Royal Drottningholm set to open two short courses by Johan Benestam
John Benestam has created a four-hole reversible short layout and a three-hole par-three course for Royal Drottningholm Golf Club near Stockholm, Sweden, to open in June and July 2025 respectively.
“The motivation behind these upgrades is clear: to provide the best possible training environment for golfers of all abilities,” said Stefan Andorff, general manager at Royal Drottningholm. “These innovative practice areas promise to be a valuable addition to the club. Whether you are an experienced player or new to the game, the new facilities will offer endless opportunities to improve and enjoy the sport.”
The ‘Little Himalayas’ reversible course has four greens and eight teeing areas, with holes ranging from 50 to 77 yards. “This design offers unparalleled flexibility, allowing golfers to just use a putter or practice a variety of shots with any other club in their bag,” said Benestam. “The layout provides a playful yet challenging environment for short-game and putting practice. Players can enjoy experimenting with different shots and techniques, tailoring their practice sessions to suit their needs.”
The new par-three course has one hole at 71 yards, a second at 142 yards and a third at 98 yards. “This area is perfect for honing approaches and putting,” said Benestam. “The construction of this course includes creatively designed greens, a few greenside bunkers, and synthetic turf tees.”
Rain Bird provided an irrigation system and CapillaryFlow supplied bunker lining for the short courses. Playing surfaces feature creeping bentgrass while out-of-play areas are fescue.
Benestam has already designed a reversible layout, in 2013, for Värpinge Golfbana in the town of Lund in southern Sweden. That project included six greens and 12 teeing areas. “My ambition since then has been to fine-tune the concept and now, at Royal Drottningholm, I have had the chance to showcase what I’ve learned,” said Benestam.
The architect’s first proposal was for “an upper and lower reversible pitch-and-putt course” but after some discussions with the club, it was decided to divide the area into two, separate courses.
“The design of these two different training areas largely mimics what you will experience on the main track,” said Benestam. “Large areas are mowed at a fairway-cut, while the putting surfaces feature interesting undulations and the green complexes have runoffs, ridges, hollows, swales and hills.
“These new facilities are not just about practice – they are about creating a space where players can enjoy the game, challenge themselves and continue to grow.”
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Johan Benestam Golf Course Design
Johan Benestam has designed a reversible four-hole short course (pictured) and a three-hole par-three course for Royal Drottningholm GC near Stockholm, Sweden
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Johan Benestam Golf Course Design
The par-three course opens with a 71-yard hole (left), before players hit to a narrow green defended by a bunker at the second and then finish with the bunkerless third hole, which is just under 100 yards
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Johan Benestam Golf Course Design
The reversible course has four greens and eight teeing areas, with holes ranging from 50 to 77 yards
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