, and the swanky 36-hole Bro Hof Slott club – Österåker was feeling the pressure of competition. “By 2011, the value of members’ shares had fallen to zero,” says general manager Andreas Ljunggren. “The facility was tired and needed a lift.” The club’s management team began to explore its options. Initially, it identified a parcel on the perimeter of the property for 40 buildings, which would provide the club with a return of £2 million. “This would have enabled us to update the irrigation and address drainage on our 45 holes,” says course manager Magnus Ljungman. But with Stockholm one of Europe’s fastest growing cities, there was scope for a grand plan that could be a win- win scenario for both the club and community. By meeting targets for increased housing stock, the town of Åkersberga would benefit from government infrastructure investment – including the improvement of its rail link with Stockholm. And by making more land available for development, the club could raise the funds required for a more radical transformation. The initial plan for 40 buildings was scrapped, and a new masterplan was created, with phase one alone seeing permission granted for 600 new properties, in a core residential zone, plus another area earmarked for commercial use, both on the site of the Hagby nine. Ultimately, more areas could be zoned for development, with ample space remaining for golf. The resulting windfall meant Österåker could essentially put together a ‘wish list’ for its transformation. After evaluating proposals from several firms, the management team selected the newly-formed Henrik Stenson Golf Design for a project to recreate the two eighteen-hole courses, design extensive practice facilities and a new nine-hole par-three course. While it will be the firm’s debut project, Stenson’s partner is experienced Swedish golf course architect Christian Lundin, who began his career with Jeff Howes in Ireland before setting up his own design business in Gothenburg in 2008. Lundin completed a pilot project for the club in 2015 – dubbed by the team ‘Österåker version 1.5’ – which reduced the overall bunkered area of the club’s Västerled course to just 10 per cent of its previous total. His revetted hazards were well-received by members and the project was something of a testing ground for its long-term plan, which will see the Västerled course taking on the character of a “weather-beaten Scottish links.” Before that though, the club has focused on the Österled course being transformed into a stadium-like layout. For the past two-and-a-half years, construction firm SOL Golf has been on site working on phase one: new practice facilities and the creation of the par-three and stadium courses. Over 600,000 cubic metres of landfill – approximately 25 per cent of the total generated by construction in and around Stockholm during the project – has been imported to the site by 70,000 trucks. As well as helping cover some costs, this fill has enabled Stenson and “There was scope for a grand plan that could be a win-win scenario for both the club and community” ÖSTERÅKER GOLFKLUBB