When you think about a golf trip in Europe, Finlandprobably isn’tthe first country that springs to mind. Spain, Portugal, France,Irelandand Scotland tend tobe the go-tofor many golfers.
But can Finland challenge the traditional European golf destinations? How different is it to a typical golfing hotspot? Mike Robertson and Tom Bulloughtook the plunge as part ofNCG Top 100s48 hours in series.
The Nordic nation may be better known for its lakes, forests,saunasand association with Lapland than its golf courses, but the latest48 Hours Intrip revealed a country with a surprisingly deep golfing offering.
With around 150 courses across Finland, there is no shortage of options with a mixture of championship and resort golf.
“It’sprobably somewhereI would never have thought tocome and playgolf,” Robertsonsaid. “This is a place thatfeels a little bitdifferent, becauseIdon’tknow anyonethat’sbeen here and played golf.
“Soyou get to tick something off your bucket list outside of just golf. It makes for areally goodtrip.
“You get a really cool set of golf courses that are all unique in their own way. You get to play through some beautiful nature, pine trees, wooden areas, and it does feel as though you could be anywhere in the world.
“There’s also a real mix of different things to do away from the course. The food’s great, we’ve dabbled in some of the local stuff, like saunas, and the people have been very friendly.
“I would put it on the on the map for people to have a think about basing their next trip here.”
Why Finland is an emerging golf destination
For a lot of us, golf trips mean flying somewhere warm to play 18 or 36 holes and then head back to the hotel. But, in Finland, the landscape is a huge part of the experience and the appeal too.
“It’s really cool(in relation to the scenery),” saidBullough.
“You’vegot sheer rock faces with fully grown trees coming out of them. Idon’tthinkit’syour standard golf trip abroad. Ifyou’reinterested in coupling travelwithother bitslikea lot of sightseeing andtaking inapretty uniqueculture alongside some spectacular golf, thenI’drecommend Finland.”
Ifthere’sone feature of playing golf in Finland that gives it the edge overother Northern European venues it is the long hours of sunlight.The northern summer brings extraordinarily long days, allowing golfers to play well into the evening.
During their trip, the NCG team played at Linna Golf Club,a European Tour destination,with an 8pm tee time.
“It’sunbelievableand it’s kind of trippy,” Robertson explained.“It still feels likeit’sabout four or five in the afternoon, andit’s10 o’clock. We’reonly halfway through our round, sowe’repushing midnightwhenget our round in. Thatin itselfisa unique selling point of Finland.Where elsein the world are you able to do that on a golf course?”
“This is awesome,” Bullough added. “Just areally coolexperience. I woulddefinitely recommendit. I woulddefinitely doit again.”
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