An American living in Sweden read my recent post on the renovation of Ullna Golf Club (December 8) and provided a few more details on the work.
His name is Gene Oberto, and when he isn't producing articles for Golf Digest or writing books (he's written The Swedish Golf Experience), he hosts a website called Swedish Golf Online. The site writes about Swedish golf in English and was created, Oberto says, because “the golf world knows about Swedish golfers but very little about the golf world they came from.”
As it happens, Oberto recently filed a report on Ullna's proposed renovation. Here's what he had to say:
It has been almost a year since the rumors began that a planned renovation of Ullna Golf Course in Åkersberga, outside Stockholm, would be done by Jack Nicklaus' design firm, with Jack designing the plan himself. Even on the Nicklaus Design's website, the project still says TBD. But it was only last June 15 that the shareholders of Ullna Golf AB gave the green light to the project.
“We received very strong support from the members (of Ullna Golf) to implement the renovation project starting July 1, 2011,” says Lars H. Hemmingsson, the president of Ullna Golf AB, to the magazine Swedish Golf.
The classic layout, next to the northern shore of Lake Ullna, will keep its current route. Some sight lines will be adjusted, and bunkers will be added, moved, or, in some cases, removed entirely.
The biggest and most important change will consist of rebuilding all fairways and green areas. A new drainage system will be built. The entire course will be covered with a layer of sand about 20 cm thick, to further help and improve drainage. Some fairways will be elevated 50 centimeters higher from today's level.
“Apart from the fact that we have a enjoyable golf course to play, the renovation will improve playing conditions, allowing Ullna to extend its season,” said Sven-Eric Bergman, chairman of the Ullna Golf AB.
The greens and fringe areas will be rebuilt according to USGA standards, and new, more environmentally friendly grass, as yet unspecified, will be utilized. The hope is to create hardier and more easily managed greens than the ones currently.
In addition to the renovation of the 18-hole course, a first-class short-game area will be built where the existing driving range is located, next to the indoor practice hall, Golfpunkten.
“In conjunction with the upgrade, we plan to build one of Scandinavia's best training areas for the short game. Of course, with the same high quality as the golf course,” said Sven-Eric Bergman.
The price tag for the project is reportedly around 50 million krona ($6.5 million). Financing is provided both by equity and loans from the club members, shareholders, and a bank.
For that substantial sum, the club has, however, one of the world's most renowned architects and, without a doubt, greatest players, to sit behind the drawing board.
It was Ullna's original creator, Sven Tumba, who lured in his friend, Jack Nicklaus, three years ago when Nicklaus Design had begun to sketch out how the “new” Ullna should look like.
The rebuilding begins July 1, 2011, and the course will be fully playable for the 2013 golf season.
Sounds exciting!
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