Conference Presentations - European Institute of Golf Course

Golf in Denmark
Golf Course Architecture
By Caspar
Development of golf in Denmark
Early clubs in Denmark:
Københavns - 1898 (The first golf club in Scandinavia - current course allegedly designed by C H Alison)
Aalborg - 1908
Esbjerg - 1921
Helsingør - 1927
Odense - 1927
Aarhus - 1931
Kolding - 1933
Rungsted - 1936 (Designed by Charles MacKenzie brother to Alister)
Asserbo - 1946
Fanø - 1948 (The course is older. The first Open Danish Championship was held in 1901)
Golf Course Architecture
By Caspar
Development of golf in Denmark
Architecture in Denmark
Up until very recently all the best courses in Denmark had a strong reference to the classical British courses. Many
of the oldest courses are also some of the best courses as they have clearly been designed with a classical approach.
However from the 1970’s through to the 1990’s a lot of new courses were built with “happy amateurs”as architects
and unfortunately this has left a lot of courses with much to be desired in all aspects. Unfortunately it is very costly
to re-develop these courses.
The 1990’s saw the first international golf development, but it took about another 10 years before more projects
turned to international architects. Recently quite a few American architects have created projects in Denmark with
quite an impact as they display a very different attitude to the use of the existing landscape and the traditions surrounding golf in Denmark , but also adding a new variety of golf course design to the Danish players.
Golf Course Architecture
By Caspar
Development of golf in Denmark
Members
Clubs
160000
200
180
140000
160
120000
140
100000
120
80000
100
Members
Clubs
80
60000
60
40000
40
20000
20
0
0
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Golf Course Architecture
By Caspar
Current golf in Denmark in numbers
187 clubs
152.972 members (approx 2,7% of population)
2nd largest sport in Denmark
70% male golfers
30% female golfers
Average club
818 active members - high in European context
99 passive members
Average annual subscription : 720 EUR - low in European context
Average green fee: Weekdays 40 EUR / weekends 50 EUR - also low in European context
Estimated annual number of rounds per course: 23.431 - about average for Europe
Golf Course Architecture
By Caspar
Denmark and the environment
Denmark has been on the front line in the battle to make golf courses (even) more environmental
friendly.
Very strict legislation on the use of water and pesticides. New law from 2013 limiting the use of
pesticides severely.
Through the past 7 years clubs in Denmark have reported their annual use of fertiliser, pesticides, water and their energy consumption. It has been mandatory for 119 clubs to submit these data, but actually 135 clubs have done so. (2011)
Results
A reduction in use of pesticides
A very low consumption of water for irrigation - 7000m3 in 2011
Only 20% have fairway irrigation
Research in grass species and weed control
Kg active/ha
0,45
0,4
0,35
0,3
0,25
0,2
STERF - Scandinavian Turfgrass Aand Environment Research Foundation:
Turf Grass Guide for the Nordic Countries
Red Fescue Management
0,15
0,1
0,05
0
Kg active/ha
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
0,39
0,39
0,39
0,38
0,38
0,35
0,32
0,28
0,25
0,24
0,23
0,23
0,19
0,16
Golf Course Architecture
By Caspar
The Players
During the 1990’s the increasing popularity of golf in Denmark reached new heights when Thomas Bjørn
won his first tournament on the European Tour.
Thomas Bjørn (The first Danish winner on the European Tour - 1996, Ryder Cup)
Anders Hansen
Søren Hansen
Søren Kjeldsen
Iben Tinning (The first Danish winner on Ladies European Tour, Solheim Cup, Order of Merit winner 2005)
Steen Tinning
Mads Vibe-Hastrup
Thorbjørn Olesen (6th at Masters)
Golf Course Architecture
By Caspar
The European Institute of Golf Course Architects
Following the proud tradition of Danish architects and designers four Danes are now members of the EIGCA and
have all gained international experience. Three now have their own practices and one is working for the Danish
Golf Union.
Line Mortensen, associate member - Line Mortensen Ltd
Thomas Hoffmann Jepsen, associate member - Danish Golf Union
Philip Christian Spogárd, associate member - Spogárd & VanderVaart
Caspar Bay Grauballe, senior member - Golf Course Architecture by Caspar
Philip Christian Spogárd
Line Mortensen
Golf Course Architecture
By Caspar