Address: Meland Golfclub
N-5918 Frekhaug
Norway

COURSE REVIEW
Designer:  Robert A. Hunt
Par 73 – 6203 m (back tee), 5979 m (yellow), 4255 m (red)
Type: Fjordside Forest Course
 
Europe’s toughest course? It’s called Meland, it’s in Norway and it only measures 6541 yards! Thus teed off an article in The World of Golf that turned heads in, well, the world of golf. The author continued: If recent majors have taught us anything it is that in the eyes of The Masters Committee, the USGA, the R&A and the PGA of America, longer rough and harder greens equal increased difficulty. Flying in the face of this thinking is Meland golf club, a championship course just outside Bergen in Norway. Opened in 1999, the layout was recently assessed and given a new stroke rating of 151 from its back tees. No other European course can compete with this (the highest possible rating is 155) and thus Meland’s par-73 course has been crowned Europe’s hardest test. “The challenge lies in the mental aspects of the game,” explains head pro Anders Liesen. “The playing area is fairly generous but nearly every hole runs through a corridor of trees and creates problems in the mind.” Eurogolfer added in 2004: “Truly one of the most challenging and best golf experiences in Europe. Highly recommended!” So there’s nothing more to say. It’s simply a matter of slapping 50 euros on the table and treating yourself to the most challenging test in Europe!

Facilities: 20 bay driving range, putting & chipping green, practice bunker, PGA professional, VAT free pro-shop, lockers & changing facilities, showers, trolley hire, club hire, buggy hire, café/restaurant

Recommended accommodation: Click Here

Green fees: Weekday/Weekend NOK 400/500

Website: http://www.melandgolf.no

Phone:  +47 56 17 46 00
Fax:    +47 56 17 77 22

Address: Borre Golfklubb
3186 Horten
Horten
Norway

COURSE REVIEW
Designer:  Tommy Nordström
Par 72/73 – 6925 m (back tee), 6498 m (yellow), 5325 (red))
Type: Parkland

This 18-hole international standard course designed by Swedish architect Tommy Nordström is highly challenging and satisfies all expectations of a top class parkland/forest layout. The championship course is located on the venerable Semb estate (Semb was the main Viking seat in Vestfold though archaeological finds go back 5000 years), close to the attractive Borre lake and Horten, Norway’s very own silicon valley.

Borre has recently undergone a full upgrade, adding a new back nine to the best of the “old course” leaving a worthy par 36 9-hole facility as added value. The new ninth ends at a refreshment hut (self-service weekdays, grilled sausages at weekends) where there is a highly civilised compulsory 10-minute break! Hole 10 strikes off into an undulating forestscape with natural water obstacles, serious bunkers and deep ravines. Sloppy fairway drives are seldom rewarded at Borre.

Facilities: Old 9-hole course (stroke rated), driving range, full practice area, club house with changing rooms/shower, café, restaurant, hire of trolleys, buggies and clubs, proshop, and tennis courts for the really sporty types!

Recommended accommodation: Click Here

Green fees: Weekday/Weekend NOK 400/450

Website: http://www.borregb.no/

Tel:  +47 - 41 62 70 00  

Address: Golfsenteret Vestfold AS
P.B. 13, 3108 Vear,
Norway 
COURSE REVIEW
Designer:  Fred Smith/Jeremy Turner
Par 72 – 6414 m (back tee), 5979 m (yellow), 5877 (red)
Type: Parkland

Vestfold Golf Club was founded in 1958 and is one of the oldest 18-hole clubs in Norway. The present day championship course was fully modernised to US PGA standards in 2002 based on a design by the wily Jeremy Turner. This compact forest/parkland course is often reminiscent of a bit of England (probably due to the scattered mighty oaks, charming biotopes and George Beal, club pro for the past 25 years!). After the upgrade the course took on a whole new character with a fine combination of forest holes and mature parkland in a rhythmically undulating landscape, and as with most forest courses, vertical hazards abound. In 2003, Norsk Golf ranked Vestfold among the top three courses in Norway. The club hosted the Challenge Tour in 2004.

Facilities: 18-hole championship course, 9-hole course (slope rated), 3 practice greens, Short game training area, 6-hole pitch and putt, Driving range, Club house, restaurant and proshop

Recommended accommodation: Click Here

Green fees: Weekday/Weekend NOK 400/450

Website: www.vestfoldgolfklubb.no

Telefon 333 62505