Golf Course Architecture - Issue 59, January 2020

44 Photo: Peter Corden TEE BOX The par-three course at Österåker Golfklubb on the outskirts of Stockholm, Sweden, has begun the grow-in process ahead of its June 2020 opening. Christian Lundin, golf architect at Henrik Stenson Golf Design, said: “It was extremely important for Henrik and I to make sure that the par-three course and academy we designed was something out of the ordinary for this region.” The par-three layout has been designed to mimic the style of the main course to attract to beginners and juniors. “They want the same exact experience that they see on television, but adapted in length to suit them,” said Lundin. The club’s seed producer Tee-2-Green provided a mono stand of bentgrass, bred by Pure-Seed Testing president Crystal Fricker, for the club’s new East course, whereas the par-three course has used a blend of bentgrass. Keith Boland, Pure Seed Europe’s senior technical of sales representative for Ireland and Europe, said: “Blending multiple varieties from the same species of grass with different characteristics helps withstand abiotic and biotic stresses. We felt that the blend may give us an edge on disease pressures associated with Swedish winters. The PureWay blend components are known for their quick establishment, disease resistance and shade tolerance.” Read a full report on the Österåker project in the July 2019 issue of Golf Course Architecture . Österåker’s par-three course now growing in The par-three course was built at the same time as the new stadium-style course at Österåker Global round-up