Bro Hof, Sweden, January 17, 2008 … In its first year of operations, the Robert Trent Jones II (RTJ II) designed Stadium Course at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club, on the shores of picturesque Lake Malaren near Stockholm, has been voted Sweden’s best golf course by the prestigious Golf Digest Magazine. This impressive achievement comes at a time when the golf course is already being heavily touted as a leading contender for the 2018 Ryder Cup, which may finally see Sweden host the match that few could deny it deserves.
The brainchild of Swedish multi-millionaire Bjorn Oras, whose aim even before he selected the course’s designer was to create a world-class championship course, Bro Hof was constructed without compromise. Although the harsh Northern European climate inflicts constraints on the average Scandinavian golf course, Bro Hof was built utilizing the most innovative techniques in irrigation and drainage, which will create optimal playing conditions for as long as seven months each year-a rarity in the region.
Blending Classic Design with Innovation
The pioneering architects of RTJ II were the first in Sweden to design greens with underground ventilation systems similar to those found at Augusta National (home to the annual Masters tournament), and the first to call for the use of creeping bentgrass on fairways in the Stockholm region. All this attention to detail contributed to Bro Hof’s selection as the venue for the European Tour’s 2009 Scandinavian Masters.
Master architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr. describes the course thus: “Everything is big at BroHof! The holes are longer, the greens are bigger, the course has more water and the bunkers are larger and well-placed. Besides which the wind always factors into the playing strategy. On the dog-leg holes you not only have to hit the ball a long way, you also have to get it to stop. Mother Earth must have created this area for a golf course.”
Bro Hof joins RTJ II’s impressive legacy of “firsts,” such as designing the Moscow Country Club, the first 18-hole golf course in Russia (1994), and introducing paspalum turfgrass to Spain, at Mallorca’s Club de Golf Alcanada Golf Club.
RTJ II has further enhanced its reputation not just in Scandinavia but worldwide with highly-regarded new course designs in Denmark, Norway, China, Korea and Dubai.
Ryder Cup Candidate
In its illustrious 80-year history, the Ryder Cup has been staged just once in continental Europe, but that could be about to change. Bro Hof Slott possesses all the credentials for hosting the event, including a spectator capacity of up to 300,000. Observers believe the odds are improving that Sweden will follow in Spain’s footsteps by staging the biennial contest in 2018. The decision will not be made until 2010, but European Tour Chief Executive George O’Grady took advantage of being in Stockholm for the 2007 Scandinavian Masters to visit Bro Hof. He commented, "Myself and Richard Hills, our Ryder Cup director, have been impressed by all we have seen during the week and indeed visited an inspiring course which will be truly stunning as a tournament venue. As a nation, Sweden will be given the strongest consideration when it comes to discussion on future home venues for The Ryder Cup."
About RTJ II
RTJ II is the pre-eminent golf design firm worldwide. Trustees of a great tradition of golf course architecture, RTJ II is committed to working in harmony with nature to craft the best golf course possible on each unique site. The RTJ II design team has experience in every aspect of golf course development and the ability to provide support and expertise from conception through completion of any project. The firm is based in Palo Alto, California and has satellite offices throughout the world. For additional information, contact the firm at + 01 650-475-0329 or visitwww.rtj2.com .
Contact:
Karen Moraghan
Hunter Public Relations ? East
908/876-5100
kmoraghan@hunter-pr.com
www.hunter-pr.com