Araslöv Golf & Resort, near Kristianstad in southern Sweden, has reopened its South (Södra) course following a renovation by architect Johan Benestam and contractor Nelson&Vecchio.
The resort has two courses: North (Norra), designed by Sune Lindhe in 1992, and the South, designed by Tomas Ryd in 2009. Araslöv also has two hotels: Golfhotellet, which is in the middle of the South course and has a view of Lake Araslöv and the city of Kristianstad, and the Conference Hotel, which is near the clubhouse and restaurant.
“The renovation has been a much-needed investment to improve the playability of the course and to create a layout that is capable of hosting professional tournaments,” said Benestam. “Our ambition is for the South to be one of the best courses in Sweden.
“Another reason for the investment is to make the courses more distinguishable from one another. The North is more parkland-like, while the South is more of an open landscape. With our work, the South becomes more of an inland links design.”
Green complexes on the South course at the Araslöv resort in southern Sweden now feature more hollows and swales, as seen at the double green for holes sixteen and nine (Photo: Mickael Tannus Photography AB)
The South course renovation, the first step in a six-year strategic plan for Araslöv, began in autumn 2023. Benestam worked with David Nelson of Nelson&Vecchio and course manager Mattias Bengtsson over two winters.
Benestam has overseen the creation of 90 tees, with many in new locations to offer new angles of play. “The overall goal was to set the course up so that it is interesting from the tee,” he said. “As a player, you shall always see what is coming and you will need to make a plan of how to play the holes.”
All bunkers were replaced and repositioned. Greenside bunkers now feature CapillaryFlow. “The bunkers have been designed to be tangible traps and to influence a golfer into developing a gameplan for that hole,” said Benestam.
“Green complexes have been renovated to feature hollows, swales, ridges and hills. The hollows make the approach shot more demanding and interesting. All obstacles just in front of the greens have been removed so that the shorter hitter, or those hitting a lower trajectory shot, can approach the green with a rolling shot, depending on the line of play.”
Bunkers have been repositioned and rebuilt on every hole, including the twelfth, pictured (Photo: Mickael Tannus Photography AB)
All playing areas were turfed with grass from Danish supplier DLF and the resort also installed a new Rain Bird CirrusPRO irrigation system.
“The renovation has been a complete transformation of the course’s aesthetics and strategy,” said Benestam. “There are new cart paths, the hilly landscape has been reinforced, we have fescue surrounding every hole and the new tees, bunkers and greens create an interesting and beautiful experience.”
Bengtsson added: “With this renovation of the South, our two courses are more different from each other than ever before. The design of the bunkers and narrow holes makes the South a bit more demanding, and will attract low handicap player and be where we host professional tournaments in the future.”