Russia, Moscow - Golf in the middle of town

Russia is not known as the country where golfers go, let alone the growing metropolis of Moscow. What you didn’t know is that the populous city streets hide a golf course, founded by Sven Tumba himself.
Moscow today is a real city with a rich selection of restaurants, culture and entertainment. There is also a well-kept secret - a golf course in the middle of town, founded by none other than Sven Tumba.

As a tourist in Moscow one should of course look into the historical heritage, but it's hard not to be tempted by a round at Moscow City Golf Club. The golf course is in the middle of the bustling city centre of Moscow.

Swede Leon Oak has been head chef at Moscow City Golf Club's restaurant. The ninth hole of the Moscow City Golf Club is located right next to the restaurant's porch.

Golf is a relatively new sport in Russia and it was introduced officially in 1987, in the then Soviet Union, by Sven Tumba. Tumba, who was famous and appreciated in the Soviet Union, succeeded in getting Mikhail Gorbachev’s permission to build the club, despite Russia's mistrust of the sport. Today there is a statue of Tumba outside the clubhouse.

That the course is located so centrally and is such a quiet place is probably one of the reasons that the golf club is so popular. When the green foliage thickens it shuts the course off from the urban throng around it.

Surrounding Moscow, there are two more golf courses that are open to non-members. Le Meridien Moscow Country Club is located 35 kilometres from the centre and claims to be one of the world's 100 best courses. Moscow Golf Club in Krylatskoe is simpler, but is in an extremely picturesque area.

In Moscow you can mix entertainment, historic sites, golf and good food. For Russians, food for a festive occasion often means Caucasian cuisine, especially food from Georgia, where you should not miss chatjapuri (a kind of cheese bread), sjasjlik (kebabs) or eggplant with walnuts. And between restaurant visits perhaps a ballet performance or a trip to one of the famous museums in the city. Moscow is clearly a destination that should be seen with new nonjudgmental eyes.

By David Isaksson
Web Editing by Emma Linden

Culture, arts and entertainment
Moscow Conservatory: www.mosconsv.ru / english.phtml
Bolshoi Theatre: www.bolshoi.org
Tretyakov Gallery: www.tretyakovgallery.ru
Winxavod: www.winzavod.com
Art4.ru: www.art4.ru
Garage: www.garageccc.com
Raj: www.raiclub.ru
Opera: www.clubopera.ru

Georgian Restaurants
Tiflis: www.tiflis.ru
Genatsvale: www.frommers.com/destinations/moscow/D56433.html
Ekspedisia - Moscow's coolest restaurant, known for its exotic wildlife menu with a Siberian theme and for cooking only species from the Arctic Circle. Don’t miss the frozen sliced fish. http://expedicia.ru/en_index.php?pages=&m=1

Golf Courses
The Moscow City Golf Club
Founded: 1987 by Sven Tumba
Number of holes: Nine hole course, six par four holes and three par three.
Length: 2,343 metres
Green fees: Between 8-16 pm, the price is 3,000 roubles (about EUR 76), 16:00-21:00, the price is 4,000 roubles (about EUR 101)
Homepage: www.mcgc.ru/home_en/

Le Meridien Moscow Country Club
Claims to be one of the world's 100 best courses.
Number of holes: 18, par 72.
Length: About 7,000 metres.
Green fees weekdays 18 holes: 4,500 roubles (EUR 114), weekends 7,500 (EUR 190)
Homepage: www.lemeridien-mcc.com/english/news/

Moscow Golf Club in Krylatskoe
Russia's newest golf course, located in western Moscow.
Number of holes: 18
Green fees: 9 holes: 2,500 roubles (EUR 63). Price 18 holes: 4,000 roubles (EUR 101).
Homepage: www.moscowgolf.ru/eng/main/

Accommodation
Hotel Katerina
Very popular with Scandinavians, because the owner grew up in Sweden and speaks Swedish. Centrally located, just three kilometres from Red Square.
Price: 10,000 - 13,200 roubles (EUR 253 - EUR 334) for a double room weekdays. 7,400 roubles (about EUR 187) weekends.
Homepage: www.katerinahotels.com/moscow/en/

Beta Hotel
A simple hotel a bit outside of the centre. Located just off Izmajlovskij Park, where there is a market that sells Russian dolls, fur hats and Soviet memorabilia.
Price: 3,000 roubles (EUR 76) for a double room weekdays; 2,250 roubles (EUR 57) on weekends.
Homepage: www.hotelbeta.ru/lang/en

Golden Apple
Modern hotel located very centrally, right next to Pushkin Square and not far from Red Square and the Kremlin.
Price: 9,000-14,000 roubles (EUR 228 – 354), varies depending on the room (double room).
Homepage: www.goldenapple.ru/