Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Anders Rytter on March 18, 2012, 06:16:31 PM
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Københavns Golf Klub was on a list of courses people wanted portraited here. I played the course a few days ago and will try and do my first photo tour on GCA. I will Update this thread the next couple of weeks.
The club is the oldest in Scandinavia, founded 1898, but the current course wasn't build until 1928. The course was designed by "The Grand Old Man" of danish golf, Frederik Dreyer and presumambly a well known british architect. I'm not sure why this is so uncertain but it's hard to look up as the clubhouse including the archives for both the Club and The Danish golf association was bombed during WW2 and burned to the ground! A few holes have been changed since then and the last few years Mackenzie & Ebert have restored the course and reshaped some of the greenareas, especially the fringes.
The place is truely unique, situated in the middle of the Queens deer park 20minutes from Copenhagen City Center. The deer park is the former hunting grounds of the royal family (since 1669) and is still packed with deer including on the golf course.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/IMG_2148.jpg)
because of the heritage of the deer park the club has to go through a lenghtly process if they want to change anything including mowing lines, bunkers etc. There are no signs, trashcans, ballwashers or even benches on the course.
To get to the club house you have to pass a big gate that keeps the deer in the park
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/IMG_2138.jpg)
And walk what is often called the longest walk from parkinglot to the first tee, i can't say i've seen one longer!
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/IMG_2140.jpg)
The Club House is allso fenced to keep animals out.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/IMG_2326.jpg)
The greens are predominantly Red Fescue and Bend grasses. In Denmark we have extremely tight environmental regulation, especially when it comes to golf courses. I'm not an expert, but i know that we are already tight and it is only getting worse (Better?).
More will follow tomorrow.
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Very interesting thread A Rytter - do you have a first name? You are a local Dane?
Thanks for taking the time and effort to post this thread.
Now this is certainly a quirky start to a round of golf, and very keen to see the golf course pics. If you could also include things like playing season, assume it is private club?
I note the emblem/logo above the main gate is dated 1972, what is this?
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Brett, first name is Anders, IIRC from his intro thread.
Thanks for starting this, looks to be really interesting. Looking forward to seeing the course.
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Very interesting thread A Rytter - do you have a first name? You are a local Dane?
Thanks for taking the time and effort to post this thread.
Now this is certainly a quirky start to a round of golf, and very keen to see the golf course pics. If you could also include things like playing season, assume it is private club?
I note the emblem/logo above the main gate is dated 1972, what is this?
As Mark wrote, first name is Anders, should have put it in the screen name here when i started but didn't. I will post something longer after work but to answer your questions. I'm a native dane and live in Copenhagen.
1. Season would normally be April 1st to roughly december 1st. The pictures are taken first day of the season this year, 17th of march. The soil is not only sand but Not really heavy either. Later in the season it will play quite firm and fast but so far it's slightly wet and the deer leaves quite som trace when they walk arround.
2.I think you would call it semi-private, correct me if i'm wrong. The Club is member owned, rougly 900-1000 members would be my guess. But all clubs in Denmark are open to visitors that are member of a golf club under EGA og USGA and at Copenhagen Greenfee is only $100, half that if you are with a member.
3. The emblem on the gate is the coat of arms of Queen Margarethe 2nd, our current Queen. She became queen in 1972, that explains the year. Remember, it's in her park.
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Last thing i forgot to mention yesterday is that the rough can't be touched at all by the greenkeepers. the are not allowed to drive through it or cut it. late in the year it gets really REALLY thick and Nasty, close to a guaranteed lost ball or atleast an alomost impossible shot.
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First hole on Københavns golf klub has seen very slight changes over the years.
In 1944 Demarks was photographed from the Air by LuftWaffe and again in 1954 by US Air force. I'ts such a small country and we pretty much got the whole thing covered both times. These photos are very useful when looking into changes on golfcourses. Below i've pasted the current courseguide picture and a snapshot of hole 1 taken by US airforce in 1954.
The bunker short right has been changed.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/Hole1-1.png)
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h1T.jpg)
The first hole is a pretty straigh forward mid-lenght par 3. On the right you have the forrest that borders the Course all the way up on the Northen boundary. Left of the green theres a ditch that stops the slightly hooked ball before it reaches a small road further left. you dont wan't to be left or long. Short of the green the fairway slopes right towards the bunker.
The picture with the deer in my first post is of the first green.
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2nd hole is a short par 4 with a blind tee-shot. It's also more or less untouched since 1954, a bunker has been added short of the green, i guees it more in blay with new equipment and people going for the green from the tee. You still have the forrest on the right as the hole continues west. The Fairway narrows 200m out and start to slope right.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/Hole2.png)
The little Pond left is quite a bit out of the line.
The blind tee-shot
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/ssss.jpg)
2nd shot from right side of the fairway
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/H2S2.jpg)
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Anders,
Thank you for the nice photos of what looks like an interesting course! As an arborist, the density of the trees, particularly the interior branching, is astounding to me. How does air move through them when the leaves are fully out?
I'm for strict environmental controls when they make sense. How does no cutting of the rough, particularly that very near the fairway, really accomplish much for nature? It would seem a more balanced approach, with perhaps seasonal mowing of the immediate rough, would make for enjoyable play and cause no harm to anything? I'd appreciate your thoughts on how your country shapes the maintenance policy for your public and private lands.
Your country has a proud past and some wonderful culture. One day, I hope to make a swing up that way to see Denmark and some of the other Scandanavian nations.
Cheers and thanks again for your photos. I look forward to seeing the others when you get time to post them.
Kris 8)
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I like the thread. I wish every course had course guides. Anthony
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Thanks for an interesting subject, it appears to be a unique golf course.
I'm curious about the "Danish Luftwaffe" you say took the aerial photos in 1944. I have never heard of that organization. Did Danish aircraft photograph the country with the blessings of the German occupiers? Or did Nazi Luftwaffe still have, as late as 1944, the luxury of planes to do blanket aerial photos of an entire country, golf courses and all?
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"Thanks for an interesting subject, it appears to be a unique golf course.
I'm curious about the "Danish Luftwaffe" you say took the aerial photos in 1944. I have never heard of that organization. Did Danish aircraft photograph the country with the blessings of the German occupiers? Or did Nazi Luftwaffe still have, as late as 1944, the luxury of planes to do blanket aerial photos of an entire country, golf courses and all?"
GERMAN Luftwaffe, my bad :). And yes, sounds strange in 1944, haven't thought about that before. link is here http://lw1944.flyfotoarkivet.dk/ . 90% ish of Denmark is covered. BTW, i'm using the 1954 pictures as the quality is better.
Anders,
Thank you for the nice photos of what looks like an interesting course! As an arborist, the density of the trees, particularly the interior branching, is astounding to me. How does air move through them when the leaves are fully out?
I'm for strict environmental controls when they make sense. How does no cutting of the rough, particularly that very near the fairway, really accomplish much for nature? It would seem a more balanced approach, with perhaps seasonal mowing of the immediate rough, would make for enjoyable play and cause no harm to anything? I'd appreciate your thoughts on how your country shapes the maintenance policy for your public and private lands.
Your country has a proud past and some wonderful culture. One day, I hope to make a swing up that way to see Denmark and some of the other Scandanavian nations.
Cheers and thanks again for your photos. I look forward to seeing the others when you get time to post them.
Kris
The place only has Trees on one side (North), very open besides that. only a few scenic trees or cluster of trees South, East and West. in general the place is quite windy.
The rough thing is special for the deer park not the rest of Denmark. The whole place is protected like a natural reserve. i don't think they can cut the threes either, maybe under special circumstances. Golf courses in general are working under tough restrictions here, and then this clubs is just in a place with even more regulation. Most of the course is far away from "the public" and still they can't touch it. I'm not an expert, but i've heard that people outside the country would be amazed if they knew about what framework our greens-personal have to work with.
Population density is fairly high in Denmark and hence places like this are scarce. we haven't got to many links courses (only one Fanø comes to mind) even though we have so much coast, the coasts are all protected aswell.
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Hole 3. second par 4 and second blind drive.
The tee shot is really interesting (atleast 2nd time you play the course). left side of the green is covered by a very big Oak and shorts that are both long and left have no shot to the green unless you try and hit it under the oak. if you are just left the 2nd short is blind but makeable.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/hole3.png)
2nd blind drive, aim just left of the Eremitage Palace seen in the background.the oak guarding the green can also be seen. a slightly greedy tee-shot....
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/IMG_2159.jpg)
... will reach the slope and very likely kick both left and forward, towards the no-go part of the fairway.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/IMG_2166.jpg)
Right of the green the fairway is very bumpy, i assume a lot of people have to bounce their seccond short in from here, comming out of the right rough if too fearful of the oak from the tee
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/IMG_2169.jpg)
I recall these contours beeing more pronounced, might be the light.
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Wow... Thanks for the effort on the thread. I lived in Copenhagen in 1998 and played Royal Copenhagen many times. The club was very welcoming to this nineteen year old American... It's a very neat course in a wonderful setting. I look forward to reading more. Cheers.
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Anders,
Tak!
I have visited Denmark a couple times and absolutely love it.
I find the uniqueness of this course fascinating, and look forward to the rest of the tour.
Brett
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Anders,
Thank you for your thoughts. The course pictures have a beautiful starkness to them that must really be appreciated in person...one day!
How would you assess the golf culture in Denmark. Affluent, mostly private, limited access, growing, good youth programs, what's the direction of the sport there as you see it? Forgive the many questions, but I never hear or see much on golf in your region and am intrigued.
Cheers,
Kris 8)
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Super cool!
More please.
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Wonderful--looking forward to more.
The 1944 photos are amazing. Had no idea something like that existed.
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Wonderful--looking forward to more.
The 1944 photos are amazing. Had no idea something like that existed.
I deciede to use 1954 (Us air force) instead, quality is far superior. but yes, they are really cool. I had been looking for the original routing of my home club for ages (it's just 10min drive up the coast and also on the air photos) and stumpled uppon these.
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Super cool!
More please.
Very busy, hope to post more later today or friday.
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Anders,
Thank you for your thoughts. The course pictures have a beautiful starkness to them that must really be appreciated in person...one day!
How would you assess the golf culture in Denmark. Affluent, mostly private, limited access, growing, good youth programs, what's the direction of the sport there as you see it? Forgive the many questions, but I never hear or see much on golf in your region and am intrigued.
Cheers,
Kris 8)
Hi Kris, i agree, the place has to seen in person to really get it. especially the deer and the way the Big Oaks are left until they fall by them selves and then just left on the ground is very "Natural" and nothing i've experienced else where.
Golf in Denmark is not very affluent. all courses are open to visitors and greenfees are very affordable. I don't think that the general quality of courses here is very high.
Lots of young players, i think most clubs have "free" programs for the kids, atleast the two where i'm a member. Golf was booming back in 2007 is one of the bigger sports here measured by members. The last five years we've had a couple more ambitous course projects opening (people seem to be obsessed with Robert Trent Jones III, he designed most of them).
Sweden is just half an our drive away, and they southern part of the country is packed with golf courses.
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The club is the oldest in Scandinavia, founded 1898, but the current course wasn't build until 1928. The course was designed by "The Grand Old Man" of danish golf, Frederik Dreyer and presumambly a well known british architect. I'm not sure why this is so uncertain but it's hard to look up as the clubhouse including the archives for both the Club and The Danish golf association was bombed during WW2 and burned to the ground!
Anders
What are some of the speculations regarding that well known British architect?
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The club is the oldest in Scandinavia, founded 1898, but the current course wasn't build until 1928. The course was designed by "The Grand Old Man" of danish golf, Frederik Dreyer and presumambly a well known british architect. I'm not sure why this is so uncertain but it's hard to look up as the clubhouse including the archives for both the Club and The Danish golf association was bombed during WW2 and burned to the ground!
Anders
What are some of the speculations regarding that well known British architect?
Tom,
I've just heard it mentioned a few times, Mackenzie& Ebbert also write it on their homepage. I've always just thought Frederik Dreyer did it but i just can't state it as a fact that he did it alone cause I'm simply not sure. Have never heard a name associated with the rumor. As one of the very first courses in Denmark (it's oldest club, not course oldest course is Fanø) i guess it's not a wild thought that somebody from out side was here.
But again, i know nothing and have no where to look it up. Frederik Dreyer gets the credit here, have just heard the "rumor" a few times.
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Anders,
Thanks for the overview. Denmark sounds very Scottish (paging Melvyn!) in the approach your country takes...which is wonderful! Sounds quite inclusive and welcoming to all.
I imagine the turf conditions could suffer some due to the limited growing season. Are there wide variations in microclimates up there?
Have you been over to the States yet? If you're planning a trip, I'd be happy to host you for a few rounds of golf in the Philadelphia area. There's some pretty good golf here, and I think you would enjoy the social nature of the town and folk as well!
Cheers,
Kris 8)
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Anders,
Thanks for the overview. Denmark sounds very Scottish (paging Melvyn!) in the approach your country takes...which is wonderful! Sounds quite inclusive and welcoming to all.
I imagine the turf conditions could suffer some due to the limited growing season. Are there wide variations in microclimates up there?
Have you been over to the States yet? If you're planning a trip, I'd be happy to host you for a few rounds of golf in the Philadelphia area. There's some pretty good golf here, and I think you would enjoy the social nature of the town and folk as well!
Cheers,
Kris 8)
Turf suffers from both the growing season but also tough regulation, lots of stuff you can't use her, use of water and fertiziler is restricted although not banned. Also, Coastal areas are protected and most courses are on land with rather heavy soil, although not all. The terrain does to some degree vary but everything besides farm-land seems to be protected here. we do have some fairly cool pieces of land, but golf developed rather late here and now you can hardly but up a bench these places. The increasing regulations means that most courses are converting to Bendgrass and fescue, as far as i understand they will have to play firmer to keep weed away as they can't use herbicides or fungicides (i think they cant or atleast very little). The process is a pretty big issue here among those who know it, especially on courses designed to play soft, i like it at most courses but general opinion is often that soft greens are great.
I travel quite a bit, i'm in US a couples times in a normal year, mostly doing business but if possible i bring my clubs to be able to go to a drivingrange after work. Primarily in NYC area. If i ever have the time to play golf in Philadelphia i would be very happy to be your guest. Have been to Philladelphia but haven't played, spend 5min on the PV parking lot, the one outside the property, thats all, while driving from Philadelphia to Atlantic City once. So far i've only played in Miami.
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Aners, THANK YOU so much for the pictures of the exciting Royal Copenhagen Golf Club. I was fortunate enough to have played there in the 1973 Danish Open, had 26 birdies and finished second to Angel Gallardo of Spain. It was in July and the course was very fast and firm which meant no hoove marks on the greens. The rough was rough, not only quite high but full of dried tracks from the huge deer. I loved getting off the train and walking the long trail to the clubhouse. I walked back to my hotel along the beach, lovely topless swimmers! The 45 minute walk could take two hours.
Over the years its been difficult to get info on the course, thanks again! We loved the country, my son was 3 when we visited, he now has a Danish wife (he did not meet her on that trip). Still have the second place trophy, 1973 BP Cup.
May I use your pictures on my blog?
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Aners, THANK YOU so much for the pictures of the exciting Royal Copenhagen Golf Club. I was fortunate enough to have played there in the 1973 Danish Open, had 26 birdies and finished second to Angel Gallardo of Spain. It was in July and the course was very fast and firm which meant no hoove marks on the greens. The rough was rough, not only quite high but full of dried tracks from the huge deer. I loved getting off the train and walking the long trail to the clubhouse. I walked back to my hotel along the beach, lovely topless swimmers! The 45 minute walk could take two hours.
Over the years its been difficult to get info on the course, thanks again! We loved the country, my son was 3 when we visited, he now has a Danish wife (he did not meet her on that trip). Still have the second place trophy, 1973 BP Cup.
May I use your pictures on my blog?
Hi Gary,
I'm glad you like it. Feel free to use my picture where ever you like but please post a link to the blog.
BR
Anders
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Anders,
Thanks for the turf and environmental assessments. Your gang of golfers over there has to be a hardy bunch just to deal with the conditions and constraints to tee it up. Please IM me your details and I'd be happy to host you for some golf in Philly when you're over next and can work it in!
Cheers,
Kris 8)
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Hole 4 - first par 5
Hole 4 is a 557yds par 5 that play into the prevailing wind. The drive is fairly straight forward with two small bunkers, one on each side of the fairway. In 1954 the hole didn't have any bunkers reachable from the tee.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/hole4.png)
The drive.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/IMG_2172.jpg)
There are more options in the 2nd shot. If laying up a ridge roughly 150yds from the green make things a little complicated. if in the fairway its fairly easy, go for the blind part of the fairway after the ridge and get the easier&Shorter 3rd shot. If your drive is in the rough or a bunker its more difficult.
2nd shot, fairway from 150yds and in is blind
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/1212.jpg)
From the edge of the ridge, not sure if you can see the elevation change
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/2-4.jpg)
The bunker in front of the green is new and there was only one bunker on the rigth all the way up until 2008/2009.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/hole4-2.png)
The green area is best protected in the front but green contours are more severe in the back
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Anders,
Thanks for the turf and environmental assessments. Your gang of golfers over there has to be a hardy bunch just to deal with the conditions and constraints to tee it up. Please IM me your details and I'd be happy to host you for some golf in Philly when your over next and can work it in!
Cheers,
Kris 8)
Most golfers here probably don't know that conditions are often better outside the country ;)
but it's not horrible, read that the greens at royal copenhagen rolled between 7-10.5 last year. Fairways are more of an issue though.
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Thanks for the pictures. This is great stuff.
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Hole 4 - first par 5
Hole 4 is a 557yds par 5 that play into the prevailing wind. The drive is fairly straight forward with two small bunkers, one on each side of the fairway. In 1954 the hole didn't have any bunkers reachable from the tee.
The drive.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/IMG_2172.jpg[/img
[b]sure looked differently in 1973 when that rough was 15 inches high! we played 36 holes the final day, in les than 6 hours (3 pros per group)[/b]
There are more options in the 2nd shot. If laying up a ridge roughly 150yds from the green make things a little complicated. if in the fairway its fairly easy, go for the blind part of the fairway after the ridge and get the easier&Shorter 3rd shot. If your drive is in the rough or a bunker its more difficult.
2nd shot, fairway from 150yds and in is blind
[IMG]http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/1212.jpg)
From the edge of the ridge, not sure if you can see the elevation change
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/2-4.jpg)
The bunker in front of the green is new and there was only one bunker on the rigth all the way up until 2008/2009.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/hole4-2.png)
The green area is best protected in the front but green contours are more severe in the back
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Better now?
BTW, sorry about the lack of green pictures, most of the green-pictures turned out to be really dull because of the flat light.
do have some though
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Anders
Cornish & Whitten credit Colt, Alison and Morrison in 1926 at Copenhagen, actually Alison & Morrison in 1926. I don't think their year is right, 1928 is more likely, but I do think Alison & Morrison is pretty likely, especially Morrison, who was very active in Germany and Holland during that period.
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Fantastic! I've never heard a named associated with the "rumor". Very interresting.
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Hole 5 first of two long par 4's playing into the prevailing wind
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/Hole5.png)
The bunkers in the fairway have been moved to be in play with all the new equipment. I've traced the bunker short of the green back to 1995 or earlier. not very precise but not part of the recent restoration. the fringe slopes on the right side of the bunker, it's hard to roll the ball onto the green even though i assume thats what people did way back here.
The drive from mens regular tee. The angle from the tips is more from the left and hence the gap in the bunkers is really not a gap you can hit (it's also very narrow from the regular tees). Either carry them or hit short/right. the carry of the left bunkers is 244yds, into the wind.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h5-1-1.jpg)
If not taking on the bunkers in the drive, you'll end up with a 200yds second shot. with a bunker just short of you goal.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h5-2.jpg)
If no wind, the long hitters can reach a down slope (barely seen below) and hit a wedge in the second short.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h5-3.jpg)
THe bunker in front of the green is not that much of an issue. (Btw, the pile of earth in the bagground is an old viking (or even older) burial tomb, atleast thats what i've been told and it sure looks like one.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h5-4.jpg)
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Hole 6, the hole that ruin golf rounds (Scoring wise ;) )
Hole 6 is an even longer par 4 - 463yds also often playing straight into the wind.The seccond shot is severely downhill and blind if you don't hit it far enough. I spend most of the time here to far left to take pictures but do have 3 shots to share.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/Hole-6.png)
Again the drive has been tightened up recently.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h6-1.jpg)
2nd shot from just short of the left fairway bunker is semi-blind.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h6-2.jpg)
Hope this pictures together with the one above gives an idea of how severe the downslope is.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h6-3.jpg)
As mentioned the hole is into the wind, it feel like the ball stays in the air forever on the second shot. The green is not protected by bunkers but the rough on the right is extremely penal. There are a few ponds close to the hole and the rough clearly has access to water. Also, as far as i recall, due to the water the fringe is slightly softer here. a punched shot that ends up slightly short will probably not bounce onto the green as it would on other holes. Left there's is a road, and out of bounds. It's possible to find you ball if you hit it left of the road on the left, I can attest to that.
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Anders,
Thank you for putting your time and effort into this thread, Denmark is a wonderful country. The course conditions are very fascinating to me, would love to play there some day.
Jason
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Just me or does the bunkering/green shaping look better now than in the historic aerials? Not often this can be said.
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Mackenzie & Ebert (2008-2010) have put quite a bit more flavour into the green areas. got some pictues but most turned out showing very little countours because of the light.
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Hole 7 Dogleg right/Cape'ish hole par 4 (i forgot to tell that the order of play changed a few years back, hole 5 then is hole 9 today 6->10 an so on. hole 7 now used to be hole 13)
Hole 7 is one of atleast two holes that wasn't part of the original routing. until 1994/1995 the hole played from just next to the 6th green as a short'ish par four with a blind drive (playing up to slope that hole 6 played down). The current hole 7 is made up by the old holes' fairway playing to the next holes green. the hole after was a short par 3.
The aerials are taken 1954 - 1995 - 2010
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/Hole-7-2.png)
In 1995 the new hole seems to be under construction. The last fairway bunker on the current hole used to be a green bunker.
The drive, cut of as much as you dare. The landing area for the safe shot is relatively narrow, Bunkers right, rough and cluster of trees left.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h7-1.jpg)
If trying to cut too much from the tee the shot from the rough right is still relatively easy (if you get a lie). the fringe is not completely flat but not that tough to bump a ball through. not that much punishment.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h7-2.jpg)
I think this picture shows how the fringe areas play. hardly any of them are flat, just looks like it on most of my pictures.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h7-3.jpg)
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Hole 8 (former hole 14)
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/hole-8.png)
Like hole 7, hole eight most often plays down wind.
Second shot from left doesn't have to carry the bunker but it's shorter and also plays more into the slope from the right side of the fariway. right rough is the place not to be.
The bunkers on the left are easier to see in person
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h8-1.jpg)
Behind the tee your have Eremitagesletten, its not only the place the most deer live in the park, it was also the venue for the first ever soccer match in Denmark (now the national sport)
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h8-2.jpg)
The seccond short is fairly straight forward and often fairly short.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h8-3.jpg)
but the green area is quite interesting. The whole hole is tilted left to right. missing left you can't get al kinds of lies and angles, and haveing to land the ball on a slight down slope. unfortunately i missed the shot.
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Hole 9
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/hole-9.png)
Hole 9 is a short drivable par 4. it's not only short but also downhill, primarily just short of the green which kicks drives forward and to the left.
The pin can be seen from the tee but not the green and not the landing area.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h9-1.jpg)
The green is open center. if your drive end up on the downslope a short pin behind on of the bunkers is very hard to get to.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h9-2.jpg)
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Anders,
This seems like a unique course pictorial to me insofar as you have such clear, accurate and verifiable aerials taken approximately sixty years apart. Pretty unusual I would think to have the complete set. And I appreciate the work you have gone to in "stitching" them side by side. Very neat stuff.
Do the deer hoof prints come under the ruling umbrella of "rabbit scrapings" and allow for a lift and drop!?
Cheers Colin
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Loving this photo-tour. The park setting with the trees pulled (for the most part) way back is really cool. I can't say you find that look in many places around the US.
Is RCGC accessible for overseas visitors? Can't say I will be getting back to the city anytime soon, as I was just there in January visiting for a couple days, and the people we were visiting are moving back to the US after their year in Denmark.
Thanks Anders!
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Anders,
This seems like a unique course pictorial to me insofar as you have such clear, accurate and verifiable aerials taken approximately sixty years apart. Pretty unusual I would think to have the complete set. And I appreciate the work you have gone to in "stitching" them side by side. Very neat stuff.
Do the deer hoof prints come under the ruling umbrella of "rabbit scrapings" and allow for a lift and drop!?
Cheers Colin
Colin, we use the rules from R&A which i don't recall specifically mentioning rabbits. The free drop aply to all digging animals but not hoof-marks by default. I looked at their local rules and didn't find relief from hoof-marks there! Surprising as they can be quite severe. I guess you have to "play the ball as it lies" here.
From 17th Fairway or Semi-rough ( i don't recall and to early in season to tell :) )
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/spor.jpg)
Insert Quote
Loving this photo-tour. The park setting with the trees pulled (for the most part) way back is really cool. I can't say you find that look in many places around the US.
Is RCGC accessible for overseas visitors? Can't say I will be getting back to the city anytime soon, as I was just there in January visiting for a couple days, and the people we were visiting are moving back to the US after their year in Denmark.
Thanks Anders!
RCGC is open to everybody that are member of a club under one of the regional golf associations. (USGA, EGA etc). hcp restrictions probably aply. (would guess only <30-35ish)
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many moons ago, in the 1973 Danish Open, relief was NOT given for hoof prints. The course was so firm that there were no fresh marks, just older concrete ones in the rough.
ANDERS, thanks again, great job on a certain hidden gem!
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Anders,
Thanks for a great pictorial.
I keep going over the pictures of this course. A wonderful course on land that seems made for golfing. I wonder if Colt&Co were involved in the design. The older areals show symmetrical bunkering defense on almost every hole, especially around the greens, very un-Colt&co-like I believe. (Perhaps Frank Pont would like to comment on this, as he has reviewed the strategics of so many Colt-Alison-Morrison courses.)
Then again the older areals are from the fifties, so it may very well be that things have been altered in the first few decades after the course was built. Perhaps the older fourties pictures that you mentioned having seen can shed some light on that. The McKenzie Ebert renovations certainly look like an improvement over what was there, aestetically but more important also strategically. The course alone is a good reason to come over to Denmark, so it seems.
It is mind boggling that this course is no longer rated in the continental top 100 of Europe (of which we have discussed its shortcomings), maybe it is the hoof prints that scare off the raters, but it looks like top 20 material to me. Would you rate it number one in Denmark?
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After having searched arround i have to say that it seems very unlikely that Fredrik Dreyer had anything to do with the original 1928 design. Sorry about beeing wrong. At that time he was 19 years old. I've seen him given credit several times but it's seems very unlikely.
One page i found gave Credit to C.A. Mackenzie, younger brother of Alister Mackenzie, who also designed Rungsted Golf klub near by, a club that sprung from Københavns golf klub. Not an experts but isn't it a few years early for C.A. Mackenzie to have done the design? (know he did construction then)
I saw that Fredrik Dreyer wrote a book about the club at a club anniversary, will se if i can get my hands on the book and see if theres any more details.
Anders,
Thanks for a great pictorial.
I keep going over the pictures of this course. A wonderful course on land that seems made for golfing. I wonder if Colt&Co were involved in the design. The older areals show symmetrical bunkering defense on almost every hole, especially around the greens, very un-Colt&co-like I believe. (Perhaps Frank Pont would like to comment on this, as he has reviewed the strategics of so many Colt-Alison-Morrison courses.)
Then again the older areals are from the fifties, so it may very well be that things have been altered in the first few decades after the course was built. Perhaps the older fourties pictures that you mentioned having seen can shed some light on that. The McKenzie Ebert renovations certainly look like an improvement over what was there, aestetically but more important also strategically. The course alone is a good reason to come over to Denmark, so it seems.
It is mind boggling that this course is no longer rated in the continental top 100 of Europe (of which we have discussed its shortcomings), maybe it is the hoof prints that scare off the raters, but it looks like top 20 material to me. Would you rate it number one in Denmark?
Christian,
1. The old areials are here, http://lw1944.flyfotoarkivet.dk/ , Quality is very poor but must of the holes looks much indentical to 1954.
2. The hoof marks is not really a problem later in the season.
3. I certainly think it's a top course. Top100golfcourses.co.uk have it as 16th, i think that's pretty harsh. Everybody is different but this is probably the course i plan the most besides my home courses. Hope that answers your question.
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Hole 10 (old hole 6)
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/hole10.png)
Hole 10 is back along the forrest, and the only hole where the trees rewards shot-shaping. If playing from the tips you drive over the 9th green, i think this tee was added in 2008-2009ish. I recalled it as being slightly older but cant find it on aerials from 2008.
Hitting a Hook (right handed) from the tee is not an option. either a relatively short straight shot or if going for the gold, a fade or slice (again right handed) this is from members tee
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/H10-1.jpg)
The seccond shot is downhill
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h10-2.jpg)
The bunker short left is not Mackenzie-Ebbert, i've traced it back as far as 1995. must have been added between 1954 and 1995.
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Hole 11 (former hole 7)
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/hole11.png)
A short par five, the drive is hit slightly angled to the fairway. To bunkers guard the left side of the fariway which is the side to be in. the green slopes to the right.
The drive - the fairway is relatively narrow.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h11-1.jpg)
The look from mid-fairway
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h11-2.jpg)
The "hill" short left of the green makes shots from the left rough quite hard. picture is taken from left rough.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h11-3.jpg)
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Hole 12 (not original, i think it was build when current hole 7 was created, i.e. ~1994-1995)
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/hole12-1.png)
A mid-short par three, with quite a bit of elevation change and straight into the wind. very hard to get the lenght right.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h12-1.jpg)
Hole 12 is to my knowledge the newest green on the course and a little out of carracter by being a table-top.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h12-2.jpg)
both in the back and left you can get some interesting chip-shot from a fringe well below the level of the green
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h12-3.jpg)
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Anders
I have been enjoying this tour immensely as the course looks quite interesting. That said, I am dying to take clippers to the rough and see the land forms underneath!
Ciao
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Hi Anders,
here is the original layout plan of the 1928 course from the 50th anniversary book of KGK published in 1948
(with kind courtesy of the Danish Golf Museum in Vejle):
(http://i731.photobucket.com/albums/ww313/der-rote-korsar/KGK_Skitse4_1928.jpg)
In the KGK centenary book from 1998 the question is risen who was the architect of the "1928" course. Appearantly in 1954 a long-time member of the club states that the designer was an English architect looking like 70 years old. In 1926 J. Abercromby was 65 years old whereas Morrison was much younger and Charles Mackenzie probably not yet active as a golf architect in 1926, some 10 years later he is the architect of nearby Rungsted GC (1937).
The authors of the book therefore think Abercromby could have been the man we are looking for. Hopefully we will find out...
Btw. the new 8th hole and the two amalgated holes were designed by Danish Golf Architect Rolf Henning-Jensen:
http://users.cybercity.dk/~cis1917/
Greetings,
Christoph Meister
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Hi Anders,
here is the original layout plan of the 1928 course from the 50th anniversary book of KGK published in 1948
(with kind courtesy of the Danish Golf Museum in Vejle):
(http://i731.photobucket.com/albums/ww313/der-rote-korsar/KGK_Skitse4_1928.jpg)
In the KGK centenary book from 1998 the question is risen who was the architect of the "1928" course. Appearantly in 1954 a long-time member of the club states that the designer was an English architect looking like 70 years old. In 1926 J. Abercromby was 65 years old whereas Morrison was much younger and Charles Mackenzie probably not yet active as a golf architect in 1926, some 10 years later he is the architect of nearby Rungsted GC (1937).
The authors of the book therefore think Abercromby could have been the man we are looking for. Hopefully we will find out...
Btw. the new 8th hole and the two amalgated holes were designed by Danish Golf Architect Rolf Henning-Jensen:
http://users.cybercity.dk/~cis1917/
Greetings,
Christoph Meister
Thanks Christoph! Have never been to vejle (atleast not to the golf museum), but am planning to go. Have tried to get my hans on one of the books but no luck so far.
I didn't know that R.H. Jensen Did the redo of 8th ( now playing as 12th) thanks for sharring. Looks like the arials from 1954 have the same routing as the original design, wasn't sure about that. "Only" hole 7, 8, and 12 plays different today than one the drawing.
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Anders
Pls. send me your contact e-Mail to info@golfika.de and I will send you the relevant pages from the KGK centenary Book as your Danish is certainly better than mine!
When I visited the course late on a sunday afternoon in August 2008 I thoroughly enjoyed the incredible atmosphere on the course: horse riders, dear and no cars - it was like travelling back in time!
The Golf museum is a place to visit also with Somerset interesting Info on defunct and private Golf courses in Denmark. Let me know Wehen you visit and I'll try for the curator being there then.
Greetings
Christoph
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Email send. will try and se if i can bring news to the table.
I'm fairly sure they also have the original routing for Rungsted in Vejle. I've never seen it and can't find it elsewhere. do you have anything? I think they had a 50year aniversary book made 25 years ago (75 year aniversary this year). I've walked the front nine with an older member (front nine is where almost all routing changes has been done), and have a pretty good idea about what it looked like. Besides the knowledge he shared he also came with some priceless comments. Forexample,
"hole 6 was a long par 3 playing from close to current 6th tee to current 7th green, i don't recall how long it was, but it was a gripped 2Iron from the tips."
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Email send. will try and se if i can bring news to the table.
I'm fairly sure they also have the original routing for Rungsted in Vejle. I've never seen it and can't find it elsewhere. do you have anything? I think they had a 50year aniversary book made 25 years ago (75 year aniversary this year). I've walked the front nine with an older member (front nine is where almost all routing changes has been done), and have a pretty good idea about what it looked like. Besides the knowledge he shared he also came with some priceless comments. Forexample,
"hole 6 was a long par 3 playing from close to current 6th tee to current 7th green, i don't recall how long it was, but it was a gripped 2Iron from the back-tee."
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In 1928 Colt was 69 years old. Alison was only 56, but he looked like he was 70 (see his photo in my Japanese essay).
Abercromby had slowed his activity way down in 1928; Fowler, Abercromby, Simpson & Croome dissolved in 1928. JFA more or less came out of semi-retirement in 1930 to design Moretonhampstead (Manor House), whereas Colt, Alison & Morrison were in full production and very active in the late 20s...particularly on the continent.
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Colt would have been 59, not 69, in 1928 (born 1869). Alison would have been 46 (born 1882).
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I've read the part of the centenerary booklet Christoph sent me. There are to interesting quotes in the book with clues regarding the architect. they are translated below.
1. "I remember that Niels Benzon showed up one day with a youthfully looking english 70'ish year old."
2. "An english golf course architect came over. Cosy older gentleman. Besides plaýing golf he was also a keen tango-dancer"
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Hole 13 (former hole 9)
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/Hole13.png)
Another blind drive. Hole 13 is the first of two par 4 that play at similar lenght from members-tee, both have blind drives and play same direction ( East, down prevaling wind). I dont think they are the strongest on the course. It's funny to note that in 1954 hole 13 was one of the few holes that didn't have a bunker on each side of the green. Just to make sure, a bunker on the left was added in the most recent restoration and now the hole has one on each side.
Blind drive, as hole plays down wind and second shot can't be hit low because of bunkers leave your self a relatively full shot into the green to be able to get enough hight and spin on the ball. as seen on the airials the bunkers cover more of the front of the green than what it looks like in the course guide.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/H13-1.jpg)
Second shot looks kind of scary. but it's often quite short. besides the bunkers the green is very weel protected by run off areas both left, right and long.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h13-2.jpg)
Finally some Green pictures that turned out well
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h-13-3.jpg)
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h13-4.jpg)
These are taken just left of the green.
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I've been lucky enough to play a few courses in Denmark. I've always been warmly welcomed as a visitor. There always seem to be plenty of ladies out playing which is good to see. I very much liked the higher holes at Silkeborg, reminding me of Surrey heath-and-heather. We have friends in Hammel and I've played the new course there - nothing to write home about, architecturally, but it's in a very pleasant location. Aarhus was a good challenge, with occasional sightings of the sea from the higher ground (the course undulates a lot) and I remember pretty well every hole, which is a good sign given that it is 20 or 25 years since I played it, just the once. I enjoyed Rungsted, or at least the holes on the clubhouse side of the railway. The holes on the far side of the railway seemed rather less interesting. That will also have been 20-25 years ago and I think they have made some alterations since then.
The place I would love to see a golf course constructed is in those amazing sand dunes just south of Skagen on the north tip of Jutland. Of course, there's absolutely no chance that planning permission would be granted!
I'm enjoying your photos and commentary, Anders.
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In 1926-1928 Colt, Alison & Morrison laid out nine courses in Germany (most if not all involving Morrison) and another seven in Holland. Morrison was involved at Stockholm in 1931, and the firm advised at Falsterbo in the late 20s as well. If in fact a famous British architect was involved in 1928 the only two other probable candidates would be Simpson & Ross or Hawtree & Taylor. Simpson was active in Europe around that time, but mostly in France and Belgium. Hawtree & Taylor designed Bastad in 1928, which is a stones throw from Copenhagen.
Looking at the old aerials I have my doubts any British golf architect (or British construction company) was heavily involved. The bunkering forms, and location, doesn't look right to me. I suspect if someone came over it was to give basic advice.
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I've been lucky enough to play a few courses in Denmark. I've always been warmly welcomed as a visitor. There always seem to be plenty of ladies out playing which is good to see. I very much liked the higher holes at Silkeborg, reminding me of Surrey heath-and-heather. We have friends in Hammel and I've played the new course there - nothing to write home about, architecturally, but it's in a very pleasant location. Aarhus was a good challenge, with occasional sightings of the sea from the higher ground (the course undulates a lot) and I remember pretty well every hole, which is a good sign given that it is 20 or 25 years since I played it, just the once. I enjoyed Rungsted, or at least the holes on the clubhouse side of the railway. The holes on the far side of the railway seemed rather less interesting. That will also have been 20-25 years ago and I think they have made some alterations since then.
The place I would love to see a golf course constructed is in those amazing sand dunes just south of Skagen on the north tip of Jutland. Of course, there's absolutely no chance that planning permission would be granted!
I'm enjoying your photos and commentary, Anders.
Regarding Rungsted i don't think that there has been done a lot to the holes on the far side of the tracks for quite some time. The short par 3 15th has been shined up but besides that i dont think a lot has been done. I just took a look on the airials from 1954 and looks like only a couple of the bunkers have been change even that far back.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/rungsted.png)
I might be biased as I'm a member, but i think 13th is a really good hole (Short par 4 dogleg right) and 16 is one of the best on the course Par 5.
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In 1926-1928 Colt, Alison & Morrison laid out nine courses in Germany (most if not all involving Morrison) and another seven in Holland. Morrison was involved at Stockholm in 1931, and the firm advised at Falsterbo in the late 20s as well. If in fact a famous British architect was involved in 1928 the only two other probable candidates would be Simpson & Ross or Hawtree & Taylor. Simpson was active in Europe around that time, but mostly in France and Belgium. Hawtree & Taylor designed Bastad in 1928, which is a stones throw from Copenhagen.
Looking at the old aerials I have my doubts any British golf architect (or British construction company) was heavily involved. The bunkering forms, and location, doesn't look right to me. I suspect if someone came over it was to give basic advice.
More information from the booklet.
The architecht was paid £100 and spend 14 days designing the course. supposedly the architect was found after having an ad in "Golfer's Handbook". The author thinks that J.F. Abercromby is the architect. An English diplomat, Lionel Hudson, supervised the construction and made some alterations to the original plans due to planning restrictions. The green keepers at the club build the course.
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Hole 14. par 4 (Former hole 10)
This is one of the more dull holes. this might also be because it plays quit like the prior hole. a track across the fairway is the most special part of the hole.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/Hole14.png)
The drive is very blind, nothing really guides you.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/H14-1.jpg)
Second shot is down hill to a green that is the most interresting part of the hole
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h14-2.jpg)
I've got a sweetener as i didn't write too much about hole 14. courtesy of Christoph Meister. taken on what is now hole 10
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/wagon.png)
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Hole 15 (and to my knowledge has always been 15th)
A dogleg right hole with a drive over a sea of mean rough. we are still playing some what down the prevaling wind allthough it's normally a little more from the right than straigh in the back. The ladies tees play the hole fairly straight, members tee is playing slightly from the right and the tips are quite a bit right. the heavy hitters Can cut off a lot of the dog-leg, even aim for the front of the green especially when the prevailing wind is blowing. The tees on the right both play the hole with more of a dogleg but also with the wind normally more straigth from behind.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/hole15.png)
The bunkers on the hole have been changed between 1944 and 1995 but the big bunker in the middle of the fairway in the picture from 1954 wasn't moved left until the Mackenzie restoration in 2008-2010.
If very conservativea slight hill across the fairway can make a short drive really short or kick it left (from member or tips, right for ladies.)
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h15-1-1.jpg)
If in the faiway the seccond shot is straight forward, theres a small ridge across a green with very few flat spots. Not all of the green can be seen as the shot is slightly uphilll and the rigt side is covered by the lip of the bunker. In the background you see the Eremitage Palace which is still in the royal Familys possesion.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h15-2-1.jpg)
If in th right rough the short is not very easy. You have a bunker in front and runoff areas long-left. If looking carefully the contours of the green can also be seen.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h15-4.jpg)
Me in front of 15th green.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h15-3-1.jpg)
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Hole 16 par3
Hole 16 is a mid-length/Short par three, slightly uphill with a big false front. there is no where to bail out, you are either on the green or left with a tough chip. The hole is originally designed without bunkers, but had one made just left of the green once, this bunker was filled in by Mackenzie& Ebbert in ~2009
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/hole-16.png)
Because the hole is uphill it hard to see hoe far back the pin is (atleast untill we got the tools that measures the distance) the green is 30 meters deep but the first few can be used as hole locations due to the false front.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/H16-1-1.jpg)
This is a closeup of the green seen from the tee. look at the false front but also how many dificult lies you can get if you miss left or right. A ball that lands of the green can also get a severe kick on the humps and valleys.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h16-15.jpg)
Here is a close up of the green from above (the tee is a 9 o'clock). Not a lot of places to miss.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/Hole-16-2.png)
This is the shot you are supposed to get if you miss the green short. both balls in the picture a stuck because it is early season.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h16-2.jpg)
I don't know why but this is one of my favorite holes out there.
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Hole 17 par 5
A par 5 with a rolling fairway. Second shot is blind if your drive isn't long enough. The green is protected short left, but the fairway short and the green slopes from right to left and hence right is the way to get to the green if going for it in two. The fairway bunker right is not original. I guess it catches the poorly stroken shots so they don't roll all the way to the green, but it also takes out some posibilities.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/Hole-17.png)
The drive:
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h17-1-1.jpg)
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h17-2.jpg)
After the knoll the faiways slopes down and to the left
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h17-3.jpg)
The green is not the most exciting on the course.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h17-4.jpg)
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Hole 18 - Par 3
Hole 18 is a very controversial par three with to huge Chesnuttrees between the tee and the green. The hoole is quite long (207Yards) and hence not everybody can hit a club that can carry the trees and reach the greens. The short right pinposition can be semi-blind and a lot of mid-high handicappers need to hit it between the trees as they can't hit it over at all. especially the slicers will have an issue as the left tree is fairly close to the tee.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/hole18.png)
The teeshot is less intimidating in the winter
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h18-1.jpg)
Than it is in the summer, due to the leafs.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/a_rytter/h-18-2.png)
Source. Fore.dk
The grass is not growing that good arround the green, especially not if you are long. This doesn't make recovery shots any easier.
This concludes my tour of Royal Copenhagen Golf Club, i hope i'm able to add some summerpictures later on and also some more detailed pictures of the greens.
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Anders,
really good thread and photo tour. I am very impressed with the quality the course seems to offer despite being very simple in design and look. I hope you can do the same for one or two other courses in Denmark.
Jon
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The Muirfield of Denmark, except the members are younger and better looking!
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Anders,
Thank you for a very detailed and wonderful tour. The course and the setting look terrific. I imagine it is a lot of fun to play.
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Anders
I really like the look of this course...except for the 18th. What happened?
Ciao
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Anders
I really like the look of this course...except for the 18th. What happened?
Ciao
Sean,
I assume you refer to the trees? Hole 1 and 18 are on the northern side of a Road/path and are both on the original 1928 routing that Christoph Meister provided. The piece of land on the club house side of the road (the northern) borders the forrest and has trees. It's to small to fit anything but the two par threes onto. When standing on the 18th tee you have open land all arround, but the two trees between youself and the hole. It's not in the forrest. Now everything is protected and can't be touched, they are not even allowed to cut the rough and i think there is absolutely No chance they are allowed to cut the trees (the left one is by far the biggest issue i would say.) I'm not a tree expert but my best guess is that the where an almost equally big issue 85years ago. I don't have an answer, maybe it was an important issue to have the 18th close to the clubhouse, i don't know.
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It's great fun, but quite a bit more so in the spring than late-summer due to the rough. It's crazy sometimes, quite a drawback i have to say.
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I gave up looking at this thread after seeing the first 3 or 4 holes because I knew I wanted to go there and not spoil the surprise.
So Tuesday April 23rd it will be.
Anyone else (apart from Anders)?
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Anders,
Thanks for the great photo tour, definitely a place I have to come and visit!
One thing I found striking going through the holes and looking at the historical aerials was how much the original bunkering has changed, especially the greenside bunkering. Given that it seems a famous Britisch architect was responsible for the design, and I'm sure he had specific strategies in mind in setting up the bunkering patterns, I'm not sure I'm excited about the magnitude of these changes. Do you know when most of these bunker changes were done? Does the club have any plans to restore the original bunkering back?
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Anders,
Thanks for the great photo tour, definitely a place I have to come and visit!
One thing I found striking going through the holes and looking at the historical aerials was how much the original bunkering has changed, especially the greenside bunkering. Given that it seems a famous Britisch architect was responsible for the design, and I'm sure he had specific strategies in mind in setting up the bunkering patterns, I'm not sure I'm excited about the magnitude of these changes. Do you know when most of these bunker changes were done? Does the club have any plans to restore the original bunkering back?
Frank,
Several holes were left bunkerless initially, maybe because it was required by the park authority. In 1929 a new golf pro added bunkers, C.K. Cotton visited in 1949 and in 1958-1959 a larger rebunkering was undertaken. Supposedly drafted by the green committee (frederik Dreyer was on the committee). Recently Mackenzie&Ebbert has done some work.
I haven't heard anything about them considering trying to restore the course to the original design.
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In 1944 Demarks was photographed from the Air by LuftWaffe and again in 1954 by US Air force. I'ts such a small country and we pretty much got the whole thing covered both times. These photos are very useful when looking into changes on golfcourses.
Anders,
Great that you have all these historic data!
Most of the historic air picsyou show seem to be of the 1954 USAF. That would have been after the Cotton visit. It obviously would be very interesting to compare these with the 1944 Luftwaffe pics before Cotton's chanes.
I am not surprised the course originally did not have that many bunkers, the existing landforms are great and good enough hazards in many places. It would actually be cool to go back to the original state with less bunkers, maybe the course is a bit overbunkered?
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In 1944 Demarks was photographed from the Air by LuftWaffe and again in 1954 by US Air force. I'ts such a small country and we pretty much got the whole thing covered both times. These photos are very useful when looking into changes on golfcourses.
Anders,
Great that you have all these historic data!
Most of the historic air picsyou show seem to be of the 1954 USAF. That would have been after the Cotton visit. It obviously would be very interesting to compare these with the 1944 Luftwaffe pics before Cotton's chanes.
I am not surprised the course originally did not have that many bunkers, the existing landforms are great and good enough hazards in many places. It would actually be cool to go back to the original state with less bunkers, maybe the course is a bit overbunkered?
The quality of the 1944 pictures are a bit worse than the USAF and hence i used the newer pictures. I did check the whole course and it seems that very little was changed by Cotton.
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Cool, so one then just has to deduce what changes the pro made in the late twenties, to get to he bunkering of the original course. Do you have any documentation on what the pro did?
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Cool, so one then just has to deduce what changes the pro made in the late twenties, to get to he bunkering of the original course. Do you have any documentation on what the pro did?
looking into it.
Cotton proposed several changes but only a greenbunker on 17th was made, then 17th possibly had no bunkers originally. Now 16th and 3rd are the only holes with no bunkers.
The pro was called James Ross, he added bunkers to what i asume is what is now the 9th and the NLE par 3 13th, i believe those bunkers could be what is now fairwaybunkers on 7th.
a mayor bunkering scheme was planned in the 1930's but only one bunker was permitted (It is now NLE)
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Anders, the 18th par three - in 1973 Danish Open it was a terrifying hole because it felt like the green was surrounded by OB (was it on the clubhouse lawn?) I played it short front the first three rounds but on the fourth I needed 2 to tie (3,4,5 were for second place). I hit it fat, made 4 for second. Great fun course, fantastic memories of the week in Copenhagen
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Anders, the 18th par three - in 1973 Danish Open it was a terrifying hole because it felt like the green was surrounded by OB (was it on the clubhouse lawn?) I played it short front the first three rounds but on the fourth I needed 2 to tie (3,4,5 were for second place). I hit it fat, made 4 for second. Great fun course, fantastic memories of the week in Copenhagen
you are correct, the lawn and puttingreen on the right is OB. I Don't know about 1973, but at up until Mackenzie Ebberts recent work, there was a bunker a couple meters short left of the green in the fairway. It's not original, might have been put there in 1959 and then removed again in 2009.
If of interest to anyone, i found this yesterday on the club homepage. Its Mackenzie&Ebbert's repport they made before doing work.
http://www.masterpiece.dk/UploadetFiles/187/36/Oct2005Report.pdf
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Anders,
Interesting, it sounds like not that much bunkering was changed up until the USAF pics. That means you could do a map of how the course used to be with its original bunkering.
I am surprised the M&E report does not contain any reference to the USAF pics, would they not have had access to them?
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Anders,
Interesting, it sounds like not that much bunkering was changed up until the USAF pics. That means you could do a map of how the course used to be with its original bunkering.
I am surprised the M&E report does not contain any reference to the USAF pics, would they not have had access to them?
Both the LW and USAF pictures are on the internet for all to see. I don't know whether they have used them or not, but i would be surprised if they didn't. I have a couple of pages about the course from an centenerary book from the club and changes after 1944 seems very well documented.
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We headed to Malmo in Sweden for the EIGCA conference a couple of weeks ago and based on this photo-thread, I decided to head a little out of my way to have a look at Kobenhavn GC which lived up to all expectations.... Really, this is what golf is all about and I'd highly recommend it to anyone with a liking for traditional golf design (everyone on this forum?).... That said, before Tom MacKenzie did an excellent renovation job a few years back, I suspect there wasn't too much "design" out there. This in itself proved immensely refreshing because the slopes, the setting and the variety did more than enough to speak for itself. The strict restrictions on what could be done with the land have added hugely to the overall aura of the course. It is a little jewel and I'm delighted I made the effort... It was also great to meet Anders who talked me round...
A few photos with mimimal commentary. Quality poor because I had them mistakenly on reduced setting so only 150kb each...
The first few holes are wonderful. The approach to the 2nd is one of the best with the new bunkering benched in to the skyline green. There are about 55 bunkers on the course, all redone and repositioned by Tom MacKenzie and all done really well. The shapes are classical-simple (more British golden age than American golden age) and the positions in general are excellent. They look good. The edges are rough / natural without being forced. The biggest problem for Martin Nilsson and crew are that the deer love to play in the sand... Luckily this means they are less interested in the greens....
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7310/8733874999_3ab1a0cd7c_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30749571@N05/8733874999/)
Kobenhavn - Approach to 2nd hole April 2013 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30749571@N05/8733874999/) by Ally McIntosh (http://www.flickr.com/people/30749571@N05/), on Flickr
The other major work done during the renovation is that the once presumably grade level green complexes have had swales and run-offs built around them. If I was to have one minor criticism (on a bad day), I might comment that these have been done just a little too often in too similar a fashion. It works well here on the 2nd hole....
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7308/8734996724_8b340abc2b_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30749571@N05/8734996724/)
Kobenhavn 2nd hole from behind green - April 2013 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30749571@N05/8734996724/) by Ally McIntosh (http://www.flickr.com/people/30749571@N05/), on Flickr
Approach to the 3rd hole is lovely around the tree. You could run this in from right to left on a firm day but an ingenious swale front right will catch any shot that is expecting this to be a home-run. Note the public footway passing through the estate to the right...
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7319/8734996664_7f65964923_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30749571@N05/8734996664/)
Kobenhavn - Approach to 3rd hole - April 2013 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30749571@N05/8734996664/) by Ally McIntosh (http://www.flickr.com/people/30749571@N05/), on Flickr
The 4th hole is a great par-5 with the second shot either layed up to the top of a hill or the valley before the green taken on. Approach bunkers again placed in nicely and this green is one of the few with quite severe internal movement. Excellent.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7292/8734996680_169c7bd95d_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30749571@N05/8734996680/)
Kobenhavn - Approach to 4th hole - April 2013 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30749571@N05/8734996680/) by Ally McIntosh (http://www.flickr.com/people/30749571@N05/), on Flickr
The 10th green sitting nicely at the side of the wooded boundary to the course. A few are placed like this and it provides nice variety to the majority of greens which are out in the open estate.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7292/8733874927_ddb1234f34_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30749571@N05/8733874927/)
Kobenhavn - 10th Green - April 2013 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30749571@N05/8733874927/) by Ally McIntosh (http://www.flickr.com/people/30749571@N05/), on Flickr
The back tee on the 13th is placed perfectly on a tiny and subtle ridge. No earthworks would have been required to place this tee but the way the ground rolls to the left and then the right just in front is aesthetically spot-on. In essence, a perfect example of "finding" a good tee-site rather than creating one.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7319/8733874955_180e330e0d_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30749571@N05/8733874955/)
Kobenhavn - 13th Tee shot - April 2013 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30749571@N05/8733874955/) by Ally McIntosh (http://www.flickr.com/people/30749571@N05/), on Flickr
Approach to the 13th green shows a big right to left tilt and the ball should be run-in behind the fronting bunker. Only a few of the greens here have big internal movement but a lot have severe tilt and I imagine are very slippery in the height of summer.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7311/8734996702_15f764150c_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30749571@N05/8734996702/)
Kobenhavn - Approach to 13th green - April 2013 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30749571@N05/8734996702/) by Ally McIntosh (http://www.flickr.com/people/30749571@N05/), on Flickr
The par-3 16th has one of the few greens that are raised. This one falls off on all sides and has the only false front on the course
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7324/8733874967_69f161a984_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30749571@N05/8733874967/)
Kobenhavn - 16th Tee shot 2013 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30749571@N05/8733874967/) by Ally McIntosh (http://www.flickr.com/people/30749571@N05/), on Flickr
The tee-shot at 17 is a great example of something I like a lot. Basically, the land falls in front of the tee before rising to a ridge in the landing zone that creates a horizon for the hole. That horizon is framed only by grasses at present and just looks beautiful. There appear to be two new sentinel trees planted which I think will take away from this shot but the golf course do not have that much of a say in the tree planting (which is done by the estate)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/8733874979_60d7ba9132_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30749571@N05/8733874979/)
Kobenhavn - 17th Tee shot - April 2013 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30749571@N05/8733874979/) by Ally McIntosh (http://www.flickr.com/people/30749571@N05/), on Flickr
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Anders,
Thank you for a wonderful photo tour of Københavns Golf Klub. As a new member here (this is my 2nd post), I had planned to contribute with a photo tour of the very same course, but I can see you beat me to it. I only live 10 min. away from the course ... not counting the long walk.
Some very interesting info provided throughout the thread on the history and development of the course. The report from Mackenzie & Ebert I had never seen before.
http://www.masterpiece.dk/UploadetFiles/187/36/Oct2005Report.pdf
I will now spend some of my time here in the off-season to plan which course in Denmark I will do a photo tour of instead. Thanks again.
Søren
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Anders,
Fascinating tour!! You obviously put a lot of passion and time into this thread. It's odd, but the photos remind me of a number of 9 holers in the Northern part of New Hampshire. Colebrook CC comes to mind.. Nothing wrong with blind tee balls, they're only blind the first time . I love threads that concern how a course evolves over the years. 800- 1000 members !!Wow. How many do they employ on the green staff?
Well done , much appreciated.
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Thanks. I did the tour because of how unique i think the course and vibe is.
Søren. I live 15 min up the coast. In case you want to play a round and talk gca do let me know.
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Søren. I live 15 min up the coast. In case you want to play a round and talk gca do let me know.
Anders,
Sure, thanks for the offer. I will send you a PM.
Søren